Using a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Select a Serials Vendor: The University of Tennessee Experience

In the fall of 2009 The University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) Libraries began developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a single serials vendor to acquire all periodicals/serials subscriptions. While the RFP was intended to save money by reducing service charges and standardizing invoicing processes, it also provided the opportunity for the Libraries to make the transition from print or print-plus-electronic to electronic-only subscriptions. This article describes the RFP process for the UTK Libraries and discusses some of the outcomes and lessons learned.