Begin at the End

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Introduction What is an RFP & Common RFPs for HR Who is Involved in the RFP Process Preparing for an RFP

0/3 Module 2
Identify the Purpose for Conducting the Specific RFP

Understanding Contract Lengths & Renewal Terms Setting the Scope & Requirments Achieving Consensus on the RFP Parameters

0/2 Module 3
Roles & Responsibilities

Roles & Responsibilities RACI

0/4 Module 4
Conducting a Needs Analysis

What is Important & What's Not Important? Marketplace Trends & Considerations Impact on the Organization Key Measurements & Metrics

0/3 Module 5
Establish an RFP schedule

Begin at the End Participant & Business Scheduling Considerations Service Provider Transition Timing

0/4 Module 6
Assemble & Assess Vendors

Purchasing Department Requirements Who & How many Vendors to Invite Providing Information to the Vendors Reference Checks

0/5 Module 7
Evaluating Proposals

Establish Quality & Criticality Factors Develop a Rubric to Capture Key Capabilities Select an Evaluation Team Make a Selection Complete the Process

0/3 Module 8
Post RFP Actions

Notify Winner & all Participants Transitioning, Contracts & Miscellaneous Conclusion

Course Details
Lesson Details
Your Progress

RFP Process for HR

Format: Self-paced
Course Duration: 1 hr 19 mins
SHRM Professional Development Credits: 1.25
HRCI General Recertification Credits: 1.25
Certificate of Completion (after passing quiz)

It’s Friday morning, the end of the work week. Imagine yourself sitting at your computer analyzing employee data. The software keeps crashing and it just doesn’t have the capability you need any longer. You have a big problem. What’s the solution? An RFP (Request for Proposal).

HR departments conduct RFPs regularly across a broad spectrum of HR functions such as benefits, compensation and recruitment with vendors who supply goods and services to support everyday business needs. This course will guide you through the often overwhelming yet rewarding process of implementing an RFP. It’ll show you how to conduct one from start to finish.

As an HR practitioner, you will eventually be involved or possibly manage an RFP process. The overall learning objective is to not only help you understand the process but also enable you to successfully lead it!

SHRM:
HR Jetpack is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This program is valid for 1.25 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit shrmcertification.org.

HRCI:
This activity, has been approved for 1.25 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.
The use of the HRCI seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute's® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

Title: Begin at the End
Module: Establish an RFP schedule
Duration: 2:26

Scheduling the RFP along with considerations of time availability is very important for achieving success. Instead of looking at the Start, I suggest looking backwards when preparing a schedule.

Ask when the contract for your existing provider, if you currently have one, is ending. That should be your starting point to work backwards. You can then evaluate how much time it may take to transition or implement a new vendor to replace an existing one. Write down how many days or weeks are necessary.

Next, you need to block out time to conduct an RFP and to prepare for an RFP. I always suggest adding in a little extra time for safety. Once you have done that, I suggest building an actual time line.

Let’s go over an example.

Let’s say you have a benefit provider renewal that you are putting out to bid. You know that your open enrollment period is every June and the new program year starts July 1.

You have determined it will take 4 weeks to conduct an RFP and at least 3 weeks to coordinate communication to potential providers and time for all activities leading up to the actual meetings. You then may decide to add in 1 extra week to deal with a multitude of challenges that may come up during the process. Finally, you add 4 weeks for the RFP planning process.

Here’s a breakdown of the dates. July 1^st starts the new benefit plan year. Going back 4 weeks to June 1^st starts the open enrollment period. You’d work with your team to schedule the RFP vendor meetings and make a decision starting May 1^st. You’d send RFP communications to potential vendors starting April 1^st and begin the actual RFP process on March 1^st.

This example is a pretty typical timeline, but it may be much longer or shorter depending on your project.

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Instructor: Mark Fogel

Mark S. Fogel, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR, is an educator working as a Senior Adjunct Professor of distinction at Adelphi University’s Business School. Mark leads HR classes for MBA and Undergrad students in Staffing, Selection, Compensation and Global disciplines. He has also presented over two dozen times at SHRM national, regional, and local conferences on a...

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