Strategically Speaking: Outsourcing Your Distribution—The RFP Process Made Simple
Protect Your Information
Before you exchange any information, all prospective bidders should be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The NDA should not only include prohibitions against divulging confidential financial and operational information provided by either party, but should contain a clause clearly prohibiting the discussion of the RFP with unauthorized parties within the publisher’s organization. Moving to a third-party distribution business model is a significant step, and until the decision is finalized and a transition plan confirmed, the details of the effort should be shared only on a need-to-know basis. Beyond the potential anxiety and disruption to your business, your negotiating leverage is diminished if your effort is plagued by information leaks.