Mastering RFP solicitations is a critical skill required of every public procurement professional. Designed to provide a strategic overview of the skills and traits necessary to fulfill the procurement function, Developing and Managing Requests for Proposals in the Public Sector explores the complex and ever-changing process of competitive negotiations, providing hands-on guidance for practitioners to successfully achieve the best value for both their entity and the taxpayer. While rules, ordinances, policies, practices, and procedures vary among jurisdictions, the book breaks down the basic steps involved in the competitive negotiation process, providing best practice guidance for public procurement professionals to help them navigate the formidable and exacting process successfully, fairly, and with transparency. This book is required reading for every public procurement professional and will be recommended reading for all public procurement courses as well as concentration and certificate programs.

The Best Guide to Past Performance Evaluation in Government Contracting Just Got Better! The Past Performance Handbook has long been the resource contracting professionals have turned to for guidance on evaluating contractor performance and making award decisions in competitive acquisitions based on the evaluation results. Now this essential resource has been completely updated and revised to bring readers the most up-to-date information they need to conduct past performance evaluations. Past Performance Handbook: Applying Commercial Practices to Federal Procurement, Second Edition, not only includes a detailed explanation of the process of past performance evaluation, but also presents new approaches to standardizing assessment areas and rating scales, streamlining the source selection process, and ensuring that awards are made to the most qualified offerors. This thoroughly revised second edition offers: • Additional focus on the collaboration between the government and contractors in providing past performance information • Enhanced definitions of numerical scoring, adjectival ratings, color coding schema, and risk assessments — all consistent with the current guidelines issued by the Department of Defense and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) • Updated citations from the Federal Acquisition Regulation, OFPP, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) • Abridged GAO decisions that provide details for citations included in the text. Contracting officers and contractors working with the government will find value in every chapter of this updated edition.

Despite its importance as an initial step in the development of major technical projects, the Request for Proposal (RFP) process rarely receives the professional attention it deserves. Used by government agencies and by private corporations to solicit proposals from contractors and vendors, the RFP document is the foundation for a successful project. A clearly written and properly organized RFP clarifies technical goals, communicates administrative and financial expectations, and sets the tone for good communication and a trusting and productive relationship between customer and contractor.

Within federal government contracting, contracting officers are empowered to evaluate proposals and determination which contractor should be awarded the contract. With multiple variables to consider, managing tradeoffs is an important aspect of the evaluation process. As such, there is room for a large amount of subjectivity in the evaluation process. Since multiple contracting officers can arrive at different conclusions when evaluating the same proposals, there are instances when the wrong contractor is awarded a contract, as only one contractor can offer the true best value. Thus, the subjectivity in the process needs to be reduced so the contractor offering the best value is awarded the contract a higher percentage of the time. This thesis examines how the application of existing decision support technologies can assist contracting personnel in determining which proposal offers the best value to the government. The intent is to establish a model that, when implemented, will ensure contracting officers evaluate proposals both consistently and fairly. The proposed system integrates several decision support technologies. The overall concept is designed using a weight-based ranking model, enabled by a multi-criteria decision analysis software system. Supporting decision support software packages include an expert system and a data warehouse.

This new, single-volume resource provides the most complete guidance available for analyzing the cost and pricing aspects of federal government contracts--so you can propose and negotiate appropriate prices and win contracts. The practical Contract Pricing Reference Guide reference combines five manuals into a single source, covering: Price Analysis Quantitative Techniques for Contract Pricing Cost Analysis Advanced Issues in Contract Pricing And Federal Contract Negotiation Techniques Determine the Proper Pricing to Win Government Business Throughout these pages, you will find highly detailed explanations of how the government evaluates proposals, arrives at pricing, chooses contractors, and awards contracts. With Contract Pricing Reference Guide, you can more confidently: Conduct market research for price analysis Employ proven techniques of quantitative price analysis Propose a fair and appropriate price Confidently engage in sealed bidding Include only what's allowable in the price Employ the most effective, competitive pricing strategies And engage in effective contract negotiations The One-of-a-Kind, Time-Saving Pricing Resource The all-new Contract Pricing Reference Guide provides a road-map for how to set correct pricing and engage in the competitive bidding process. It is a practical business tool to help you acquire government contract business--and it brings all the most valuable pricing information together in an easy-access, single-volume resource that puts everything you need literally right in front of you. No other resource delivers all of this together in one place, making it the most convenient way to obtain the most vital information on pricing government contracts.

Are you looking to enter the world of government contracting but feeling overwhelmed by the complexity and intricacies of the process? Look no further! This comprehensive guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to navigate this unique sector and achieve success in this rewarding but challenging industry. Inside this informative and engaging book, you'll find invaluable insights into the government contracting landscape, including detailed explanations of key concepts, step-by-step instructions for navigating the procurement process, and actionable tips for positioning your business to win contracts. From exploring new markets and opportunities to understanding contract terms and conditions, this guide has you covered. Additionally, you'll benefit from real-life examples, case studies, and expert advice, all designed to help you build a solid foundation in government contracting. The friendly and conversational tone of this book makes it easy to digest complex information and apply it to your business with confidence. By delving into the topics covered in this book, you'll learn how to develop a strong brand identity, leverage digital marketing strategies, build lasting relationships with government clients, and cultivate strategic partnerships. Furthermore, you'll gain insight into the importance of continuous improvement, innovation, and staying informed on industry trends and regulations. At its core, this guide emphasizes the importance of persistence and adaptability, two essential qualities for success in the world of government contracting. By nurturing these qualities within yourself and your organization, you'll be better prepared to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that come your way. Whether you're an aspiring government contractor or a seasoned professional looking to expand your knowledge, this book is the ultimate resource to help you achieve your goals and unlock your full potential in this dynamic and rewarding industry. So why wait? Embark on your government contracting journey today with this invaluable guide!

Research has been carried out to design and develop BEST (Bid Evaluation Software Tool) a knowledge-based decision support system for evaluating the capability of an apparel manufacturer to perform on a contract. BEST has been developed in cooperation with major apparel manufacturers and has been successfully field-tested in collaboration with Levi Strauss & Company. BEST is implemented in Level-5 Object and runs under the MS-Windows environment on IBM-compatible personal computers. This research effort has realized the vision of creating a knowledge-based decision support system for the objective evaluation of apparel contractors who can deliver the right quality product at the right time and at the right price. In doing so, it has pioneered the concepts of 'vendor pre-qualification' and 'vendor certification' central to effective and successful supply chain management. Finally, the 'terms of engagement' module in BEST represents the first known successful effort to quantitatively assess the 'working conditions' in apparel plants - a key requirement as apparel manufacturing turns global. This volume (the first of three volumes) documents the overall summary of the research effort.