Question

Write several paragraphs to provide more in-depth analysis and consideration when answering the following questions. 1. Describe an activity that would require an RFP and why it should be handled with an RFP instead of a RFQ or a partnership.

2. Describe the procurement task. Rate it for the amount of uncertainty of the scope, cost, schedule, and risk. Choose a contract type and explain why that contract type would be an appropriate choice for that set of uncertainties.

3. Describe requirements of a particular quality method, and describe how a post project review would meet that standard.

Answer 1

1. An RFP refers to a document that contains all the requirements and needs of a project. It provides a formalized and structured way of obtaining specific information about vendors, contractors and agencies. These parties engage in bidding for winning the contract depending on the requirements of the RFP. RFPs are mainly used in projects, which are sufficiently complex, needs technical information, solicits complex data for evaluation and comparison and thus requires a formal proposal from the supplier. Thus, these documents are suitable for comparing responses and vendors.

2. Procurement tasks refer to the ones that are used for grouping the labor, equipment and material required for executing scheduled tasks and for planning the purchasing processes for the resources. The factors that influence outsourcing or self-performing decisions are scope, cost, schedule and risk. The company needs to determine the less costly method of either outsourcing or self-performing the project and consequently, select the one, which would help in delivering the project on schedule with minimal risks and optimal scope. The two types of contracts supporting the procurement plan are fixed price and cost reimbursable contracts. A fixed price contract refers to a legal agreement between the company undertaking the project and another entity for providing the goods and services to the project at an agreed-upon pre-determined price. On the other hand, cost reimbursable contracts are the ones where the organization pays to the contractor for carrying out the project by providing the cost of performing the service or procuring the goods. This type of contract will be chosen when the scope of work or the costs related to the project are no well known to the company.

3. The requirements of a particular quality method are functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability, portability, satisfaction, productivity, safety and effectiveness. A post-project review process would help in identifying whether the project objectives have been met by evaluating its effectiveness. It can be conducted by ensuring trust and transparency in the process for gaining critical and truthful observations of the project. Furthermore, objectivity must be ensured so that no bias or partiality exists in the process that can cloud the observations. All the practices and procedures leading to the success of the project are documented. Any issues or surprises arising during the project implementation are also recorded and the ways used for dealing with them. The last step involves taking responsibility of any mistakes and applying that experience to future projects.

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