Q: Why it is important to establish vendor quality standards and a preferred vendor list?

Response: Time is money for organizations. Less time spend on unqualified vendor RFPs, is money saved. When sending out an RFP, the receivers should be qualified (Porter-Roth, 2002). Establishing a vendor's quality saves time because their work will be done to a standard and there is less re-work. When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, I organized a Girls' Empowerment Camp. Transportation was procured from a 3rd party. I met with different independent bus drivers. I inspected the vehicles, and did a "test run" of the vehicle and driver. Meeting with the drivers allowed me to get to know them and their business styles. Were they late, professional, and willing to negotiate a price? Vetting the drivers helped me to decide if I could count on them to safely and reliably transport myself, the girls, and other camp facilitators to the location and reliably return to take us home. Establishing quality positively impacts a project. If I had not established the quality through a meeting and a test run, I would be less informed of the service I was buying.

These driver's names came recommended by church groups in my community with customer feedback. This was like a preferred vendors list. It saved me time from needing to find the drivers on my own. Others I trusted had used them, so the recommendations showed the drivers' reliability and quality. It did not take the place of doing the actually quality check, but saved time by directing me.

Please provide as a thoughtful response to the above response...