For Drupal consultants aiming to bid on Government of Canada Requests for Proposals (RFPs), understanding the mandatory and rated criteria is critical. These criteria define the qualifications and experience required for eligibility and help determine how bids are scored. Aligning your resume to match these requirements ensures you're prepared to maximize your score on rated criteria while meeting all mandatory qualifications.
For those transitioning into consulting, understanding the expectations outlined in RFP grids is essential. Failing to meet even a single mandatory requirement can disqualify you from consideration, regardless of other strengths or qualifications.
Building a Competitive Profile
1. Mastering Drupal WxT and Open Source Contributions
Experience with the Drupal WxT distribution is often a critical requirement for government projects, as it ensures accessibility, usability, and compliance with Government of Canada standards. Developing expertise in WxT involves:
- Familiarizing yourself with the GCWeb and GCIntranet themes.
- Understanding accessibility principles like WCAG compliance.
- Contributing to the WxT distribution or related modules on Drupal.org to demonstrate practical experience and engagement with the open-source community.
Additionally, establishing a Drupal.org profile and actively contributing to three or more open-source projects showcases your ability to work collaboratively and solve real-world problems. These contributions can include bug fixes, feature enhancements, or accessibility improvements.
2. Cloud and Development Infrastructure
Government projects increasingly rely on modern cloud technologies and DevOps practices. To stand out as a candidate:
- Gain experience with cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS, including deployments and integrations.
- Use tools like docker-scaffold for local development to streamline your workflow and simulate production-like environments.
- Develop and manage automated CI/CD pipelines for efficient builds, testing, and deployments.
Certifications in cloud platforms and development practices add credibility to your expertise and demonstrate your commitment to staying current with industry trends.
3. Technical Expertise and Specialization
Your resume should clearly document your experience with key technologies used in Drupal projects, including:
- Backend Development: PHP and MySQL.
- Frontend Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like jQuery or React.
- Search: Integration with Apache Solr for advanced search capabilities.
For each project, articulate how these technologies were applied, the challenges solved, and the outcomes achieved. This detailed approach ensures your experience aligns with the technical requirements outlined in RFPs.
Preparing for a Successful Consulting Career
1. Structuring Your Resume for RFPs
A project-based resume is essential for bidding on RFPs. Organize it to highlight:
- Specific projects, the technologies used, and your role.
- Key deliverables and measurable outcomes (e.g., "Migrated 1,000+ content items to Drupal WxT with zero data loss").
- How your work aligns with mandatory and rated criteria in past RFPs.
A well-structured resume not only demonstrates your qualifications but also simplifies cross-referencing with RFP grids.
2. Setting Up a Consulting Business
Transitioning to consulting involves more than just technical expertise. To establish yourself as a professional consultant:
- Incorporate your business, learn QuickBooks for financial management, and work with an accountant for tax planning.
- Maintain an up-to-date LinkedIn profile that reflects your resume and showcases recommendations from past clients or colleagues.
- Build a network within the Drupal and government contracting communities to uncover new opportunities.
Continuous Improvement
Bidding on RFPs is competitive, and the landscape evolves rapidly. Stay ahead by:
- Pursuing certifications in Drupal, cloud hosting, and accessibility.
- Engaging in ongoing learning to expand your skill set, whether through training programs, webinars, or open-source contributions.
- Actively seeking feedback on unsuccessful bids to refine your approach and address any gaps.
Get Started
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just beginning your consulting journey, preparing for government RFPs requires a combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and strategic planning. If you’re looking to transition into consulting or need guidance on navigating the RFP process, contact Stephen Mulvihill for expert advice.