Center for Procurement Excellence

05/13/2026

⚠️ Your next IT disaster may already be in the contract.
This month, The RFP Doctor shows how to fix the paper problem in technology procurements. Don’t pay for words — demand outcomes.
📅 May 21, 2026
⏰ 12 PM CT
🎥 Watch the Replay: [Insert Link]


https://conta.cc/3RiS3cw

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Stop funding paperwork, demand working software.   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 13 May 2026 The Art of IT Software Demonstrations Software demonstration

04/29/2026

A strong IT procurement process goes beyond selecting the best software—it’s about finding the right solution for your organization’s needs. Avoiding common RFP mistakes, such as unclear project goals and overly complex evaluations, leads to better vendor selection and smoother implementation. Learn how to structure your RFP for long-term IT success.

If you followed a broken or out-of-date link, please inform the owner of the referring document. Email [email protected] to report this error or continue on the Constant Contact home page.

04/13/2026

🚧 Quick question: Do you actually know who’s building your project?

Because it’s probably not the contractor you hired.

Most of the work is done by subcontractors and suppliers—yet they’re often the least evaluated part of the RFP process. And that’s exactly where risk loves to hide.

Join us on April 16 at Noon (CT) for this eye-opening webinar from the Center for Procurement Excellence. Dr. Brian Lines and Dr. Jake Smithwick will show you how to uncover the real team behind your project—before it’s too late.

👀 If you’ve ever been surprised by who showed up on your job site… this is for you.

👉 Don’t award blind. See the full supply chain.

://conta.cc/3PYfuYb

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Look beyond the prime THIS WEEK! 16 April 2026 12:00pm Central Time Ask the RFP Doctor   Looking Deeper into the Supply Chain When you award a contract, it

04/01/2026

🚧 Fun fact: The contractor you hired probably isn’t doing the work.

Yep. The name on the contract? Mostly managing.
The actual work? Subcontractors and suppliers you barely evaluated… if at all.

And we’re all just hoping that turns out fine? Bold strategy.

This is where projects go off the rails—delays, cost overruns, finger-pointing—because the real team was never truly vetted during the RFP.

In this session, Dr. Jake Smithwick shows you how to stop awarding projects like a leap of faith and start seeing the entire supply chain before it’s too late.

👀 Because “we assumed they had it handled” is not a risk management plan.

👉 If you’ve ever been surprised by who showed up on your job site… this one’s for you.


https://conta.cc/3PXXEnX

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence See who’s really delivering   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 1 April 2026 Maximizing Contract Negotiations: Beyond Terms and Conditions (a.k.a. “This Is Wh

03/04/2026

Not all delivery methods are created equal—and choosing the wrong one can introduce risk before a project even begins. Whether it’s Design-Build, CMAR, or Progressive Design-Build, each model allocates risk, responsibility, and collaboration differently. The key isn’t picking what’s familiar—it’s selecting the structure that aligns with your project’s complexity, your team’s capabilities, and the outcomes you need to protect.

https://conta.cc/3MYeq5h

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence New research challenges long-held assumptions   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 4 March 2026 Best Value vs. Low Bid: What the Data Really Says The debate b

02/18/2026

You know those project surprises that make everyone ask, “Wait… who was responsible for that?”
Those are called Known Unknowns—and they love to show up late and over budget.

Join Dr. Brian Lines to learn how simple If/Then statements in your RFP can prevent confusion, reduce disputes, and keep your project from becoming a cautionary tale told at future staff meetings.
Because the only surprise procurement teams should enjoy… is finishing on time.


https://conta.cc/4rs1WSz

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Low Bid Today, Headache Tomorrow   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 18 February 2026 The Unintended Consequences of Pre-Qualification in Procurement Selecti

02/04/2026

Not all RFP risks are surprises.
Some are the assumptions everyone sees—but no one addresses.

These “Known Unknowns” can quietly derail projects, inflate costs, and trigger disputes when they surface too late. Learn how simple If/Then statements can define responsibility early and turn uncertainty into managed risk.

https://conta.cc/4kiOHkm

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence How two-step RFPs may reduce competition and efficiency   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 4 February 2026 The Unintended Consequences of Pre-Qualification i

01/21/2026

Vendor debriefings aren’t just a formality—they’re a strategic opportunity. When done right, they build trust, reduce protest risk, and help vendors submit stronger proposals in the future. Transparent feedback opens the “black box” of procurement and positions your organization as a true partner in improvement.

Want better bids and stronger vendor relationships? Start with better debriefings.

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Open the “black box” and improve vendor relationships.   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 21 January 2026 The Strategic Power of Vendor Debriefings Vendor d

01/07/2026

Do vendors really make money by inflating their bids?
(Not quite.)

This session breaks down how high-performing vendors actually earn profit—by managing overhead, improving efficiency, and sometimes even giving money back to the client. It also tackles the hidden cost of micromanagement and how it quietly impacts performance and pricing.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind vendor pricing, this is a conversation worth having.

12/17/2025

Do higher-quality proposals cost more? Most people think so —
but the data tells a different story!

CPE analyzed over 1,500 proposals to see whether top-ranked firms always come with higher prices. Turns out… they don’t. In many cases, the highest-qualified proposal was among the most affordable.

✔ Good RFPs don’t inflate budgets — they protect them
✔ Cost AND qualifications should work together
✔ Bad assumptions lead to bad selections
https://conta.cc/4ah9x0v

Email from Center for Procurement Excellence Study finds quality doesn’t guarantee higher cost   NEWSLETTER We Fix Broken RFPS 17 December 2025 Are Higher-Qualified Proposals More Expensive? A Data-D