Vendor Selection Criteria

Example Vendor Evaluation Criteria

Demonstrate Clinical Functionality (25%)

• How well is the vendor able to demonstrate the clinical functionality required by [your organization]?
• Is the software flexible enough to meet our current needs and allow for future changes?

Acquisition and Implementation Cost (25%)

• What is the total financial investment required to acquire and fully implement the proposed solution?

Hardware Platform and Technical Requirements (20%)

• How well is the vendor able to meet our technical requirements ?
• How well is the vendor able to create and maintain interfaces to our existing systems?
• How well is the vendor able to migrate our data from actual system to the new, if it is neccesary?
• Is the vendors's software created with the most adequate developing technology? Platform? Language? Databases?
• Will we do periodic updates, or will the vendor do this as part of the contract? How often are they released?
• Do we plan on-site or remote hosting for the system?
• If we plan to utilize remote hosting, how safe, sound, and accessible are these data?
• Is the hardware user friendly in all departments? (i.e. nursing, pharmacy, pulmonary,..etc.)

Implementability (15%)

• How much time, effort, and resources will be required to successfully implement?
• What is the vendor?s track record for successfully implementing its system in similar settings?

Vendor Partnership and On-going viability (10%)

• What type of long-term relationship do we think we can expect from the vendor?
• How stable is the company?
• How many new contracts have they signed in the past year?
• How many uninstall's have been done the last year?
• Does word of mouth support that the company believes in service after the sale?
• What is the vendor's cost per year after implementation?

Future Vision (5%)

• What is the vendor's five-year strategic plan?
• What percentage of revenue is being re-invested into R&D?
• How does the company capture/communicate client concerns for re-engineering? i.e. Is this a learning company?
• What "game changers" are on the drawing board? Are these related to one of our organization's core goals?

Extra Credit (optional)

• Can the company demonstrate tangible ways that use of the product can increase hospital revenue? If yes, can you validate this/these claims?
• Is the vendor willing to contract to go "at risk" for any part(s) of the contract?
• What other services does the company offer (especially useful for rural or small hospitals or practices)? e.g. consultants to do special projects, data transmission/claims, billing