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Uncover negotiation secrets, vendor sales tactics, and RFX strategies to level the playing field, achieve fair deals, and avoid common pitfalls. The guide explores essential negotiation factors, like skills, timing, and culture. Learn techniques from award to dispute resolution.
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The RFx Leveling the Negotiation Playing Field Stephen R. Guth, Esq. www.StephenGuth.com
WHAT WE’LL COVER • A Little Bit About You • Your Worthy Adversary • Negotiation Objectives • The Great Equalizer
FACTORS AFFECTING (YOUR) NEGOTIATION LEVERAGE Negotiation Skills Physical Condition Knowledge Emotional State Timing (YOU) Positional Power Culture / Upbringing Make the Deal Happen
YOUR WORTHY ADVERSARY • Trained to Sell • Deal-After-Deal • Compensated to Sell • Significant Resources • Time • Will “Get the Deal” from Someone
VENDOR SALES SECRETS • Influence • Leverage • Retrospectives
THREE THINGS TO NEVER TELL A SUPPLIER (Survey Says…) • Schedule • Criticality • Budget • Oh yeah, and don’t give ‘em an org chart…
NEGOTIATION OBJECTIVES • Equalize Leverage • Skin in the Game • Be A Good “Partner” • Get a Fair Deal • Get What You Paid For GOOD FAST CHEAP
THE GREAT EQUALIZER – THE RFX • Creates Competitive Leverage • Process-based Procurement • Documents Your Needs • Communicates That You’re Professional • Explains Procurement Process • Helps To Qualify Suppliers • Makes Evaluation Easier • Serves As Historical Record
RFx TYPES • Request for Information • Information gathering tool • No or limited understanding of the marketplace • Unable (or unwilling) to develop robust scope of work • Very little effort • Request for Proposal • Evaluative tool • Better knowledge of the marketplace and sellers • More time and effort • Request for Quotation • Price comparison tool • Very detailed understanding of marketplace and sellers • Focus of quantity and price (usually commodity focused) • Very little effort (but lots of knowledge needed)
THE SOURCING CONTINUUM PMI and NCMA Pre-award Phase Award Phase Post-Award Phase Competitive Bidding Proposal Evaluation Price and Business Negotiations Contract Management Corporate Contract Drafting Contract Drafting Dispute Resolution We Want to Be Your “Partner” Wooo hooooo! Sorry, That Wasn’t Part of the Deal… Vendor- Speak
YOUR “PAPER” • Favorable Conditions! • Shifts Burden of Review • Avoids “Weasel Words” • P.S. PDF Files are Poor Sport FELINE SERVICES CONTRACT You (“Food Bringer”) agree to worship me and meet all of my demands. Food Bringer acknowledges and agrees that I am superior to Food Bringer in all regards. Just sign here __________ And here __________
SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING RFP REQUIREMENTS • Have a “Theme” • Ask Combined Closed / Opened Questions (“Do you…? If so, how do you…?”) • Write with the Future Proposal Evaluation and Contract in Mind • Avoid Lumping Requirements Together • Define Terms of Art, Abbr., and ACRNYMS • Be Specific—Avoid Ambiguity and Assumptions • Be Clear and Concise—More Isn’t Better • Check for Typos, Grammer, and Other Errers
TRADITIONAL SELECTION / NEGOTIATION MODEL 100% Customer Supplier 0% RFP Issued Proposals Submitted Vendor Selected Negotiations Contract Award
PRE-NEGOTIATION MODEL 100% Customer Supplier 0% Vendors Shortlisted Request for BAFOs Vendor Selected RFP Issued Proposals Submitted Contract Award
PROPOSAL EVALUATION FACTORS • Apples-to-Apples and Quantitative Comparisons • Strength of Proposal • Adherence to Requirements • Ability to Perform / Deliver • Time / Position in Marketplace + Innovation • Financial Stability • Willingness to Contract Commitments • References (Good and Bad) • Price (Not Always a Factor)
PROPOSAL EVALUATION METHODS • Many Different Methods (and Tools) Exist • Qualitative • “Word” Ratings (e.g., Unacceptable, Acceptable) • Flaws: More Subjective, May Be Inefficient • Quantitative • Rating • Scoring (Weighting) • Bottom Line • Don’t Over-complicate • Use What You’re Comfortable With • Eval Method in RFX?
Rating Weighting / Rating QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION METHOD EXAMPLES