Supplier Selection

The outsourcing landscape is difficult to navigate due to the ever expanding list of suppliers, locations and service offerings. Because we deal with them on a daily basis, we know the major players, what they can offer, what works and what doesn't.

We will work with you to establish both top-level and detailed criteria to determine which suppliers meet certain minimum thresholds and whether they have any attributes which differentiate their offering. Once the criteria have been established, we customise our Supplier Assessment Model and begin scoring the suppliers on both qualitative and quantitative bases.

The supplier selection process can take many different routes depending on the nature of the functions under consideration, the client's unique situation and the interest the market shows in the opportunity to name a few.

RFIs
In some cases, the situation calls for the use of an RFI, and in those cases an RFI is more than a Request for Information. The two-step approach of starting off with an RFI can be used to validate vendor willingness to participate in the process and interest in the RFP. Alsbridge is well practiced in dealing with outsourcing vendors and is able to develop and issue an RFI that will facilitate and accelerate the sourcing process.

RFPs
Having issued RFPs as executives of organisations buying outsourced services and responded to them as executives with outsourcing suppliers, our consultants know the commercial "tricks of the trade." This dual experience enables us to share with our clients a unique insight into the supplier selection and negotiation process. 

Over time, the suppliers have grown accustomed to RFPs that clearly define requirements. They expect the outsourcing consultant to define the requirements and manage each party's expectations. Simply following a previously developed RFP and issuing it to suppliers will absolutely sub-optimise your results. Alsbridge has dozens of past RFPs on file that we use to build on, but there is no magic bullet in a past RFP. Our consultants commit time and experience to develop your RFP and carry it forward into contract negotiations.
 
We believe that engaging the supplier market with a well-structured (not rigid) RFP will enable competitive market forces to provide the best price proposal for services tailored to the client's unique requirements.