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RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Capabilities Brochure
303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Hello. I’m Evan Morris, Founder of RFP Specialists, LLC.
Thanks for taking a moment to hear about our company and how we can
help you win the next RFP that comes your way.
Does your company dread responding to RFPs but yet you know it is
necessary? And, what about the investment needed in terms of time,
human resources, and talent? To say nothing of the pain, and frustration incurred as you try
to put your best foot forward.
The challenge is that you may not regularly respond to RFPs, and so when they arrive
everyone gets anxious with an implied “Oh, not another one of these!”
You have other important things to do in the normal course of business such as: executing
your business plan, making a profit, retaining customers, motivating your sales team,
finding new customers, and outperforming your competitors.
This is where RFP Specialists comes into the picture. Our goal is to work with your team in a
collaborative manner to reduce the stress of responding to RFPs, and to enable a best-in-
class submission. The response will be yours, and you will have control of the material but we
can get you organized, prepare the submission for you, and offer services that will:
1. Be an affordable, variable cost model for RFP preparation
2. Assure that your company will be presented in the best way possible
I would like to schedule a brief conversation to see how we might ease RFP response anxiety,
and increase your chances of winning.
Very truly yours,
303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Our Methodology & Approach
Client Partnerships – Our commitment and work is a partnership with our clients. We strive to
bring such value to our customers that we can retain their loyalty for many years. Our strategy
is to be customer intimate with your company. This means that we will need to know about
your strategies, philosophies, vision, core strengths, competitive advantages, your
sustainability, and social responsibility initiatives. The more we know about your company the
better RFP responses we can write.
Our 2 Stage, 23 Step RFP Response Process – The first stage of our partnership includes initial,
frontend work to prepare the company for best-in-class RFP response capabilities. The time
and effort we mutually invest at this stage will enable future responses to be done more
quickly, more accurately, and in a more organized (less frantic) way.
Stage 2 includes a very detailed RFP response protocol that we will carefully follow to insure
thoroughness, a single voice that expresses your optimal story, and language that appeals
specifically to the end user. This part of our process maximizes the chances of a win in a most
competitive environment.
RFP Specialists will establish a confidential and secure FTP site where we can archive your
responses, graphic material, and other data for future projects.
We will produce an impactful submission that is not only grammatically flawless but formatted
with a keen sense of readability. Our business vocabulary will be combined with the cultural
uniqueness of your company. In the end, we will have a response that is distinctively yours.
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
YOUR RFP
RESOURCES
END USER issues the RFP
Collaborates with RFP writer &
other 3rd party partners
Tasks to Complete � Read & understand the RFP
� Build a comprehensive response plan
� Assemble & coordinate the resource team
� Make task assignments
� Stay-on-track plan, conference call meetings, meet deadlines
• Select product to specify and present
• Determine services to provide
• Determine how to partner with end user
• Establish pricing strategy, do pricing
• Margin management
� RFP response protocol review with the team
� Research your prior responses, look at existing graphics
� Taylor, change, and edit material to fit this opportunity
� Collect information, and text for responses
� Cover letter
� Respond with detailed answers to RFP questions
� Build graphics, charts, etc. from information provided
� Write response with one voice
� Present a compelling story that conveys your expertise, culture,
value proposition, mission, and why you should be chosen
� Assemble ALL (cover letter, exec summary, product/service
proposals, specifications, pricing, answers to all questions, your
compelling story) into a final response
� Do 4 proof reads (compelling story, empathy end user, empathy
competitor, and grammar/language usage)
� Production of the submission that may include: 3-ring binders,
PowerPoint overview, iPad overview, presentation charts/props,
media tools (memory sticks, CD/DVD’s)
• Presentation day (your day, your show)
YOUR COMPANY
Supplier of goods & services
INVITED TO RESPOND TO THE RFP
RFP
Specialists
3rd Party Service
Providers
Distributor
Partners
Dealer Partners
Manufacturing
Partners
Bold Dark Blue Italic = areas that RFP
Specialists can handle, and/or assist with
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
We’ve Been Keeping Excellent Company
Our team resources have provided responses and information to America’s finest firms:
Aerojet General Corporation Lockheed-Martin Aerospace
Alexian Long Island Medical, NY
Allied Waste Loral Space Systems
Althea Technologies Microsoft Corporation
Bank of America NASA Ames Research Center
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Michigan National Auto Warranty
Cardinal Health National IPA
