5 Part 5: V-Modell Reference Work Products

5.3 Products

5.3.1 Supply and Contracting

5.3.1.2 Assessment of Request for Proposal

Process module: Drafting and Conclusion of Contract (Supplier)

Responsible: Executive (when using process module Drafting and Conclusion of Contract (Supplier))

Work Product Attributes: external, initial

Purpose

The evaluation of the request for proposal is the basis for the decision as to whether an »Offer shall be prepared or not. For this purpose a rough technical solution proposal will be prepared based on the »Requirements Specification defined in the »Request for Proposal, a strategy for success will be developed, the economic profitability will be calculated, the significant specifications for the preparation of an offer will be made and the result of the evaluation will be processed systematically with respect to a decision to submit an offer.

Generates

Offer (see product dependency 4.31)

5.3.1.2.1 Requirements Analysis

The provider checks and evaluates the »Requirements Specification contained in the RFP documents with respect to their economic and technological feasibility, effort and importance.

5.3.1.2.2 Suggested Technical Solution

Based on the requirements analysis, the suggested technical solution describes the preliminary design of the overall system to be prepared. The overall system should be decomposed to a level which permits a reliable estimate of the effort required for the preparation of the offer.

5.3.1.2.3 Consideration of Economic Efficiency

The consideration of economic efficiency first checks the rentability of the project (also designated as business case), i.e., the question as to whether the project is profitable for the supplier. Based on a first Life Cycle Cost Calculation, the probable »Project Costs and »Manufacturing Costs shall be estimated and a Consideration of Economic Efficiency shall be executed.

In addition, it is possible to conduct considerations of economic efficiency which exceed the profit achieved directly, e.g., if additional chances on the market are possible, a product family is complemented, the development team will be qualified, the supplier's image will be improved or the system to be developed may be reused.

5.3.1.2.4 Success Strategy

This subject specifies the success factors of the »Offer which - in the opinion of the supplier - make a contract award probable. It should take into account the organization's strategy, the competitive situation, the market/acquirer situation, the own technological competence, possible recognizable legal and political influences, possible partners, the availability of resources, recognizable risks and chances and possible pricing variants.

5.3.1.2.5 Offer Preparation - Organization and Guidelines

This subject specifies standards for the preparation of an offer, the furtherance of which will depend on the probable effort required for the project. Normally, an »Offer does not require the preparation of the necessary project management documents. Only in exceptional cases, i.e. in case of very large projects, will - for example - the »Project Manual, the »Project Plan and the »QA Manual be prepared for the offer.

The standards for the preparation of an offer include milestones, deadlines, budgets of the offer, responsibilities (e.g., bidding manager, tasks of the bidding team, establishment and tasks of an editorial team (specialists not participating in the offer who are intended to improve the quality of the offer) or the establishment of the quality assurance required for the offer), the structure of the offer and the layout.

5.3.1.2.6 Evaluation Result

The results of the »Assessment of Request for Proposal will be summarized and prepared for the Steering Committee in such a way that they can be used as a basis for making an unambiguous decision on the preparation of an offer.