The Modern RFP: Designing Smarter, Faster and Fairer RFP Solicitations
What You Will Learn
The seminar draws from the proven content of the existing workbook and significant new updates reflecting current procurement trends, technology, and best practices. Topics include:
From the Current RFP Blueprint Workbook (Core Content Retained and Strengthened)
- The purpose and role of the RFP in public procurement
- How to plan an RFP from concept to contract
- Early engagement, internal coordination, and market research
- Writing clear, concise, and complete scopes of work and specifications
- Drafting evaluation criteria, scoring methodologies, and weighting systems
- Managing proposer questions, addenda, and communications
- Running the evaluation team: roles, rules, and common pitfalls
- Best value analysis and documenting award decisions
- Developing strong debriefings and maintaining a defensible procurement file
- Risk mitigation, compliance, and audit readiness
New and Modernized Content Added for 2025. Using AI Responsibly Throughout the RFP Process
- AI-supported market research and supplier identification
- AI tools for drafting scopes of work, performance measures, and evaluation criteria
- AI-assisted plain-language reviews to remove ambiguity
- Screening proposals for responsiveness and summarizing complex submissions
- Red-flag detection, risk signals, and performance indicators
- AI support for evaluators (without substituting human judgment)
- Organizing evaluator comments and identifying scoring inconsistencies
- Compliance considerations, data privacy, and guardrails for public entities
Emerging Trends and Best Practices in Modern Solicitation Design
- Multi-stage RFPs and multi-phase qualifications
- Agile procurement for technology and complex services
- Outcome-based and performance-based specifications
- Strengthening impartiality and guarding against evaluator bias
- Designing RFP timelines that reflect real-world constraints
- Incorporating sustainability, DEI, and socioeconomic goals
- New expectations for transparency, documentation, and defensibility
Practical Tools and Templates
- Updated checklists for planning, drafting, evaluating, and awarding
- Updated evaluation matrices, scoring sheets, and consensus models
- AI-supported sample prompts for procurement professionals
- Revised templates for scopes of work and performance specifications
Who Should Attend
This seminar is designed for:
- Procurement officials and contract managers
- Departmental requestors and project managers
- Legal counsel supporting procurement
- Anyone involved in drafting, evaluating, or managing RFPs
The Bottom Line
This is the most significant update to the RFP Blueprint in over a decade. If you want your procurement team to modernize its RFP practices, strengthen defensibility, and take advantage of emerging tools — without sacrificing fairness, transparency, or public trust — this is the seminar you should not miss.
Do not miss this virtual training opportunity scheduled for December 17, 2025
(9 AM – 5 PM – 7 Contact Hours)
Paul will send Zoom link to all registrants
$249 SAMPO Members / $349 Non-Members
Please visit
Here are some links to help you feel confident is asking your boss for the training funds you need.
https://online.wharton.upenn.edu/blog/ask-your-boss-to-pay-for-professional-development/
https://www.influential-training.com/how-to-ask-for-training-at-work-4-steps-to-convince-your-boss/