Module 05 Course Project Beginning Phase

Website Request for Proposals (RFP)

1. DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF WEB SITE
a. Describe the Web project you wish to undertake. Is it a new site, a redesign, or an update?
b. What problems will this technology project solve or what new capabilities will it provide for your organization?
c. If you have made a decision beforehand, indicate whether this site relies on a database to display information or will be "static" HTML.

2. BUDGET & COST ESTIMATES
a. Provide a budget range so your solutions providers can scale their proposal accurately.
b. Indicate whether your organization is ready to start work, or you have to raise money to begin the project. If you do need to raise money, vendors may help you describe the project in order to maximize your chances of receiving funding.

3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
a. Organization must own or have full access to and have the right to customize site code.
b. Terms for proposal:

i. Key dates
ii. Proposals should be delivered to __________. Copies should be ____________(postmarked/ or received) by ______________.
iii. Please provide ______ copies of any proposals submitted.
iv. All proposals must include a statement of authorization to bid signed by a principal of the responding company
v. All proposals must use the proposal format outlined in this RFP.
vi. Parties submitting separate proposals may not discuss pricing information or they will be ineligible to bid on the project.
vii. Bidder status: bidder must disclose any relevant conflicts of interest and/or pending lawsuits.

4. BACKGROUND OF COMPANY OR PROPOSED COMPANY
a. Tell vendors about your organization. Provide links to information on your existing Web site, if applicable. When was your organization founded? How many staff members does your organization have?

5. AUDIENCE
a. Define the audience that will be using the site. Do you have a defined group of users or "stakeholders" who will be regularly using the site and have different needs?
b. Will the entire site be accessible to the general public?

c. Will logins be required? Will there be a separate section for “members” or “admins”?
d. Do you need the capability for staff or members to "log in" to access special information?

6. TOOLS AND FUNCTIONALITIES
a. Essential components: are there certain features that are essential to any proposal you will consider?
b. Non-essential components: Are there other features of your site that you would like but are not essential to submitted proposals?

7. REPORTING NEEDS
a. If the site is database driven, what types of information will you regularly need to draw from it?

8. SITE SPECIFICATIONS
a. Design parameters
b. Accessibility/Usability
i. Bobby-approved site means it is section 508 compliant
ii. Usability testing mid-stream will validate navigation choices
c. Platform, if applicable
i. Is this a redesign of a current site? If so, in what language is the current site built? (ex: cold fusion, ASP, PHP, Dreamweaver)
ii. On what format is the current site hosted? (Ex: NT, UNIX, Apache)
d. eCommerce
i. Are you using an eCommerce system now?
ii. If so, what are you using?

9. AVAILABLE TECHNOLGY RESOURCES/INTEGRATION ISSUES
a. Do you have existing pages of Web content that you expect your Web developer to add to the new site? (Provide a map of your current site indicating how many pages will need to be transferred)
b. Do you have existing databases that will need to be imported or connected to the new site?
c. Do you have existing e-Commerce systems, web forums or other tools that the new site should be connected to?

10. STAFF RESOURCES
a. Point of contact/ project manager
b. Do you have a "Web team" of technical and non-technical staff members that will be reviewing proposals? If not, consider forming one.
c. Do you have a technology staff that vendors should plan to work with?

11. PROPOSED TIMELINE:
(Please indicate the timeline you expect vendor to adhere to)
i. Develop RFP process (forward email address for questions on RFP)
ii. RFP release date
iii. Submission of questions on RFP
iv. Notification of Intention to bid
v. Answers to questions emailed to all bidders
vi. Proposals due
vii. Finalist interviews
viii. Proposal award date
ix. Initial meetings
x. Drop-dead Date (no new concepts/functionality added)
xi. Beta site launch
xii. Proposed site launch

12. FORMAT FOR PROPOSALS

1. Executive Summary

2. Technical Volume
a. Web development process: explain the process you will follow to build the Web site, including major milestones and evaluation
b. Address usability standards and testing
c. Address any important technology information and specifications used in your solution (languages, platform, etc.)

3. Management Volume
a. Organizational structure: communication process; including lines of reporting and any special tools used.
b. Schedule of deliverables; include major milestones and testing proposal.

4. Budget Volume
a. Break down cost by production hours, tools and functionalities
b. Maintenance and support: identify any costs that should be assumed as part of the site and ongoing costs for maintenance and support we need in the future.
c. License fees: identify the costs we will need to pay to develop or host the site.
d. Hosting: identify whether we must or are highly encouraged to host with your company. If hosting is provided as an option or requirement, provide pricing options.
e. Training and Style Guide: identify costs to train our staff to use site tools and provide a style guide.
f. Other charge areas: Please identify whether there will be other expenses, consulting fees, future work, etc. to complete this project.

5. Attachments
a. Qualifications and Experience: relevant case histories with information on accessing online demos or examples
b. Biographies of all who will work on account
c. Professional references