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Working with Post-Award Debriefings
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as well. Some of the items that I like to address are where they may have fallen short and how they can
as follows: improve for the next go around. Remember, post-
• Provide responses to relevant questions award debriefs are not just for the vendors that
according to award and evaluation criteria and were not awarded but also for those that want to
the vendor’s response to the solicitation. obtain positive feedback on their solicitation that
could improve their process even more for future
• Be factual and transparent with the response.
solicitations.
• Avoid speculation.
• Were there solicitation requirements or I’ve witnessed firsthand when vendors were not
evaluation criteria that were not addressed? awarded on the first go around but after attending
• Was anything missing from the offer? the post-award debrief, they finally became an
awarded vendor.
These are just a few of the items that one may address
when conducting a post-award debriefing. I’d be remiss if I did not give credit to the people
Regardless of how people conduct their post-award who helped come up with some of these best
debriefs, I believe it’s important to start doing them practice points in this article. It was certainly a
in an effort to help our suppliers understand what collaborative effort by Nancy Colbaugh, Cheryl
may be missing from their offers. If we’re not willing Burt, Deborah Sandoval and me. I simply hope this
to help educate our suppliers, how can we expect to article helps you start a new successful process for
see improvement? your agency. If you have any questions, you can
reach me at gabarkman@mpsaz.org.
It’s important for suppliers to understand that these
post-award debriefs can be the difference between Gary Barkman, ACBS, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, Supervisor,
winning or losing the next solicitation. Although Procurement Specialist I, Mesa Unified School District #4,
there are no guarantees, it allows suppliers to see can be reached at: gabarkman@mpsaz.org or (480) 472-6116
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28 THE EDGE FALL 2023
