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Having been in sales for more than 15 years to the private sector as
welll as the govenment sector (state and federal level), selling
products that averaged from $5,000 to $1,00,000+ per sale, I can
attest through personal experience that many more contracts are, for
all dollar levels, if not decieded, then at least tilted in a
specific direction before the RFP hits the street than you would like
to accept. Usualy this will be done by having the RFP specifications
defined so that only a specific product or service can comply with
most requirements. The purpose of the proposal in those cases are so
that when the contract is disputed by the 2nd place vendor, the
argument for "...or similar" can be initiated.
It happens. I know it does. Lets leave it at that.
> I find it reassuring to hear tales and opinions with the ring of
> authenticity--truths about proposal adventures and experiences. If
> you happen to visit some of the busier bars with crowded happy
> hours, you may hear some of the cries and complaints that I have
> so often heard during happy hours.
>
> There is one kind of character I often encountered who will
> smugly reassure anyone who asks that unless you "know
> someone," "was in on it at the beginning, before the RFP was
> advertised," or had some analogous advantage, you are wasting
> your time to write a proposal. The winner was selected long
> ago, he will assure you.
>
> Certain people are eager to believe such myths. Perhaps there
> is some tiny seed, some shred of truth there in that the really
> big contracts, those that mean large payrolls for some Senator's
=====
John Posada, Senior Technical Writer
"How to be happy in life: Never impose your beliefs
on anyone else and never fry bacon in the nude."
-- Anon mailto:john -at- tdandw -dot- com, 732-259-2874
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