{"id":221,"date":"2010-05-17T18:26:14","date_gmt":"2010-05-17T22:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/sowwritingguide\/"},"modified":"2024-05-24T14:29:31","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T18:29:31","slug":"sowwritingguide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/sowwritingguide\/","title":{"rendered":"SOW Template &#038; Writing Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-218 alignleft\" style=\"float: left;\" title=\"SOW Writing Guide \u00ae\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/sow_writing_guide.jpg\" alt=\"SOWWritingGuide_image\" width=\"288\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/sow_writing_guide.jpg 288w, http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/sow_writing_guide-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><em><strong><a name=\"DEFN_SOW\"><\/a>What is a Statement of Work?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Within an RFP\/Contract, the Statement of Work (SOW) defines the tasks to be accomplished and\/or the services to be delivered by the selected contractor. A well-written SOW is the cornerstone of an effective RFP, and is essential to the management of a sound contract and the mitigation of contracting risks. Within most public sector\u00a0organizations in Canada, operational program managers are responsible for developing SOW\u2019s, not the procurement specialists.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Why are Statements of Work so difficult to write?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\">Complexity<\/span> <\/strong>&#8211; SOW\u2019s are unique to each contract and can vary significantly depending upon the type of work required, the duration and the contract mechanism being established.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\">Risks<\/span><\/strong> &#8211; the operational, financial, legal, contractual and reputational risks of a poor SOW can be very serious.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\">Expertise<\/span><\/strong> &#8211; qualified writers who understand the operational, financial and contractual requirements of a compliant and enforceable SOW are in short supply.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\">Time<\/span><\/strong> &#8211; the procurement process can never move fast enough for public sector program managers, and the development of a good SOW can be a very time consuming process.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\">Few rules and no roadmap<\/span><\/strong> &#8211; there are few clear rules or standards in place within the public sector\u00a0to define what a good SOW looks like, or how to write one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Public sector organizations\u00a0face many unique challenges in the area of procurement. They have a large number of diverse programs, responsibilities and employees across Canada. To a great extent, procurement requirements are also largely \u201cevent-driven\u201d, and in some cases (but not all) these events can and do occur on very short notice. Foreseen or unforeseen, when these events do occur they typically generate substantial amounts of procurement activity in an environment of extreme urgency and\u00a0priority.<\/p>\n<p>Public sector\u00a0program managers have an important job to do and critical programs to deliver. Canadians expect a great deal from them, and they operate under high degrees of pressure, urgency and scrutiny. Many program managers do not feel that they have adequate time or training to consider the many facets of public sector\u00a0procurement policy. For some, the procurement process is often viewed as an impediment or an obstacle preventing them from getting on with their job.<\/p>\n<p>When there is a program or event to be delivered, time is limited and procurement requirements have not been planned in advance (for any reason), there is a strong impulse among some managers to take whatever measures they can to by-pass or look for shortcuts around the procurement process, and simply get it done as quickly and expediently as possible. And this is precisely where the majority of procurement risks emanate from. When shortcuts get taken; when full compliance with the rules is sacrificed in the name of expediency; when an open, fair, transparent and competitive selection process is by-passed in favour of a sole source contract, an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN), an amendment or some other similar mechanism, these decisions can almost always be identified as the leading cause of potential procurement risks to the department.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>So, what does a good Statement of Work look like?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>To answer this question, <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">INC.<\/span> developed the <a title=\"SOW Writing Guide  (English) \u00ae\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/SOW_Writing_Guide2.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>Statement of Work (SOW) <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span><\/a> document in an effort to assist public sector\u00a0employees with the demands of the competitive procurement process, and in particular the demands associated with writing Statements of Work. Our hope is that it is of some benefit to managers in their efforts to meet operational procurement needs, while at the same time balancing the need to ensure compliance with the spirit and intent of public sector\u00a0contracting policies.<\/p>\n<p>This free 30-page document goes far beyond typical 2-3 page SOW templates, by identifying the essential messages to be conveyed within each numbered section of a standardized SOW. The SOW Writing Guide is based on best practices from across the Canadian public sector, and includes a helpful checklist of reminders, do\u2019s and don\u2019t\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span> developed the <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span><!--EndFragment--> as a Companion document to the <a title=\"CIPMM\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cipmm-icagm.