When you sit down to write a technology request for proposal (RFP) you need to make sure that what you get back in terms of bids meets your expectations for the technology. In order to do so, you want to make sure you’re speaking in a language that integrators and installers will understand.
That’s why we headed out to SIGNET’s office in Massachusetts to interview David Vickers, Senior Project Manager.
When writing a technology RFP, there is a ton of information you need to include to get the technology that you want. Everything from the number of employees you have to the physical space of your organization to the people that will be responsible for different pieces of the project – and more. A good technology RFP will give the installer all of the information they need to design a unique system specifically for your office. It stands to reason that your technology RFP must be intensive, highly informational, and explain everything that you want out of the system.
At the same time, you want to make sure that you’re not overwhelming your potential installer partners. After writing the RFP, you’re going to send it out to bid. This involves sending the RFP to a number of installers, who will then return to you with information about the system they can build and the cost for doing so. You’ll go back and forth discussing things with these installers and eventually pick one to implement the project.
Those discussions back and forth will decide many of the specifics of the project. The RFP is there to set the expectations of the project. So while you want to include plenty of information, you don’t want a 100-page document that gives no wiggle room to your installer partner.
Check out the video above to learn more about what you should include in your technology RFP. Then, click the button below the video for access to an RFP template that will allow you to format your RFP in a way that installers will understand and appreciate.
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