It's true--a Request For Proposal (RFP) process can take a lot of time and effort. So when does it make sense to go through the effort?

1. When you are making a complex purchase, an RFP will help you organize both yourself and the vendors who are bidding the products and/or services you plan to obtain. Putting your requirements in writing up front helps you to decide what capabilities are essential and what is optional.

2. When you need more information about the product and/or service, how it works, and how it will meet your specific needs. In an RFP, you can describe a situation or a problem and the bidders can explain how their solution would address your specific issue(s).

See Full Article Here