1. A sample of the actual RFP, not the entity bidding on the RFP would be helpful. The RFP document would be sent to potential vendors.
2. Describe 2 to 3 vendors that can provide what the department says they need in terms of capability (assume for this exercise that price is not a consideration).
3. Describe a list of 4 "must have" and 2 "nice to have" features for the package based on feedback from the team
4. Explain the technical specifications and number of operators with the IT group's assistance

Please explain and label each section.

Governmental Accounting

A. Jenny is an accounting department employee of the State of Wisconsin with a love of all things technology and tasked to team up with the purchasing and IT departments to evaluate options for a more efficient accounting software system.

B. The current accounting system is dated, and the system does not have the capability to perform data analytics. It would also be beneficial to be able to incorporate "machine learning" functionality to streamline the more routine tasks of the accounting function.

C. The software provider called to tell her supervisor that the technical support for Jenny's current product is discontinued at the end of the year! Jenny only has a few months to work with the cross-functional team to evaluate and price options.

D. The purchasing process requires that her team solicit bids via a Request for Proposal (RFP).

E. There's a template on the purchasing intranet site which Jenny and her team will review in a bit. The biggest challenge in front of the team, it seems, is to narrow down the list of vendors that she will submit the invitation to bid via the RFP.

F. An internet search of vendors quickly informs her that there appear to be endless options in governmental accounting computer software applications. Every option Jenny looks at seems to be able to handle the basic accounting functionality, but from her discussion with the accounting department head, there need to be significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness for the new software to justify the cost of implementation.

G. While she is not sure exactly what he has in mind, she knows it will probably require some discussions with her teammates to develop a list of "must-haves" and "nice to haves" if budget allows. In addition, she will need to find out from the IT group what the technical requirements are in terms of system capacity and data security.

H. Purchasing can tell her about the RFP process as well as if there are any preferred/blacklisted vendors with whom the company has worked in the past.

I. Jenny heads off to the meeting with the purchasing and IT guys. At the meeting, she is tasked with leading the RFP process with the support of purchasing and IT!