Originally published on AirgasThinks.com | October 24, 2017
Change is hard. In the Food and Beverage industries, where the pace is fast and time is of the essence, it can be even harder. The risks of not setting aside enough time for developing requests for proposal (RFPs) include poor quality bids, complacency and lack of growth.
While it may seem counterintuitive, spending a little extra time on your RFP process up front will result in better quality bids, leading to significant time and cost savings in the future. We sat down with Bill Baker, Vice President of Business Development – Service Markets and Safety for Airgas, to get his advice on how to optimize the bid process.
As detailed as the RFP process can be, it is surprisingly common for things to get overlooked. However, small omissions in your RFP could greatly impact the quality of the bids you receive which affects the price you’re quoted, the mode of supply selected and, ultimately, the efficiency of your operation. Be sure to watch out for these common mistakes:
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Contact UsIt is easy to feel overwhelmed by the RFP process, so Baker suggests asking all potential suppliers the following questions to help suppliers have a better understanding of your operation and make choosing the right one easier.
The RFP process can vary based on the types of products you need. Whether you’re looking for bulk gases or safety products, here are a few tips to help the process go a little smoother:
Baker urges that a more holistic approach to the bid process is necessary. The RFP process can be lengthy and it would be easy to just go through the motions in hopes of getting a better price. If, however, you are really looking for total process improvement it is necessary to start early, be as detailed as possible and look to your suppliers for their expertise. Doing so will lead to better bids and a more efficient operation overall.