RFP Advice

[rsene...@gmail.com]

Hello everyone,

My library is being forced to go through with an RFP this year for our digital preservation system.  When we acquired our current one, we did our own version of an RFP then wrote a sole source justification. Now that the contract is up for renegotiation/renewal, our purchasing department will not let that slide this time around. We also must go through the RFP process so in the future if we do write a sole source, we can point to the results of the RFP. A complicating factor for us is that, at this time, we do not have our Digital Preservation Archivist to lead the discussion on requirements. We also cannot wait until they start in a few months to get the process started.

To be as prepared as we can be, we're hoping to speak with a few institutions who have recently gone through the process.  We want to learn what went well, what you're glad you included, what didn't go well, what you wish you included but didn't, and what you wish you did differently. If anyone is also willing to share the text of their RFP, we would also really appreciate that.

If you have any questions or wish to speak off the listserv, you can email me at rse...@gsu.edu.

Thank you very much in advance for your help,

Rachel Senese Myers