Training: Developing and Managing RFPs and RFQs

I will be teaching an all day class on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 in Everett, Washington on "Developing and Managing RFPs and RFQs."

The class is sponsored by the Washington State Transportation Training Coalition.  Most of the attendees are from local transit agencies.  There are, however, still 9 spaces available if you are interested in registering. The cost is $75 for non-members of the Coalition, and $50 for members.

Class Description:  Here's a brief summary of the class.

Use of a Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Request for Qualifications (RFQs) requires a different mindset and skills than managing an invitation to bid, where selection is based solely upon price.  This class will provide an overview of the process, requirements, strategies, risks, and tools to use in successfully developing and managing the selection of consultants, service providers, and vendors through an RFP and RFQ.  In addition to covering the selection process, we will discuss the differences between RFPs and RFQs, examine specific Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements, and consider strategies and tools to manage the negotiation and contracting process.  We will examine how to ensure your agency ends up selecting the right firm for each procurement that will result in the best value for your agency and the public. 

A Few Things You Will Learn:

•    How to tap into industry expertise to develop an effective scope of work
•    What provisions should be included in every RFP and RFQ
•    Risk management issues to address
•    Factors to consider in weighting qualifications versus price
•    How to develop evaluation criteria that meet your agency’s needs
•    Educating and managing your evaluation committee
•    Tips for managing the interview process with finalists
•    Promoting ethical behavior that avoids conflicts of interest
•    What information is confidential and what can be disclosed

For more information about the class or to register, visit the website of the Washington Transportation Training Coalition.  

If you have any questions about the class, or are interested in discussing me offering the class for your agency, please contact me.