CH2MHill Natural Resource Scientists
Charles River Laboratories Northrop Grumman
Cherry Creek Schools Novation
City of Ft. Worth P G & E
Clark County Center for Community Health Pacific Research Institute
Corning Water District Pueblo City County Health
Corporate Express Rockwell International
Cybor Corporation Schenker
DataTape (division of Kodak) Soc. Sec. Administration
District Courts of Colorado St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Electromec Design & Dev. Company Staples
Equifax Services Stryker Endoscopy
Farmers Insurance Texas Health Resource
First National Bank of Arizona The Home Depot
Go-Power Corporation The Resource Center
Hospice of Charleston Timken
Hospira TRC Environmental
HPG UniCom Systems
Indianapolis Colts Universal Systems & Technology
Iron Mountain University of Arizona
Jackson-Madison Cty Gen Hospital Vectra Bank
Kaiser Permanente Watkins-Johnson
KB Home - Las Vegas Western Dental Services
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Lithia Motors Xcel Energy
Lockheed Missiles & Space Company
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Pricing
Our unique value is centered on the
premise that we work hard with your
team to produce a one-off response. In
this environment, every RFP response is
different, and will require a variety of
writing talent, organizational effort,
graphic creativity, and production. The
final proposal may be presented in
PowerPoint, iPad files, and print editions among others. These variations
complicate what otherwise would be a simple pricing model.
Comprehensive Partnering, 2 Stage, 23 Step Process – For the company that does multiple RFPs per quarter
or year, once can appreciate that if those responses were outsourced to RFP Specialists then company
resources could be utilized more effectively in other areas, while we do much of the work. Our pricing for
Stage 1: research, frontend work, library build, and maintenance is calculated differently than our rates for
on-going RFPs. Therefore the total package would contain different pricing practices for Stage 1, and for
Stage 2: production of RFP responses. These quotes can be easily prepared after initial conversation where
we identify the condition of your current information and data.
Large, Complex RFP w/No Front Work/Research, No Library, No FTP Site - We will do this but let us explain
why this is not recommended. There will always be cases where we will be asked to only write a response to
one RFP, but our business is geared for an increasingly efficient partnership with long term clients. It will be
to your advantage to partner with us on our Stage 1 process of laying down a firm foundation of research,
and information archiving which will support not only one RFP but will enhance responses for all following
RFPs. Onetime, large, complex RFPs may require different resources (graphic design, PowerPoint, production
nuances, etc.). We will be able to quote this situation after leading you through our standard checklist.
Quick, and Simple RFP/RFQ Responses – Will be priced at an hourly rate as low as $78.50 per hour
depending on the exact scope and complexity of work.
Last Minute, Crunched Timeline Pricing – On occasion, you may find that for one reason or another, a
request for proposal was in-house for days but was not acted upon until it was discovered at a late date (i.e.
crunch time). This may require weekend or holiday work. No problem, we’re happy to do that; however
crunch schedules will be subject to different rates.
Looking for Pricing? – Call Evan Morris, 303 345 3355 to go through a fact finding checklist, and we will pull
together cost proposals for you. We mean business, we want your business.
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Your RFP Response Deliverable Format Options
Interested in Taking the Next Step?
Great! – Here’s what we can do. Let’s talk briefly on the phone and then we can schedule a
conference bridge or Webex meeting to review our capabilities and to hear about your needs.
We will entertain your questions and commit to an open dialog subsequent to the Webex. At
that time we can draft our recommendations on how we might proceed along with cost
proposals.
Printed, ringed binder
Secure FTP site delivery
iPad format
CD/DVD or memory stick
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
RFP Specialists, LLC “We mean business.”
Resource Biographies
Evan Morris, Founder – A graduate of the Krannert School of Management, Purdue University,
Evan has experienced a long and productive career across a few focused areas: both Fortune
500 and medium sized firms; publicly traded and privately held. His first career was in financial
management and later moved into marketing and sales leadership roles. Evan spent nearly 6
years with Corporate Express as a Market Vice President and also held director level
assignments with a $450 million division of the company. One major initiative was to form a
RFP response team, where work was submitted to many of America’s largest companies. Evan
led the team through many responses and wins during his tenure. Industry expertise includes:
office furniture, office supplies, business interior components, manufacturing, channels of
distribution (dealers, wholesale distributors, and franchises), industrial distribution, food
processing machine manufacturing, and certain segments of financial services. He is the
former chairman of his industry’s national trade association, has been published in trade
journals and invited to speak at various trade shows.
