IT Managed Service Provider Request for Proposal Template

When small business owners or larger businesses and manufacturers decide to outsource the management of their technology needs to an IT-managed services provider (MSP) so that they can accelerate their business growth, our best advice is to always do an RFP.

As you begin looking at each potential MSP, weighing your options can be frustrating because of all the inscrutable jargon and details. It feels as if you need a certification to sort through all of it. A useful way to drive the selection process forward is using a request for proposal template to give you a clear understanding of comparing potential providers. Our IT-managed service provider RFP template is a resource we make freely available to any business or organization that wants to engage the process with the necessary due diligence.

Our experienced managed services team at INVAR Technologies has created a free, downloadable RFP template you can use for guidance on what should be included in your own MSP request for proposal as you begin the evaluation process.

Getting Your RFP into the Right Hands

You may have a short list of companies in mind that you would like to send your RFP to, but to ensure you have a well-rounded list and are pulling from the best pool of IT-managed service providers, we recommend doing some research.

• Conduct a pre-emptive Q&A:
  Before sending out your RFP, conduct a Q&A period with your list of providers. This will better ensure that time is not wasted and will let you explain what your objectives are along with a timeline.
• Don’t Paralyze Yourself with Too Many Choices:
  Sometimes too many choices can have the opposite effect that one might expect, leading to information overload and causing you to overlook important details or confuse specifics as you sift through piles of information. Narrow it down to 3-5 providers and you won’t overwhelm yourself with options.
• Ask for Recommendations:
  Word of mouth is one of the most common and best ways of finding reputable vendors with a verifiable track record of success. Similarly, doing online research on review sites can help to define your search.

Remember, some RFPs will be more detailed than others, but the more information you include the better the odds are that you will receive thorough proposals that include all the necessary required information. Don’t be afraid to express your company’s personality, culture, and be transparent where applicable.

The RFP stage is the time to put it all out on the table and ask as many questions as necessary to ensure you choose the best provider and start your IT partnership on the right foot.