Now once you know you want a website done, you have listed down a number of web consulting firms. Next step is to design a RFQ. This is important step since this will allow the consulting company to correctly perceive your requirements and help in sending you an appropriate quotation. There are some business owners who just send a website and ask for a clone. If the website is of basic nature, idea is right. Web consultant knows what type of thing you are looking for. However, its not the end of it. Still you have got to tell the specifics since the website represents you own business.
Summary
The first part of the RFQ should include a brief summary about the project. This will include the following:
Background of the company:
Provide details about the business & what it does.
Objectives of website:
Why you want the business website? What are the aims & objectives of getting the website done. This could range from a corporate identity building to more complex e-business model. It is very important to discuss in detail the need for website.
Audience:
Who are the audience of the website?
Project Scope
Project scope should be clearly stated out in terms of the outcome expected and the requirements.
Requirements
Identify your requirements in detail. These requirements should include:
Functional requirements
This includes the features your website should offer, for example user registration, product listing etc. Different techniques like Use Case Design can be used for this purpose.
Usage Requirements
This will include:
* Navigational requirements, eg. easy to naviagate, use of menus, buttons etc
* Website speed: Ease of load
Design/Interface Requirements
* Preferred Color combinations
* Preferred layouts
* Theme to follow
Technical Requirements
* Browser Support
* Platform to support
* Approximate number of users Daily/weekly
Budget Considerations
State clearly the approximate budget you are willing to allocate for the project. This will help the consultant estimate the limit of project and will suggest you the most appropriate solution
Time Requirements
If there are any limits related to time, state them clearly that you want the project to be completed within a certain time line.
Miscellaneous:
* How much support is sought after the deployment of project
* Details regarding the documentation & training
* Issues related to software licensing (if apply)
* Source code ownership and usage issues
What is Required from Consulting Firms for Prequalification?
State clearly what is expected from the consultant firm in the quotation. This could include the following:
* Consulting firm’s corporate profile
* Previous Portfolio/References to the completed projects
* Quoted amount with cost breakdown
* Project Methodology
* Project Calendar
* Tools/Technologies Deployed
