Step 2: Preparing to Buy

There are several steps to take before you buy to ensure your technology purchase is strategic, informed, and accessible to all users.

Once you’ve determined your ICT procurement needs, it can be tempting to jump right into a purchase. But there are several steps to take before you buy to ensure your technology purchase is strategic, informed, and accessible to all users. These steps include educating yourself about vendors who have the right experience, issuing a Request for Information (RFI), and, if your organization permits it, meeting with vendor candidates.

Explore this section of Buy IT! for more on these phases:

Part One: Research Vendors

This section provides guidance on what to look for when seeking out the right vendor, including the different criteria to keep in mind for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products and custom products and services.

Part Two: Issue RFIs & Meet with Vendors

RFIs are an optional but important stage of the pre-solicitation process, and are considered a best practice across government and industry. Learn how and why to write an RFI with accessibility in mind, and how to hold productive meetings with prospective vendors.