Comments on: RFP, R.I.P.

By: Killing the RFP: Part 3 of 3 | New Media Portland

Killing the RFP: Part 3 of 3 | New Media Portland — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:14 +0000

[...] understanding of the client’s needs and that your clients value long-term partnerships. Here’s a sample letter you can modify for your business. (Big thanks to Eric Karjaluoto for his excellent [...]

By: The end of the RFP | Kinesis

The end of the RFP | Kinesis — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:44:41 +0000

By: Don

Don — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:12:38 +0000

I think the worst experience I had with a federal government RFP is when they stated a number of "mandatory requirements" had to be met or the respondent would be found "non-compliant". SO i read the mandatory requirements, realized that I would not qualify. Later I find out, with only a few days left before the closing date, they change the "mandatory" requirements . They did not extend the closing date. I was furious, but their answer was that the so called mandatory requirements were flexible???? Why did they call them mandatory in the first place???? This is a true story and not all that uncommon with Federal Govt RFP's.

By: Jaak

Jaak — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:58:27 +0000

For the most part, everyone agrees: inconsequential questions on the RFP, and not having creative solutions are a huge problem.

This usually means that the issuing organization didn't do it's homework before it posted the RFP to the organization, on Merx, or Biddingo.

This can usually be resolved during the Question and Answer period. But for inflexible organizations, design firms should just walk away.

As for the process being too open....making it purely invitational can be very problematic for public sector areas. How would anyone feel reading a Toronto Star story about how the government excluded firms from competing for opportunities?

Being a proposal consultant, some of my clients have made it very easy: the RFP is clear in what it asks for, allows for some creative solutions, and doesn't have useless questions. Otherwise, it's a no-go.

Cheers.

By: Payrolling

Payrolling — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:10:12 +0000

Great article. Thanks to Eric. Its very obvious that many people hate RFPs, but I know some guys in this business who like them. Still a great article. Thanks!

By: iain

iain — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:08:01 +0000

I just hummed and hawed about an rfp that I wasn't sure about... I've Just sent off the response as above and feel a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders!

thanks for the great article.

By: Alan Stuart

Alan Stuart — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:35:28 +0000

me likey. i sent around our agency to see if we can do the same, but i doubt it will happen immediately.

By: Loughlin O’Nolan - taglines don’t come for free ;-) :: How To (And How Not To) Buy Design Services :: January :: 2008

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:16:59 +0000

[...] The advice in this article is absolutely on the money. Highlights include In our experience, organizations that use the RFP process to purchase creative services often find that their expectations are not met. [...]

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:09:11 +0000

Great points mentioned above! Check out what Trumpet did to reverse the process. A Request for Problems..

http://www.trumpetgroup.com/rfp

The Golden RFP: Trumpet's Request For Problem

Everybody says the way marketing agencies work needs to be reinvented. Yes. So we’ve changed the things that aren’t working, and re-engineered around ideas that drive business opportunities –
beginning with “hello.” Our solution takes the form of the traditional Request For Proposal (RFP) with one big difference: It’s from the agency. Why? Because the traditional RFP is often the first
step toward a bad relationship built on superficialities. Too much swimsuit competition, not enough talent. Trumpet proposes a new way: Request for Problem.

By: Brand Aid » Blog Archive » RFPs: How NOT to hire creative services.

Brand Aid » Blog Archive » RFPs: How NOT to hire creative services. — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:41:05 +0000

[...] Wonderful post here from smashLAB.RFPs are so 2oth Century. It seems that actually researching viable agencies is the new RFP. Who knew?! « Viral marketing for “Cloverfield” makes the movies interactive [...]