Do Not Compare Software Proposals by Price Alone
A procurement guide for comparing software proposals by analysis, design, architecture, source code, hosting, testing, security, SEO and maintenance scope.
- Audience
- Business
- Content type
- Procurement guide
Why price alone is misleading
Two proposals can look similar while covering very different work. One may include analysis, UX, architecture, testing, deployment and maintenance. Another may only include implementation. The cheaper proposal may become more expensive once missing work appears as change requests.
What to compare
Discovery and analysis
Does the proposal include process analysis, requirements clarification and technical assumptions?
Design and UX
Does it include wireframes, responsive design, user flows and design revisions?
Architecture
Does it explain technology choices, integration approach, data model, security model and deployment plan?
Source code and ownership
Who owns the code, repositories, credentials, documentation and deployment pipeline?
Testing and security
Look for functional tests, manual QA, vulnerability checks, dependency review and role-based access validation.
Maintenance
Post-launch maintenance should include updates, monitoring, backups, incident response and small fixes.
Procurement recommendation
Ask every vendor to map price to deliverables. A strong proposal makes assumptions visible and reduces ambiguity before the contract is signed.
Sources
- OWASP secure development guidance
- Software project procurement best practices
- Technical due diligence checklists