You’ve finally received executive approval to purchase credentialing software or replace a legacy system that doesn’t keep up with organizational growth. The next step is to create a request for proposal (RFP) to send to prospective vendors. Using an RFP template for credentialing software makes this part of the process much quicker while ensuring consistency in responses for easy comparison.

This blog post will outline what to consider when building your proposal and highlight the top questions to include in a credentialing software RFP. Be sure to download the full RFP for Credentialing Software Template.

What Is an RFP?

An RFP is a formal document issued by an organization when it seeks to procure goods or services from external vendors. It outlines the project’s requirements, specifications, and selection criteria and invites suppliers to submit their proposals. The RFP process helps organizations ensure a competitive and transparent selection of the best vendor based on cost, quality, experience, and ability to meet the project’s needs.

Key components of an RFP typically include, but are not limited to:

  1. Introduction: Overview of the issuing organization and the purpose of the RFP.
  2. Project Scope: Detailed project description, including goals, deliverables, and timelines.
  3. Requirements: Specific needs and expectations for the products or services being procured.
  4. Submission Guidelines: Instructions on how vendors should format and submit their proposals, including deadlines.
  5. Evaluation Criteria: Factors that will be used to assess and compare the proposals, such as price, technical capabilities, and experience.
  6. Terms and Conditions: Legal and contractual terms that the selected vendor must agree to.

What To Ask in an RFP for Enterprise Credentialing Software

There are a few things to consider before creating your credentialing software RFP. First, determine your biggest challenges with the current credentialing process. The software you choose should solve them and more. Next, how much can you spend, and how will you measure the software’s return on investment or value? Lastly, read credentialing software reviews on sites like G2 to identify top vendors to share your RFP with proactively.

With research in hand, it’s time to write the RFP questions. Most proposals require general vendor information such as address, website, phone, email, and a brief company background. You should ask about potential conflicts of interest, how the vendor maintains service continuity, and extend your non-disclosure agreement, acceptable use, and code of ethics for new hires.

The remainder of the RFP focuses on specific product features, service delivery, information security, pricing, reporting, and customer support, among other topics. Here are examples of RFP sections and questions you may ask:

Pricing

  • Can you provide a detailed pricing structure for your physician credentialing services?
  • Is your software license per user or facility?
  • Are there volume-based discounts for large-scale credentialing needs, and what does the sliding scale look like?

Integrations

  • Does your system support automated user provisioning/de-provisioning? If yes, provide technical specifications.
  • Are integrations customer-configurable? Is there an up-charge for each integration, if so provide details.

Reporting

  • What types of reports are available? What report customizations are supported?
  • Does the system have the ability to run ad hoc reports?
  • What formats are supported for exporting reports?

Customer Support

  • Do you commit to a set number of business days to solve our issues? If yes, how many days?
  • Do you offer 24/7/365 access to an online educational portal and/or help center for customer self-service and education?
  • Will I have an assigned account manager available during local business hours?

These examples are a small sample of what you’ll need to ask credentialing software vendors. To fill the gaps, we’ve created a comprehensive RFP for Credentialing Software Template containing most of what you’ll need to know about your chosen vendor. The spreadsheet is easily customizable to meet your organization’s specific needs.

Send Your Credentialing Software RFP To MedTrainer

A broad RFP process ensures a thorough market assessment, helping you understand what is available and what to expect. It also helps demonstrate a thorough and competitive selection process, increasing stakeholder confidence in your chosen solution.

MedTrainer offers a complete solution for credentialing, healthcare learning management, compliance, and more. We’d love the opportunity to complete your RFP for credentialing software. There are incredible benefits to choosing a credentialing solution built into a platform with contract management, electronic signing, healthcare-specific continuing education courses, and more.

Download this RFP for Credentialing Software Template to get your process started.