Chapter 4 - Scoping the Evaluation

Abstract

Effectively scoping the evaluation saves a great deal of time and headaches as the evaluation moves forward. This basic foundation sets the tone for the entire evaluation process, gives the evaluation team its first opportunity to gain detailed information about the customer, and gives the customer its first opportunity to communicate with the evaluation team. Creating a good environment throughout the scoping and contracting process generally leads to positive results throughout the entire evaluation process. Once the customer is convinced that an evaluation is needed, they may begin working directly or may be required to go out for competitive bid through an RFP or some other proposal solicitation process. The RFP will contain important information necessary to write a proposal or a contract. The most critical challenge is establishing the scope of the effort and related assumptions to determine the level of effort and costing required for executing the project. Another challenge is avoiding the normal pitfalls that can occur with any scoping process. Understanding the physical and logical boundaries for the evaluation process is critical to the success of the evaluation. This can also include third-party relationships and network architecture limitations.