Amy Nelson, RFP Response Writer & Specialist – A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Colorado
State University, Amy has extensive experience working as a Proposal Writer/RFP Specialist for
Fortune 500 companies within Business Development Units. Her entire work history spans
multiple areas including aviation, finance, insurance, publishing, retail, and real estate
industries. Amy interacts closely with sales, subject matter experts, and operations to ensure
the most accurate and fully developed RFP response. Her expertise also includes preparation of
finalist presentation materials.
Joanie Simon, RFP Response Writer & Specialist – During her professional career, Joanie has
functioned primarily as a technical, and business writer/editor focusing on the development,
and preparation of RFP responses, and supporting documentation for various Fortune 500
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303 345 3355
www.RFPSpecialists.com
companies within their New Business Development Divisions. As an all-around proposal
specialist, she excels in the development, writing, and preparation of effective Executive
Summaries, and is particularly well versed with the organization, planning, and compliance
aspects of winning proposal strategies. Her proposal work history has been primarily with
military, aerospace, and Government contractors, as well as in the environmental, medical,
dental, and nationwide investigations markets. Joanie has been involved in legal
advocacy/disability award projects, is an adult literacy tutor, and speech writer. A few of her
achievements include the Chamber of Commerce Business Award and the Award of Excellence
for her Loral Western Development Laboratory Strategic Plan, and Business Review. She is a
member of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals. Her organizational, and
management skills coincide with, and compliment her freelance writing, editing, and proposal
expertise.
Larry Lester, RFP Response Writer & Specialist – A graduate of California State University,
Chico with a degree in Marketing. Larry served with the Air Force as a Procurement Specialist.
While serving within the Strategic Air Command, he assisted in the establishment of the first
consolidated purchasing group with the responsibility of managing special allocations of Non
Appropriated Funds. In this procurement career with the USAF, he gained experience, and
worked with many RFPs, and other procurement tools in the normal course of business. Larry
also managed a four state territory as a manufacturer’s representative. His industry focus has
been in furniture, hospitality, military, commercial lighting, and carpeting. Within the
manufacturing sector, he has been a field sales support specialist for over 20 years assisting
national, and regional sales managers, and national sales agencies. He later joined Corporate
Express where he worked in the Centralized Resource Center developing RFP responses for bids
in excess of $250K.
Karen Osband, RFP Response Writer & Specialist – Karen has had an extensive career in senior
management positions, and subsequent executive level consulting activities, covering most
functional areas in companies of all sizes. Her specific industry experience is with airlines, tour
operators, cruise lines, and travel technology companies, plus some medical, legal, and financial
services industry experience. With hands-on responsibility for administration, automation,
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customer service, documentation, finance, human resources, information systems, marketing,
sales, operations, purchasing, research, and training – in a variety of industries - she is uniquely
equipped to bring this background to the RFP response process. A published writer, and a
literary advisor, Karen spends much of her free time volunteering as an English language
mentor at a local community college.
Kelly Maze, RFP Response Writer & Specialist – A graduate of the University of Minnesota with
a Speech Communication degree, Kelly is a consummate communicator. She will apply her 19
years of corporate and government storytelling experience to get your proposal noticed. Her
23-year Air Force career spanned the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Air Force Space
Command where she served as an editor, journalist, public affairs superintendent, information
manager and drug prevention speaker. Her corporate freelance writing experience includes the
commercial buildings industry, fluid power manufacturers, insurance, and applications
software. Her approach to writing RFP responses is to capture the end user’s attention,
construct the argument how you best fulfill their needs, and convert them to become your
client. Her writing skills are complimented by her ease of working with your management team
and subject matter experts. She’ll extract the details from your team members to construct a
compelling story in a single voice. To give back to the community, Kelly provides pro bono
writing services to several nonprofit organizations.
RFP Specialists also retains a professional, degreed graphic designer and an expert information
technology resource on board to work with our team, and to provide solutions for your needs.
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