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Institute for Procurement and Materiel Management (CIPMM)<\/a> Course:\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">How to Write Better RFP Statements of Work<\/span> and was officially recognized for credit by the Government of Canada\u2019s\u00a0 <a title=\"CGB - Procurement Certification Program\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca\/cgsb\/certpers\/index-e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian General Standards Board &#8211; Procurement Certification Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To download a copy of <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span>&#8216; <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span>, click on the links below.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a title=\"SOW    Writing Guide (English) \u00ae\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/SOW_Writing_Guide2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-219\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/adobe-pdf-icon.jpg\" width=\"26\" height=\"36\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Template and Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span> is available in Adobe PDF format, you may need to download and install the free <a title=\"Adobe Ready\" href=\"http:\/\/get.adobe.com\/reader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Acrobat Reader<\/a> from Adobe Systems Incorporated.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"SOW Writing Guide (English) \u00ae\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/SOW_Writing_Guide2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span><\/a> [607 K] [Author: <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">INC.<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a title=\"SOW Writing Guide (en Francais) \u00ae\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/Guide_de_redaction_d_enonces_de_travail.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-219\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/adobe-pdf-icon.jpg\" width=\"26\" height=\"36\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>The <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span> is also available &#8216;en Fran\u00e7ais.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><em><a title=\"SOW Writing Guide (en Francais) \u00ae\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/Guide_de_redaction_d_enonces_de_travail.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Guide<\/span><\/strong> de r\u00e9daction d\u2019\u00e9nonc\u00e9s de travail<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/em> [674 K] [Author: <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">INC.<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae <\/span><\/span><\/span>has been viewed more than <strong>250,000 times<\/strong>!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Who uses the <\/strong><\/em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>SOW<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: teal;\"><em>Writing Guide <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">\u00ae<\/span><em><strong>?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 <a title=\"Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Portfolio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tc.gc.ca\/eng\/menu.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Portfolio<\/a> &#8211; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 <a title=\"U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District\" href=\"http:\/\/www.usace.army.mil\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District<\/a> &#8211; Washington, DC, U.S.A.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 <a title=\"City of Albuquerque, DFAS Information Systems Division\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cabq.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">City of Albuquerque, DFAS Information Systems Division<\/a> &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 <a title=\"Shenkar College of Engineering and Design\" href=\"http:\/\/www.shenkar.ac.il\/english\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shenkar College of Engineering and Design<\/a> &#8211; Ramat Gan, Israel<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 <a title=\"National Park Serivice\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nps.gov\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. National Park Service<\/a>, U.S. Department of the Interior<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022\u00a0 Pennsylvania State, Dept of General Services, Bureau of Procurement &#8211; U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.parl.gc.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Library of Parliament<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u2022 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dec.nsw.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NSW Department of Education &amp; Communities<\/a> &#8211;\u00a0Sydney NSW, Australia<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Any errors or omissions are the sole responsibility of the author. Questions or other enquiries may be directed to:<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\"><strong>RFP<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #4c565a;\">SOLUTIONS<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: #03204f;\">INC.<\/span><br \/>\nP.O. Box 11294, Station H<br \/>\nOttawa, ON, K2H 7T9<br \/>\nTelephone: (613) 728-1335<br \/>\nEmail: <a title=\"Contact RFPS!\" href=\"mailto:info@rfpsolutions.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">info@rfpsolutions.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a Statement of Work? Within an RFP\/Contract, the Statement of Work (SOW) defines the tasks to be accomplished and\/or the services to be delivered by the selected contractor. A well-written SOW is the cornerstone of an effective RFP, and is essential to the management of a sound contract and the mitigation of contracting &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":218,"parent":0,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/221"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1758,"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/221\/revisions\/1758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rfpsolutions.ca\/rfpportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}