PMP Practice Questions #172
You are a project manager leading the setup of a power station. You are looking to find a vendor to handle one of the components of the WBS. After reviewing the qualified seller list, you have identified three sellers as potential candidates. What is the next step?
A. Develop a procurement management plan
B. Send Request For Proposal (RFP)
C. Sign the contract with the vendor
D. Conduct a bidders conference
Analysis
In this scenario, as a project manager leading the setup of a power station, you have identified three potential vendors to handle a component of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) after reviewing the qualified seller list. The key focus of this question is to determine the next step in the procurement process after identifying the potential candidates. The question requires an understanding of the sequence of activities in procurement, specifically after vendor identification and before contract finalization.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Develop a procurement management plan: Developing a procurement management plan is an important step in the procurement process as it outlines how the procurement will be managed, including selecting vendors, contract types, and other procurement activities. However, based on the question, it is implied that the procurement management plan has already been developed, as you have progressed to the stage of identifying potential vendors. Therefore, this option is not the next logical step but rather something that should have been done earlier in the process.
Option B: Send Request For Proposal (RFP): Sending a Request for Proposal (RFP) looks appropriate after identifying potential vendors. An RFP invites the identified vendors to submit their proposals, detailing how they plan to meet the project’s requirements. This step is crucial for evaluating and selecting the most suitable vendor based on their proposed solution, costs, and other factors. Since you have already identified the potential vendors, sending an RFP could be the logical and necessary action to move forward in the procurement process.
Option C: Sign the contract with the vendor: Signing the contract with the vendor occurs later in the procurement process after the vendor has been selected and negotiations have been completed. At this stage, no vendor has been selected yet, and the RFP has not been sent. Therefore, signing a contract at this point would be premature and is not the correct next step.
Option D: Conduct a bidders conference: A bidders conference is a meeting where all potential vendors are invited together to ensure that everyone receives the same information about the project requirements. This conference typically occurs after the RFP has been issued and before the vendors submit their proposals. The purpose is to provide consistent information to all vendors, ensuring that they fully understand the project requirements. However, since a bidders conference takes place after the RFP is sent out, it is not the immediate next step but something that follows in the procurement process.
Conclusion: Option B (Send Request For Proposal) is the correct answer. After identifying potential vendors, the next logical step is to issue an RFP, which invites these vendors to submit detailed proposals. Option D (Conduct a bidders conference) is not the correct next step because it typically occurs after the RFP has been sent out. The purpose of the bidders conference is to clarify any questions vendors might have before they finalize their proposals. Therefore, while the bidders conference is an important part of the process, it should only take place after the RFP has been issued, not before.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
|---|---|
| Process | Task 11: Plan and manage procurement |
Topics Covered
- Procurement Management Plan
- Procurement Statement of Work
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Bidder Conference
