MSP RFP READINESS CHECKLIST
THE RIGHT MSP PARTNER STARTS WITH THE RIGHT RFP.
A well-crafted Request for Proposal signals your commitment to smarter workforce management and attracts partners who can deliver on it. This checklist walks you through assessing your organizational readiness and stakeholder buy-in to simplify the RFP preparation process, including articulating your needs, establishing clear goals and requirements, and evaluating potential partners.
And don’t worry if some data points aren’t available yet; many won’t materialize until your program reaches steady state. Use this as both a readiness check and a strategic compass, because a strong RFP sets the tone for the entire partnership.
STAKEHOLDERS & GOVERNANCE
- We have engaged stakeholders across HR/TA, Procurement, Legal, Finance, IT, and Business Units.
- An executive sponsor with authority has been identified.
- A business case has been approved outlining objectives and expected outcomes.
- A target go-live date has been established and communicated.
PROGRAM SCOPE
- The scope of the MSP program is clearly defined (business units, locations, job categories).
- We have prioritized our current and future objectives across Supplier Management, DS enablement, IC Compliance, Payrolling/EOR, and SOW management.
- We have evaluated the potential delivery models (vendor-neutral, hybrid, master vendor) and identified our preferred solution.
EXTENDED WORKFORCE PROGRAM DATA (12+ MONTHS)
- We have total contingent workforce spend data.
- We have spend by location and headcount by location.
- We have spend by job title and headcount by job title.
- We have average tenure and assignment end reasons.
- We have average time-to-fill metrics.
- We have pay rates, bill rates, and markup data.
- We know our contingent workforce composition, worker classifications, and engagement models.
- We have a full list of in-scope job titles and descriptions.
- W e have a list of all in-scope locations including onsite/remote/hybrid requirements.
SUPPLIER LANDSCAPE
- We have a complete list of active suppliers.
- We have supplier performance metrics (fill %, time-to-submit, quality, attrition).
- We understand our diverse supplier mix.
- We have reviewed all supplier contracts and rate structures.
TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT
- We have documented our VMS provider and modules enabled.
- We have mapped or identified desired integrations with HRIS, ATS, DS technology, and IT systems.
- W e understand data export/import requirements and security needs.
- We have documented SSO and access control requirements.
POLICIES, RISK & COMPLIANCE
- We have documented worker classification policies.
- We have documented screening and background check requirements.
- We have defined privacy, PII handling, and data protection requirements.
- We have captured labor/regulatory constraints across jurisdictions.
KPIS, SLAS & REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
- We have defined target KPIs (TTF, quality, DEI, cost, supplier performance).
- We have defined reporting cadence and audience.
- We have drafted SLAs and expectations for penalties/incentives.
COMMERCIALS & CONTRACTING
- We have identified preferred pricing models.
- We have documented assumptions for scope, volumes, and geographies.
- We know whether the MSP or client will hold supplier contracts.
- We have updated standard terms (security, audit, data protection).
NEXT STEPS
Once you’ve completed this checklist, you’ll have a clearer understanding of your program goals and requirements and be well positioned for a successful MSP partnership.
Looking for an MSP partner? AtriumWORKS™, Atrium’s workforce solutions division, helps enterprise organizations build and optimize contingent workforce programs with a consultative, customized approach. From strategy and technology to program visibility and cost savings, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process.
*The information provided on this fact sheet does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available here are for general informational purposes only.
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