Re: Changes to the way we manage RFPs

[Bob Hinden <[e-mail]>]

Jay,

> On Feb 25, 2020, at 7:15 PM, IETF Executive Director <[e-mail]> wrote:
> 
> The IETF Administration LLC is changing the way we manage RFPs.  These changes are part of a larger overhaul that will see further changes come in future.  The changes being made today are:
> 
> 1. As of next week, we will be using a new RFP Announcement Mailing List [1] [e-mail] for all announcements relating to RFPs and stop using IETF-Announce.  This change is intended to help us reach a wider network of potential vendors, both directly through a lower volume, more focused list and indirectly through automated redistribution of issued RFPs.

This sounds fine to me, I agree it isn’t reasonable to ask potential bidders to watch the ietf-announce list for RFPs.   That said, I think there is value to also cc: the ietf-announce list, doing that would improve transparency.    For example, I have no plans to subscribe to an rfp-announce list, but I do read the ietf-announce list.

Bob


> 
> 2. We have a new formal process for managing RFPs, published on the RFPs page [2].
> 
> 3. The RFPs page [2] now includes links to the all of the contracts for RFPs issued by the LLC.  These have the financial informaton redacted and where possible, signatures also redacted.
> 
> 
> Planned changes include:
> 
> * Publishing vendor Conflict of Interest (COI) forms, once reviewed by the LLC Board.
> 
> * Publishing contract templates and non-negotiables (e.g. contract transparency) to allow vendors to study them before bidding.
> 
> * Engaging the community on the principles and processes we use for managing RFPs and what is and isn't appropriate for us to expect in our contracts.
> 
> * We will also investigate implementing some elements of the Open Contracting Data Standard [3]
> 
> 
> Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or feedback.
> 
> [1] https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/rfp-announce
> [2] https://www.ietf.org/about/administration/rfps/
> [3] https://www.open-contracting.org/data-standard/
> 
> --
> Jay Daley
> IETF Executive Director
> [e-mail]
> 
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