Solving Your Problems
Problems solved with no up-front cost; you only pay us for success.
RAS has the industry-specific expertise, innovative technology tools, and resources to help your operations become more economical and productive. RAS is not affiliated with any vendors, so you are assured of an unbiased review. Our procurement and strategic sourcing experts can assist you in a variety of ways, including but not limited to conducting contract compliance assessments of your vendors as well as drafting technical specifications for proposed bids and Request for Proposals (RFP).
Once you authorize your vendors to work with RAS, we conduct our work remotely through electronic means, safely out of your staff’s way.
Components of Spend Management
Contract Compliance
RAS understands that government is routinely called upon to “do more, with less.” In today’s financial environment, the private sector is also working to “do more with less”. Procurement departments typically do not have the breadth of internal staff expertise and/or level of resources necessary to acquire the market research and specific knowledge required to administer the hundreds of spend categories under their supervision.
RAS can deliver a solution tailored to meet your organization’s specific resource needs using data analytics, market research, category expertise and compliance management.
You maintain control of the process and we function as an extension of your existing team, providing services on an as-needed basis. We invest the time to understand your needs and develop practical solutions that drive a lower total cost model for your organization.
RAS’ expert contract compliance review provides management with the assurance that vendors have accurately charged and complied with the terms and conditions of their agreements. Contract compliance, monitoring, reporting, and procurement services are based on market research, data analytics and specific industry expertise and are tailored to the needs of our client. Our national, proprietary database of various industry pricing, which is constantly updated, enables us to benchmark your existing costs against similar organizations’ pricing.
We conduct contract compliance in a holistic manner. We take into account any unique circumstances that may exist for your organization. Our recommendations address the overall value for you and include a cost benefit analysis for implementation.
RAS looks at the total cost and how best to reduce costs and create additional value for you. We do this by helping improve cost structures and providing recommendations to improve internal business processes.
Research has shown that, on average, organizations could effectively improve management of approximately forty percent of their total spend, which provides substantial opportunity to deliver savings.
Delivering Value with Hard Data
Our continuously updated data is a powerful negotiating tool. RAS’ knowledge of the market’s best pricing gives us a potent advantage and enables us to negotiate effectively with existing vendors. Usually, a vendor will reduce their price to maintain the contract. If the vendor is unwilling to improve their contract, RAS can provide you with information on alternative qualified vendors that will meet the contract parameters at the best industry pricing.
Benchmarking is a process, not a comparison to a static database. Using our constantly updated metrics, our professional team will analyze client contract requirements and specific spend data. Then we assess current market conditions for that product or service and obtain (on an unidentified basis) real time market quotes for comparable services.
Next, we provide our client with an attainable range of savings (usually with their existing vendor), including the implementation strategy and timeline. Upon client approval, we implement the designated cost-saving initiatives.
In addition to our proprietary databases, you gain a business partner who will function as an extension of your team by providing many years of category management experience, market research and vendor negotiation skills. RAS team members have an average of twenty-plus years of experience and industry specific background.
Reporting
RAS provides on-going reporting throughout the engagement to keep you well informed of progress and any pending decisions you might need to make. You maintain control. RAS does not make any changes or implement any proposed options until you make a final determination of what you want us to do on your behalf.
Additional Benefits RAS Provides
- Total Cost Model – Access to current products and services at a lower total cost, on average 10% – 33% lower than the current cost structure, depending on category of spend
- Vendor Management Program – Stronger and better managed vendor relationships
- Sustainability – Access to tools and expertise that provide visibility and control over spend
- Ongoing Support in data management, market research and spend category expertise
- Flexible Service Delivery model based upon your organization’s specific requirements
- Procurement Services – Assist with proposal analysis and even conduct an RFP to bring additional qualified vendors forward for your consideration
RAS Listens
We are problem solvers. To solve your problems, we first must listen to you. Do you have specific areas of concern? Do you want to generally explore how and where you can save money without affecting your programs or services? RAS tailors our services to meet your needs and requirements. Find out how RAS can help you. If we don’t save you money, you don’t owe us anything for our services.
RAS is always by your side but never under foot™