Assignment # 1
Request For Proposals
January 29th 2012

Executive Summary

This report is about the creation and format of RFP's. It includes an analysis done by myself on three separate documents which discuss this topic. Through my research I selected three templates which could potentially be used for our project. All three of them are discussed and one is selected as the template which should be used for our supply chain management request for proposal.

Table Of Contents

1 ..................................................................Title Page
2....................................................................Executive Summary
3....................................................................Table of Contents
4....................................................................Research Summary
5....................................................................Template # 1
6....................................................................Template # 2
7....................................................................Template # 3
8....................................................................Conclusion
9....................................................................Works Cited
10 - 24...........................................................Appendices

Summary of Research

When researching potential RFP related documents I found the Kwantlen library website was very helpful, and was my main tool for finding useful articles. I also tapped into classic internet search engine when conducting my research. Google was a great tool to find sample RFP's however I found it quite difficult to find templates made specifically for supply chain management. It was easy to find plenty of resources which are available to aid individuals whom might be preparing an RFP; for any field of business they may specify. I looked into Wikipedia as well and noticed it was very helpful as far as general knowledge about RFPs go. However it was not ideal when it came to searching for sample RFP documents and templates due to the nature of the encyclopedic website. For the search criteria, I used phrases along the lines of "sample RFP" and "RFP formatting for SCM" into Google and the Kwantlen Library website. I found these yielded a number of links, not all of which were helpful.

Template #1 The first RFP template I looked at was an excel document and has been included in the appendix. It is an RFP created for Enterprise Resource Planning and Accounting Software. I felt this is a viable template because it is an RFP for software, which makes it similar in a sense to what we are trying to accomplish. Some weak points in this template is there is not much organization to it. I don't mean in the format but the fact there is no table of contents or numbered headings. This obviously will make it difficult when flipping through to find specific items. This template has numerous headings and covers a multitude of subjects. Unfortunately they are geared towards accounting software and enterprise resource planning. We would have to alter it substantially to get an RFP we can use for our intended purpose. This template could be a good basis if we used the skeletal structure and input our own criterion.

Template # 2 Unfortunately this template is difficult to format correctly into Microsoft word, so I will have sent it in a different file called "Template # 2". Normally this would simply be stapled in the appendix if I were to hand in a hard copy. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause. This template is tailor made for supply chain management software. It has most if not all the necessary headings and topics we would require to include in our RFP. It includes rating systems for us to specify which of our criteria is most important to us. It also allows vendors to simply respond by