How to choose an ERP system and the partner who implements it: the selection team, process mapping, deployment options, criteria, total cost of ownership and an example 22-week timeline.
What to look for in a software or IT vendor, the evidence that proves each criterion, the due diligence to run before you sign, and the red flags to watch for.
What a sole source justification must contain, the reasons reviewers reject, how sole source differs from single source, the federal and grant rules, and an example outline.
The procurement process from a need to a paid invoice and a managed supplier: the ten steps, source-to-contract vs procure-to-pay, which sourcing method fits which purchase, and how public-sector rules differ.
A step-by-step guide for vendors responding to an RFP, from the bid/no-bid decision and compliance matrix to pricing, submission and the debrief.
What a request for qualifications is, how it differs from a request for quotation, and how to write one and score the statements of qualifications firms send back.
What an invitation to bid (ITB) is, when to use one instead of an RFP or RFQ, and how sealed bids, bid bonds and responsiveness work.
How to build an RFP scoring matrix for a software or IT services purchase: the criteria, weights set in advance, a defined 1-to-5 scale, price scoring and the consensus meeting.
Buyer-side e-sourcing tools and vendor-side RFP response tools do different jobs. What each one does, the features and questions that matter, and when a template and a spreadsheet are enough.
What to put in each section of a software RFP, with an example line for each, plus how to write requirements vendors can’t answer with a bare yes and the writing mistakes to avoid.