If you are exploring ways to increase the revenue of your land surveying business, consider bidding for GIS RFPs.
Businesses and organizations are often in need of GIS experts to assist with special projects and software integration.
According to a 2016 Point of Beginning survey, 63 percent of land surveyors use some form of geographic information system. While 48 percent of the respondents report they use GIS as part of their workflow, approximately 30 percent offer GIS services as a standalone offering to their clients. While most public and private users of GIS technology have in-house professionals to handle basic issues, governmental and corporate users often post requests for proposals (RFPs) when they need specialized tasks completed, such as integration into cutting edge software programs.
The Demand for GIS Specialists is in a Rapid Growth Phase
Adding GIS consulting services to your firm’s offerings are a low-risk means of increasing revenue
Since the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the demand for geospatial technology specialists to increase by 35 percent annually, significant opportunities are likely to arise for firms offering GIS consulting and tech services. If your land surveying firm has expertise in various uses of GIS systems, along with experience integrating GIS data into various software programs, then consider expanding your client services to include GIS consulting services. The most common way to land these projects is to answer public and private RFPs for services.
How to Create a Successful Bid for a GIS RFP
Developing a bid to submit for an RFP, especially for public sector organizations, tends to be a daunting task for people new to the process. Typically, the agency or business issuing the RFP will hold a bidders’ conference that provides insight about the issues that they need a consultant to solve for them. Even if you have experience in developing RFPs, attending these conferences is essential since they provide information that may not appear in the RFP documents.
Some other tips for developing a successful response to an RFP include:
- Ensure your proposal is clear, succinct, and highlights your firm’s key differentiators
- Demonstrate attention to compliance issues by strictly following the directions provided in the RFP
- Design a project owner to oversee the process of developing and completing the bid
- Create an executive summary that hooks the reviewer into reading the complete proposal
- Remember to use marketing principles when writing the RFP
- Repeat key themes and concepts at least three times
- Use eye-catching and informative infographics
- Ensure the RFP is scannable by using subheaders, call out boxes, and lists
- Obtain as much information as possible concerning the prospective client as well as your competition
- Set a mid-range price for your services
- Consider offering a base level set of services with a list of optional add-on offerings
Just like anything new, chances are you will need to submit a number of RFPs before you win your first project involving GIS consulting work.
What is your experience using GIS technology?
We're more than just brokers. We're A/E specialists, delivering the right coverage and exceptional value and service to hundreds of design firms of all sizes. Of course we leverage the latest industry resources to provide you with coverage, risk management and contract review tailored to your practice. But we also remember the difference between simply billing clients and actually serving them. See for yourself. Contact us of a competitive quote on your professional liability insurance.