Center for Procurement Excellence

08/19/2026

You know how to write an RFP. But can you prove it? 🎓

The Certified Solicitation Professional™ (CPE™) credential recognizes procurement professionals who understand what it takes to build fair, transparent, defensible solicitations—from scope development through evaluation and debriefing.

If you’ve completed Better RFPs, Better Projects, you’ve already taken the first step.

Now put some letters behind what you know.

👉 Learn more about becoming a Certified Solicitation Professional™ in this week’s CPE newsletter.

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Turn your RFP expertise into a credential   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 19 August 2026   You’re Building Better RFPs. Now Prove It. If you’re participat

08/17/2026

🚨 Could one checkbox eliminate your best vendor?
It happens more often than you think.

Join us this Thursday for Ask the RFP Doctor® as we explore the difference between mandatory and desired requirements—and why getting it wrong can limit competition and reduce proposal quality.

📅 Thursday, August 20
🕛 Noon CT
💲 Free

Bring your questions—we'll stay for live Q&A until they're answered!



https://conta.cc/4qpR6g7

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Don't eliminate qualified vendors unnecessarily   17 August 2026 Save My Seat Save My Seat!   Center for Procurement Excellence | P.O. Box 27565 Tempe, AZ

08/05/2026

Mandatory or Desired? One word can make all the difference.

Are your mandatory requirements protecting your procurement—or eliminating great vendors before the evaluation even begins?

Join us for this month's Ask the RFP Doctor on Thursday, August 20, from 12:00–1:00 PM CT as we discuss how to distinguish true pass/fail requirements from scored criteria and write RFPs that encourage competition while protecting your agency.



https://conta.cc/4yV2lAY

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Ask the RFP Dr 20 Aug 2026   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 5 August 2026   Better RFPs, Better Projects Ready to move beyond low-bid procurements? Join NA

07/22/2026

A well-executed RFP isn’t just about compliance—it’s about collaboration. Procurement teams that develop strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills can navigate challenges, reduce resistance, and improve overall efficiency. Learn how mastering procurement soft skills leads to better outcomes and stronger partnerships

https://conta.cc/4pztipH

07/13/2026

🚨 PROCUREMENT PREDICTION FOR 2026:
Someone important on your project is going to leave.

Not “might.”
Will.

The PM retires.
The technical lead disappears.
The consultant takes a “great new opportunity.”
And suddenly your implementation meeting starts with:
“So… who exactly is this person?”

In the July Ask the RFP Doctor webinar, Dr. Brian Lines explains how to build RFPs and contracts that survive staffing turnover instead of emotionally collapsing the minute one key person exits the building.

You’ll learn how to:
✔️ Score team structure—not just resumes
✔️ Build continuity directly into procurement
✔️ Reduce project disruption during turnover
✔️ Protect project knowledge and momentum
✔️ Stop relying on “the one person who knows everything”

Because “we assumed they’d stay” is how projects become cautionary tales.
https://conta.cc/4vwAdBo

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence People Leave. Your RFP Shouldn’t Panic.   13 July 2026 Save My Seat Save My Seat!   Center for Procurement Excellence | P.O. Box 27565 Tempe, AZ 85285 | Te

07/08/2026

Think the highest-qualified proposal is always the most expensive?

Our research says otherwise.

After analyzing 1,572 proposals across 327 procurements, we found no statistical relationship between proposal quality and cost. In fact:

✔️ 24% of awards went to proposals that were both lowest cost AND highest qualified

✔️ 66% of selected proposals ranked in the top two for both cost and qualifications

✔️ Organizations saved an average of 8% compared to market rates

The lesson? Stop assuming quality comes with a premium price tag.

A strong RFP process helps you find the sweet spot between cost and capability.



https://conta.cc/4pt7dJv

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Don't let one resignation derail success   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 8 July2026 Higher Qualifications, Higher Cost? Not So Fast We've all heard it be

07/01/2026

🚨 PROCUREMENT REALITY CHECK: People leave.

Your superstar PM? Gone.
Your technical lead? Recruited away.
Your “dream team” from the proposal? Suddenly “pursuing other opportunities.”

And now your million-dollar project is being managed by someone whose entire onboarding process was:
“Good luck.”

This month’s Ask the RFP Doctor webinar with Dr. Brian Lines tackles one of the biggest risks procurement professionals pretend won’t happen: turnover.

Learn how to build RFPs and contracts that survive staffing changes instead of collapsing the second one key person disappears into the corporate wilderness.

You’ll learn how to:
✔️ Score team structure—not just resumes
✔️ Build continuity into contracts
✔️ Reduce project chaos during staffing changes
✔️ Protect momentum when key personnel leave
✔️ Stop relying on “the one person who knows everything”

Because “we assumed they’d stay” is not a risk management strategy.

https://conta.cc/4v9UvAt

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Build Procurements That Survive Employee Disappearances   1 July 2026 The Ask the RFP Doctor series returns on July 16, 2026—and this one tackles a reality

06/24/2026

Still evaluating proposals with spreadsheets, sticky notes, and crossed fingers?
A well-built evaluation matrix brings structure, consistency, and transparency to the RFP process—helping procurement teams compare vendors fairly, defend award decisions, and focus on best value rather than guesswork.
Discover how the right evaluation framework can turn a complicated selection process into a confident decision.

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Consistency drives better vendor selection.   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 24 June 2026 Optimizing RFP Evaluations with an Effective Evaluation Matrix A

06/15/2026

📣 Protests can derail your project — and many are totally avoidable.
This month on The RFP Doctor, we cover how to design protest-proof evaluations and keep your procurement on track.
📅 June 18, 2026
⏰ 12 PM CT
🎥 Replay Available Now: [Insert Link]


https://conta.cc/4vbM0Wb

06/10/2026

🚨 Want to avoid a protest before it becomes a full-blown procurement horror story? 👻📄

Protests don’t just drain budgets—they eat up time, trust, and patience. The good news? Most are preventable.

Join Dr. John Savicky as he reveals how to:
✅ Build evaluation criteria that can withstand scrutiny
✅ Create a fair, transparent evaluation process
✅ Conduct debriefs with confidence (and fewer awkward surprises)
✅ Defend your award decision when the stakes are high

Because the best protest is the one that never gets filed. 💥

Stop crossing your fingers and start building a process that holds up under pressure.

😎📑⚖️

https://conta.cc/4edlqoy

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Keep acquisitions on track.   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 10 June 2026 Vendor Debriefings: More Than a Post-Award Courtesy In procurement, contract awa