The AI Vendor Procurement Process: From RFP to Contract
Most organizations treat AI vendor contract signature as the end of the procurement process, when it is closer to the beginning of a governance relationship that needs to be actively managed. AI systems change after deployment — models are retrained, vendor data practices evolve, regulatory requirements shift — and a static contract negotiated at the point of sale provides almost no leverage over any of that. Understand where the standard procurement process has to change — at requirements, evaluation, contract, and ongoing vendor management — and what governance commitments need to be built in before the deal closes.
Most organizations treat AI vendor contract signature as the end of the procurement process, when it is closer to the beginning of a governance relationship that needs to be actively managed. AI systems change after deployment — models are retrained, vendor data practices evolve, regulatory requirements shift — and a static contract negotiated at the point of sale provides almost no leverage over any of that. Understand where the standard procurement process has to change — at requirements, evaluation, contract, and ongoing vendor management — and what governance commitments need to be built in before the deal closes.
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