In recent years, as IME (aka CME) guidelines and requirements have increased, commercial supporters have decreased their funding of IME projects and eliminated full-time roles focused on managing IME programs. Now more than ever it’s critical that your RFPs for IME are strategically focused and clearly articulated to ensure the desired objective of medical education.
Omni-HC uses the following guidelines when we help our clients develop an RFP.
Clearly state an outline of what an acceptable proposal should include.
All grants you receive should have a defined, legitimate educational, and scientific or health-related purpose. However, to optimize the use of IME, your RFP should also outline the educational objectives, the desired audience, the timing, and if there is a preferred educational format. The goal of the strategic RFP is to generate proposals that address the desired objectives. For example, your RFP should clearly outline what is appropriate as outcomes measurements, learning or program-level objectives and other data-based measurement strategies. Ensure you have clearly defined a limitation to the amount of content you will be willing to review. Although larger proposals can sometimes include great ideas,. proposal review efficiency should be a major consideration when developing a strategic RFP for dissemination.
Present a timeline for proposals.
Be up front about the timing of when an RFP will be concluded. Ensure the potential proposal creators understand your timeline from publication of the RFP to conduct the program. This is especially important if your strategic RFP is part of a larger integrated scientific exchange effort. Also, be sure to request any important deadlines such as key medical congress symposia application dates, etc. Most symposia are planned and secured at least six months to a year in advance. These important details can make it easier to obtain a symbiotic IME program that adds optimal value to the overall effort.
Give clear budget parameters.
A proposal budget should represent the true scope of the proposal including funding for staffing, presentation expenses, travel, etc. Make sure, in your RP, to outline the budget parameters and any restrictions on funding so proposal developers clearly understand the parameters of your request.
Keep your RFP concise and double check prior to circulation.
Although we all would like to think everyone reads all of an RFP, the truth is that most business readers do not absorb all the pertinent information in simply one read of a lengthy document. In writing your RFP, it is critical to keep in mind the more content you insert into the document the higher the likelihood all of the content will not be retained, and you will receive less than complete proposals. Restricting the desire to write more and being as concise as possible will not only make it easier for organizations to submit proposals, it will also increase the relevance of the proposal to your organization’s educational objectives.
Don’t trust your eyes and brain, it can be very difficult to properly edit our own writing. It’s always important to have someone, not closely tied to the RFP, review it for accuracy, consistency, and to ensure your strategic vision is clearly conveyed. Leave time in the RFP development process to make sure this step is not overlooked because it could be the difference between gaining quality useful proposals and creating an overwhelming burden of unaligned proposals.
Omni-HC has can help support your RFP development with our IME specialists through our IME On Demand program. Learn more contact us today.
Omni-HC uses the following guidelines when we help our clients develop an RFP.
Clearly state an outline of what an acceptable proposal should include.
All grants you receive should have a defined, legitimate educational, and scientific or health-related purpose. However, to optimize the use of IME, your RFP should also outline the educational objectives, the desired audience, the timing, and if there is a preferred educational format. The goal of the strategic RFP is to generate proposals that address the desired objectives. For example, your RFP should clearly outline what is appropriate as outcomes measurements, learning or program-level objectives and other data-based measurement strategies. Ensure you have clearly defined a limitation to the amount of content you will be willing to review. Although larger proposals can sometimes include great ideas,. proposal review efficiency should be a major consideration when developing a strategic RFP for dissemination.
Present a timeline for proposals.
Be up front about the timing of when an RFP will be concluded. Ensure the potential proposal creators understand your timeline from publication of the RFP to conduct the program. This is especially important if your strategic RFP is part of a larger integrated scientific exchange effort. Also, be sure to request any important deadlines such as key medical congress symposia application dates, etc. Most symposia are planned and secured at least six months to a year in advance. These important details can make it easier to obtain a symbiotic IME program that adds optimal value to the overall effort.
Give clear budget parameters.
A proposal budget should represent the true scope of the proposal including funding for staffing, presentation expenses, travel, etc. Make sure, in your RP, to outline the budget parameters and any restrictions on funding so proposal developers clearly understand the parameters of your request.
Keep your RFP concise and double check prior to circulation.
Although we all would like to think everyone reads all of an RFP, the truth is that most business readers do not absorb all the pertinent information in simply one read of a lengthy document. In writing your RFP, it is critical to keep in mind the more content you insert into the document the higher the likelihood all of the content will not be retained, and you will receive less than complete proposals. Restricting the desire to write more and being as concise as possible will not only make it easier for organizations to submit proposals, it will also increase the relevance of the proposal to your organization’s educational objectives.
Don’t trust your eyes and brain, it can be very difficult to properly edit our own writing. It’s always important to have someone, not closely tied to the RFP, review it for accuracy, consistency, and to ensure your strategic vision is clearly conveyed. Leave time in the RFP development process to make sure this step is not overlooked because it could be the difference between gaining quality useful proposals and creating an overwhelming burden of unaligned proposals.
Omni-HC has can help support your RFP development with our IME specialists through our IME On Demand program. Learn more contact us today.