Although they are a necessary piece of any bidding process, requests for proposal (RFPs) tend to be time-consuming and complex. Aside from outlining the requirements, RFPs ensure that a partnership is the best fit for all parties involved. Additionally, transportation RFPs help to identify differences in pricing and transit times among various carriers, allowing you to quickly and easily compare bids. If you need assistance with managing your business’ RFPs, look no further.

Ascent helps clients simplify the process with proven templates and techniques, helping them to efficiently engage, evaluate and award vetted carriers within 60 days. The best part? Assistance with RFPs comes entirely free of cost to Ascent clients, with results typically delivered in under 60 days. Here’s how the process works.

The RFP Management Process

The RFP management process begins with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) being signed between the client and Ascent upon partnership. The rest of the process is virtually hands-off for clients, as our team manages everything from bid creation to analysis presentation. Before the RFP process begins, our team learns all essential aspects of your freight, including timelines and budget.

Next, our transportation experts create the bid and send it out to an extensive network of carriers. After responses are received from all carriers involved in the bid submission, Ascent compiles the responses in one consolidated view so that clients can quickly review and make an informed decision. Finally, the client selects a carrier, or multiple carriers, and awards the business.

Post-RFP Freight Management

Once a client has awarded its business to the carrier, what’s next? Our team continues to manage the freight on the client’s behalf, from start to finish. During the shipping process, the client maintains full visibility and control via a transportation management system (TMS). After a shipment has been successfully delivered, Ascent charges its client a transparent service fee for managing the shipment.

The Importance of Outsourcing

When selecting a partner for your business’ RFP management, it’s essential to work with a team of transportation experts who are knowledgeable about the process. With a support team just a phone call or email away, you can rest assured that all aspects of your business’ RFP process are managed with efficiency and professionalism. Additionally, by outsourcing RFP management, your team members can spend the time gained on mission-critical tasks and strategic initiatives for your business.

The next time you need to bid out your freight, consider partnering with an experienced logistics team to assist you with RFP management. Who says logistics has to be complicated? We certainly didn’t. Contact our team to learn more.