A purchasing office can be a valuable partner in collaborating with departments or agencies on solicitations by providing strategic support, whether through helping staff write effective and clear specifications, guiding them to use correct procurement processes, or by informing them of existing contracts that meet their needs. Such guidance may save departments from going too far down the wrong path, wasting time and causing delays in getting solicitations out the door.
Virtual or in-person solicitation kickoff meetings can be helpful for orienting department or agency staff to the procurement process and the steps to follow, educating them on how to write an effective RFP, and discussing the goals and risks of a specific solicitation. This slide deck provides a template for the kickoff meeting and includes sample language to get you started. As with the other tools, be sure to customize these slides for the specific goals and set up of your kickoff meetings.