One of the best ways for companies to guarantee business is through the RFP or RFI process. Professional Development RFPs, or Requests for Proposals, are requests for companies to bid for professional development service contracts. Responding companies can secure great opportunities that will help them sustain their business. Additionally, winning one of these contracts can be a great way to legitimize their business, opening you up for future opportunities.

Getting started can be daunting, especially if you tackle a bid for professional development services without prior experience. This guide will help set you on the right path and help simplify the response process. 

Why You Should Be Completing Bids

The bidding world seems like a lot of effort, but it is well worth it. There are many benefits to pursuing RFP opportunities.

First and foremost, bids are industry-specific. RFPs/RFIs are focused on specific industries or roles. Finding an RFP that matches what your team does is a great way to draw in businesses that you know you can hit out of the park!

Additionally, RFPs are a great way to secure business that will keep going through recessions or when business is slower. RFPs that result in contracts and agreements can establish a lasting relationship that will persist through highs and lows.

Having an established relationship with an enterprise or the government is a great way to legitimize your business. Being able to advertise that your business has business with legitimate, recognizable organizations is a great feather to have in your cap!

Potential Sites to Search for Professional Development RFPs

So, you’ve made the decision to submit bids to further your professional development business. Where do you find these opportunities? The good news is there are multiple routes to find the right professional development RFPs and RFIs for your team. 

Some of the best resources, by far, are RFP search engines. 

So, what are RFP search engines? 

Well, RFP search engines compile RFPs and bidding opportunities from major industry and government sites. One example is The Bid Lab’s own user-friendly RFP search engine, Bid Banana. With Bid Banana, you can search and save specific opportunities by tailoring searches by industry and location. Bid Banana will also notify you when new opportunities match your search terms. Sign up today!

Other great RFP resources are official government or organizational sites. For example, Sam.gov is a public US government site where you can see contracting opportunities. You may need an account to access some of the features within this site. Additionally, you can also visit state-specific and local sites to see location-specific opportunities. There are many state-specific sites where local RFPs are posted. Cities or municipalities may also post their professional development RFPs and contracting opportunities on their site. 

Finally, there are professional experts who offer services that help simplify the search process. You can utilize The Bid Lab’s Bid Finder service via Bid Manager! Our team of dedicated experts can actively search, find, and present bidding opportunities to help your business grow. Unlike other services that match keywords to bid opportunities, we have real humans sifting through RFPs to deliver you only the most strategic bids.

Search Terms and Keywords

So, you’ve decided to start looking for contract opportunities, and you have places to look. How are you supposed to search through these massive databases? 

There are some easy tricks to find what works best for you. You can search for something such as “[your industry] RFPs” or “[your industry] contracting opportunities.” For example, let’s say your team is offering accounting services. A great search term might be “Accounting contracting opportunities.” The more specific you can be in your search terms, the better. Using local sites can narrow down based on your region of interest. 

Best Practices for Submitting Professional Development RFPs

What are the best methods to follow to better your chances of securing a professional development RFP contract?

First, review the content provided within the RFP or on the client’s website to get as much information as possible. Is there a previous offerer that they are replacing? What is their budget? Finding key information can lead to a more focused response to their bid. 

Second, review what content is in the professional development RFP before forming your response. Make sure you can meet all of the requirements within the RFP. Does your team have the capacity to fulfill all the obligations within the RFP? Are you able to meet the deadlines? Are you able to offer all of the services that the RFP requires? If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you can move forward! 

Finding the right places that work best for your team can reduce the time you spend looking for business. Additionally, professional development RFPs can have intricate document requirements. Ensuring that you answer all questions and address all points correctly is a vital step in creating a successful bid. 

Third, create a professional and thorough response. There are many fine details that need to be properly addressed. There are frequent requirements where you must address and attach forms and certifications to demonstrate insurance coverage. 

Final Notes

Nobody said that the RFP process is simple, but it is definitely worthwhile. It is a great way to develop your professional development services and establish a consistent level of business that will last through the highs and lows.

If you need help at any stage in the RFP process, whether finding the right opportunities for you or creating good bids, The Bid Lab and Bid Banana are here to help. 

Good bidding and good luck!