Colorado RFPs: The Ultimate Guide to Colorado Bids
So you’ve had your fill of snowboarding and skiing, and now you’re ready to tackle the tricky Colorado RFP landscape. But these slopes are no bunny hills! If you’re ready to bid on a Colorado RFP, then chances are good that you’re in one of the state’s top industries. Whether you’re in education, IT, healthcare, financial services, tourism, manufacturing or construction, we can help. And we’ll start helping now with this handy one-stop shop ultimate guide to RFPs in the State of Colorado.
So, where do you start? How do you go about bidding? How are you supposed to find the right RFP opportunity, and how do you write a competitive bid to win a contract in the Centennial State? You have questions, and The Bid Lab has answers. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to conquer the snowcap peaks of Colorado RFPs.
What is an RFP?
So, what is an RFP anyway? The term RFP stands for Request for Proposals, and it is just that. The issuing entity is requesting various vendors to propose solutions to the issuing entity’s needs. You, in turn, will then prepare a response proposal, or a bid, that addresses your plan to provide the services outlined in the RFP.
Before deciding on a Colorado RFP to bid on, you’ll want to pay close attention to what you can offer vs what is required. More on that later. Let’s first figure out where to find Colorado RFPs.
Where Can You Find Colorado RFPs?
Procurements in Colorado are decentralized, which means each agency is in charge of conducting its own bid solicitation process. So, what does that mean? Well, for vendors, it means finding relevant bids in the State of Colorado can be potentially overwhelming. Naturally, here is where we turn to the Internet. Here’s your guide to navigating state resources to help you find the perfect Colorado RFP.
- ColoradoVSS is the official website for Colorado state procurements. It should be the first stop on your RFP journey.
- Colorado Springs Procurement Services: This is just one example of the many local and city procurement websites out there in the state of Colorado. If you are looking to get local, these websites are all just one Google search away!
- Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System: This is another destination for you to find state and local RFPs in Colorado.
- CDOT Bidding and Contracting: This is the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Bidding and Contracting site. CDOT updates the board biweekly in the spring and summer and weekly in the fall and winter. It’s a great resource for upcoming transportation and construction-related RFPs.
- CSU Procurement Services: Did you know that universities often have their own procurement websites? Do a search for your favorite Colorado university with the term “RFP” or “procurement” to find the appropriate site.
- Bid Banana: The perfect RFP opportunity is just a few keystrokes away when you use RFP search engines! Naturally, we recommend Bid Banana, our own user-friendly RFP search engine. Bid Banana is also a great way to compare and contrast similar projects within your industry.
Evaluate Your Colorado RFP
So you’ve found your perfect Colorado RFP. What comes next? Well, first, you have to double-check that the RFP you want to bid on is really a good match.
Take a look at the evaluation criteria. Evaluation committees use the criteria like a scorecard to grade your bid objectively. They ensure that all bidders are transparent about how they will be evaluated while leveling the playing field.
Score yourself with an objective score. Give yourself a score based on how well you think you can deliver the services according to the outlined criteria. The RFP might seem like a perfect fit at first glance, but you might find a section in the evaluation criteria that you know you would score poorly on. If that’s the case, it’s not worth the time and effort of crafting a bid, so keep searching! In an economic powerhouse like Colorado, there will always be other RFP opportunities. Eventually, You’ll find one that better matches what you and your company can offer.
Prepare a Winning Response
Crafting a Colorado RFP response at first can seem daunting. But when you break the RFP down into its component parts, it’s easier to see a light at the end of the tunnel. By understanding each piece, you’ll soon be bidding on multiple Colorado RFPs at the same time.
- Review and follow the directions. Make sure that you are following the directions of the RFP to the letter. You might have a scenario where different people are looking at different aspects of the RFP when scoring it. If you don’t follow directions in one section, there might be one person in the scoring panel who is only interested in that one section as it relates to their silo of the company. By not being complete and articulate with your answer, you might ruin your score. Every question counts! Don’t assume because you are strong in one area that you can be weak in another area.
- Get your cost proposal right. Make sure that your pricing is competitive, but don’t undersell yourself either. Be realistic and honest with yourself. You know what your value is. Don’t be afraid to show it.
- Include all the necessary documentation. You might need to produce various licenses or certifications per the RFP instructions. There might also be a request for resumes and references as well. If you can’t provide a certification or license because you don’t have it, you may be bidding on an RFP that you aren’t qualified for.
Draft Your Colorado RFP Response
- Answer questions as thoroughly as possible. If there is a question in the RFP for you to answer, it’s there for a reason. Don’t be shy with your answers.
- Show off with an executive summary that shows who you are and what you do. This is where you get to shine.
- Write a compelling letter of transmittal. This is where you’ll introduce your company, its background, and what makes it the perfect fit for the RFP in question. Don’t go too crazy, though, as your letter of transmittal shouldn’t be too long. Keep it at a page and you should be good.
You Don’t Have to Go It Alone
Ready for an RFP that rocks as much as the Colorado mountains? You’re in luck. The Bid Lab is all about helping organizations like yours reach their full potential. So, if you want to know more about how we can help you land lucrative government contracts to help you expand your business, reach out! The procurement experts at The Bid Lab are ready to get your proposals into the right hands. Let us help you prepare a compliant, thorough, and professional proposal response that takes your organization to the top. Reach out to schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-844-4BIDLAB or emailing respond@thebidlab.com.
Check out our Learning Center for tips on finding, writing, and submitting a winning Colorado RFP.
