Advertise and Prepare the Shortlist

Here we will learn how to advertise for inviting proposals.

As opposed to open bidding for goods and works, proposals for consultants are invited from a shortlist of selected consultants. Open invitation will be time consuming as you have to evaluate each proposals. Similarly open invitation of proposals will incur lot of expenditure to the consultants. To avoid this, you should invite bids from a shortlist of selected consultants, usually not  less  than three  and not  more than  six  to  ensure  adequate competition.

Seeking Expression of Interest through Advertisement

For small consulting assignments1 you can prepare a shortlist of well performing consultants and if there are more number of consultants, you should seek expressions of interest by advertising in the press. You have to give details of the assignment and request the consultants to furnish organisation details, qualifications and experience of the key staff, qualifications towards assignment, similar assignments performed, financial standing of the firm and so on. This will provide equal opportunities for all interested consultants to get shortlisted.