By Deb Mielke
Network World,

While you're waiting for vendors to submit their proposals, spend time constructing your evaluation assessment form. (you should have already stated the criteria in the RFP).

In TeleChoice's case, the criteria were cost, reliability, management capabilities and account support.

The easiest and most comprehensive method is to construct two spreadsheets to perform side-by-side comparisons. Use one for quantitative assessments and the other for qualitative assessment.

Again, make sure your prospective vendors understand the evaluation criteria. The quantitative assessment spreadsheet should include every section and question you've asked along with a rating system weighted by your criteria. This matrix is useful for tracking vendors' scores.

A qualitative assessment is equally as important. Although subjective, this spreadsheet helps determine your overall feel for vendors' responses. How well do the vendors under-stand your business requirements? Are the outsourcers flexible? How well do they understand your business? An outsourcing vendor that doesn't understand your needs will prove unsatisfactory over the term of the contract.