FOUR STEPS TO RFP RESPONSE (REALLY, Only FOUR)
Although it might seem overwhelming, there really are only four steps to get you started on your way to confidently responding to an RFP from the US Government.
Ready? Here we go.
First, you need to determine what your NAICS codes are (and, yes, you can have more than one)
The NAICS is the North American Industry Classification System. It helps categorize businesses for the government. It will help the government recognize what it is that you do.
Go to https://www.census.gov/eos/… and put in the keywords that apply to your business in the 2017 NAICS search.
It’s actually kind of fun – and makes you think outside the box as to what your capabilities are (always a good thing).
Next, register on Sam.gov.
This might take a while – it has a lot of sections – but again, it is worth it.
You will need to have banking information and your NAICS codes.
Also, there will be some FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) Clauses referenced in there.
The FAR Clause Cheat Sheet by RFPrepared can help you determine what those clauses mean and what they mean to you.
Check out the FAR Clause Cheat Sheet on our site under Products.
It’s on sale right now for $149. It helps to have that peace of mind.
Then, start cruising around on FBO.gov.
It’s best to create a search that narrows your options down and will send you updates.
This isn’t difficult to do – but it will take some focus.
It’s well worth it.
The last thing is to make sure any RFP you find interesting/applicable to your business – read the whole thing through.
It will be hard – there will be parts that you don’t understand, and there will be more of those pesky FAR Clauses.
RFPrepared has some simple tools to help you.
Check out the free SF (Standard Form) First Look on our site under Products. Familiarize yourself with what these forms look like and what to watch out for.
And, this is where the FAR Clause Cheat Sheet by RFPrepared really comes in handy. There will be Clauses in the RFP that are included in the text, and ones that are only mentioned by reference. You will be held responsible for what is in those Clauses either way, so you will be more confident if you know the specifics.
Of course, our staff at RFPrepared would be glad to help you read through that RFP. Just let us know.
Four steps – that’s all – to get you started.
Ready? Go!
January 9, 2017
OSHA records? What OSHA records?
At one of my previous companies, I walked down the hall one day to the office of the new Safety Director. I needed to get the OSHA records for the company for the past three years to include in a response to a request for proposal.
I knew we were in trouble by the look on his face when I requested these records. He didn’t know where they were or where to obtain them.
I walked away thinking…well, this is a fine mess.
Almost always a request for proposal (RFP) will require the responding company to provide information about their safety records. Are you prepared to answer incredibly specific questions such as these:
- List your company’s interstate worker’s compensation experience modification rate for the past three years plus the current year.
- Do you have reason to believe that your rate for the current year will vary by more than 5% from the most recent rate?
- Using your OSHA 300 Log, provide your Incident Rate and Lost Time Rate for the past three years plus the current year. Please provide copies of your OSHA 300 Log for these years.
- How many fatalities have you experienced in the past three years plus the current year?
- Do you have a written safety program?
- Do you conduct site safety inspections?
- Do you have a drug and alcohol policy?
- Do you have an accident/incident investigation and reporting procedures?
- How do you manage subcontractor safety?
- Have you been inspected by OSHA or other industrial safety enforcement agency in the past three years or the current year?
- What safety training do you provide to your employees?
- Who has site safety responsibility?
- Who is the officer in your company with responsibility for safety?
- Describe any innovative process or approach that demonstrates your workforce’s ownership of your health and safety process and management’s guidance and support, for example, accountability programs, incentive programs, hazard recognition programs.
These are actual questions from a safety questionnaire required to be completed before you can bid. Could you readily find this information and drop it in? Wouldn’t it be nice if it was all in one place and ready to go?
Bobby Unser said, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” If you have your ducks in a row when that opportunity comes, you will be successful.
Contact us today – let’s get started.
Also, give yourself a leg up and check out the FAR Clause Cheat Sheet and the SF (Standard Forms) First Look – knowledge is power.