[consulting] Getting Freelance Work

[Sam Polenta]

I recently sent a proposal in response to an RFP. I was told that I
made the final four and they asked me more questions. Then I was told
that I made the final two but that they chose the other vendor, a
firm. I of course am a lone freelancer. I know that people on this
list have advised against freelancers responding to RFPs, but I did
anyhow make the #2 slot in this case.

The guy who I spoke with was so nice, however, that I asked him for
feedback, if he could, as to why I made it to the final two and also
as to why I did NOT make it to #1. He was happy to respond. He said
the Board made the final decision, but he explained two reasons why he
*thinks* they chose against me in the end.

One was that a different freelancer also contacted them but when they
(eventually) clarified that they require a proper proposal for the
Board to review and consider, he declined to proceed and sent a very
strongly worded warning against working with freelancers who bid low
on projects like this one, claiming that a common strategy for
freelancers in this business is to start with a low bid to secure the
deal, and then charge outrageous amounts for change orders and
anything not covered in the original specifications.

He said that my bid was indeed the lowest and that the Board had read
the warning letter from the other freelancer. He said probably some of
the directors must have been thinking, "Gee, what if that other guy
was right? I'm glad he warned us about this!"

How do you like that? Perhaps if I had bid more they would have
accepted my proposal. Maybe I should *raise* my rate! ;)

Sam