Re: [OT] How to change the world (was Microsoft Norway may be probed)
On 21 Apr, 2005, at 22:59, RalfGesellensetter wrote:
What can be done to inform these guys that this violates the law?
Talk to them before the RFP (request for proposals) is issued. If
they need more stuff from one specific vendor they will buy the
stuff no matter what.
Virtually, these requirements are kind of secret, as it feels:
The requirements are printed in the RFP. Getting the RFP
or getting recognized as an approved vendor is a different story
Only
selected companies are addressed directly, dunno if there is a public
folder where everybody can view them...
The typical procurement process for a professional buyer is as follows:
a) We need more ICT stuff... (user)
b) Needs analysis
c) Specification of requirements
d) RFP (request for proposal)
e) Evaluation of proposals
e) Contract negotiations
f) Delivery
The reason for the specification of MS products in 99% of all RFPs
is that 99% of the users are using MS products. The way to change
the world is not to attack the current RFPs, but to sell the benefits
of free software to management in advance such that you can
meet the requirement with free software when the RFP comes out.
Please note that preaching free sw without a product/service
offering that can be bought is doomed to failure.
Unfortunately very few companies (vendors) are using free software
as part of their product offerings and hence no decision maker (buyer)
is sold on free software.
Every organization within a EU member country has to comply with the
EU procurement regulations (EUPR). The rules are known by every
government / local gov. (public sector) in Europe. It is not a secret
process since the RFPs are advertised nationally, as well as in the
official journal of the European Union if the value is above a certain
amount. I think each country has a threshold for when the EUPR applies.
BBC has a good description of a typical tender process on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/supplying/tenderprocess.shtml
More info at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/publicprocurement/index_en.htm
(not the most informative web site I have seen)
To be able to change the attitude against free software we must
actively sell solutions based on free software to the decision
makers in the public sector. It's not enough to talk about values,
but we must demonstrate the business benefits and provide a
quote for the service/product necessary to achieve these benefits
Organizations are not buying Microsofts products because they are:
- evil
- bribed by MS
- stupid
- etc.
The only reasons are:
- The business value of free software is unknown to them
- The business value of continuing to buy what they are used
to is good enough
-vidar
Reply to: