How much “free time” can I expect a potential vendor to spend while preparing a project cost estimate and plan?
The software industry is a young industry and has not progressed to the point where work can be as cleanly and clearly specified as, for example, in the construction and printing industries. Things have yet to be standardized to the point where you can give a vendor a written specification and expect your needs to be fully understood and a price given. To do a proper job, your vendor will be required to spend some time, at your expense, to work through your requirements and specifications so that they can understand your needs fully and precisely and be able to provide a credible cost and project plan. Sometimes companies issue a RFP (Request for Proposal) and expect vendors to do a lot of “free consulting” up front to gain sufficient understanding to prepare a proper professional proposal. This approach usually produces results equally unsatisfactory to client and vendor alike. It’s like telling your doctor you don’t feel good and expecting him to tell you what to do and what it will
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