Corporate Policy Writer For RFP Response Requirements

How a Corporate Policy Writer for RFPs Helps Meet Mandatory RFP Requirements

It is very common for issuers to include corporate policies they want to see as mandatory requirements for responding to an RFP. Often, a copy of the actual policies requested is required. Sometimes, only a description of the company’s policy (or policies) is what’s required.

Common Mandatory Corporate Policies and Procedures in RFPs

The corporate policies requested for inclusion by RFP issuers will depend on the type and scope of work to be done. They will also depend on the issuer themselves and ensuring that any suppliers and contractors they work with follow policies and procedures consistent with their own. Here is a short list of some of the most common policy and procedure requests we see from issuers.

• Health and Safety Policy
• Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Leave and Grievance Policy
• Internet and Email Policy
• Social Media Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Recruitment Policy
• Staff Retention Policy
• Staff Orientation Procedures
• Anti-Discrimination Policies
• Child Labor
• Supplier Code of Ethics
• Master Service Agreement
• Sub-Contractor Policy
• Social Responsibility Plan
• Corporate Environmental Policy

How to Respond to an RFP When Mandatory Corporate Policies Don’t Exist

Not all organizations have the written policies requested by RFP issuers. Often we hear ‘we have them, they’re just not in writing’. In this case there are a couple of choices.

Option #1 – Will a Description of the Policy Work?

First, when responding to an RFP, make sure to understand whether the issuer is asking for an actual policy, or the description of a policy. Providing a description and committing to providing the actual policy once the bid proceeds is sometimes acceptable and frequently simpler than scrambling to write a new policy from scratch in a short time line.

Option #2 – Download a Generic Company Policy from the Internet

In many cases, generic versions of common policies can be downloaded from the internet. However, most issuers aren’t naïve and it is often easy for them to spot a recently downloaded, generic policy version. As much as possible, customizing these generic downloads of company policies provides additional credibility. However, there is still a significant difference between a policy that’s been adapted for an RFP response and an actual company policy. Remember, from a legal and governance perspective, if the policy is every required to come into effect, it must be real.

Option #3 – Boardroom Metrics Corporate Policy Writer for RFPs

Boardroom Metrics helps organizations develop and write their mandatory corporate policies and procedures. We have written thousands of these documents and understand the importance (including legal obligations) of each.  In many cases we can start from our own library of specific pre-written content. However, every client, issuer and situation is unique and to be effective, final documents must reflect that.

Although we are comfortable writing custom policies and procedures on a short time-line, we do advise clients who are actively engaged with RFP issuers to be proactive and pre-write the most likely and important requirements prior to being pushed by an RFP issuer.

Don’t Panic When Mandatory Corporate Policies Don’t Exist

When company policies are requested as a mandatory requirement of an RFP response, bidders don’t have much choice – the policies required must be delivered. Creating these policies before they are required is obviously best-practice. However, it is possible to react quickly and Boardroom Metrics is happy to help.

For more information on company policy writing, email [email protected] or call 416-994-6552.