8 questions from the RFI stage, free
These come from the module as sold. The workbook adds follow-ups, a response format, a weight and a score column to each.
1. Describe your standard end-user training program. Your description should cover: a) available delivery formats (e.g., instructor-led, self-paced video, documentation); b) an overview of the curriculum, including any available role-specific or use-case-specific learning paths; and c) typical duration to completion.
Why it matters. Buyers need to understand the structure and scope of the vendor's standard enablement program to assess its suitability for their user base and to avoid the hidden cost of building training from scratch.
- Multiple delivery formats for live and asynchronous learning
- Defined role-specific tracks with documented learning outcomes
- Curriculum includes both feature tours and use-case-driven modules
- Training consists only of recorded demos or marketing videos
- Vague references to 'office hours' without a structured curriculum
- A single, one-size-fits-all curriculum for all users
2. Describe the training program for platform administrators and power users. Explain how it differs from end-user training and confirm it covers realistic enterprise scenarios such as identity and access management (e.g., SSO/SCIM), audit log analysis, and security incident response workflows.
Why it matters. Administrators have unique responsibilities for configuration, security, and governance. Training that only covers end-user features or 'happy-path' demo scenarios leaves the organization exposed to misconfiguration and security risks. This question verifies the existence and depth of a dedicated admin curriculum.
- A dedicated, distinct curriculum for administrators
- Covers tenant configuration, IAM/SSO, audit, and incident workflows
- Includes a hands-on lab or sandbox environment for practice
- Admin training is the same as end-user training, just with more features shown
- No hands-on lab environment is provided
- Admin content is limited to documentation with no structured instruction
3. Provide a table of the role-based certifications you offer (e.g., administrator, developer). For each, specify the assessment format (e.g., proctored exam, practical lab), validity period, and renewal requirements.
Why it matters. Certifications give buyers a way to validate employee, consultant, and partner skills. The rigor of the assessment (e.g., proctored exam vs. open-book quiz) and renewal requirements directly determine how trustworthy the credential is.
- Offers multiple, distinct role-based certifications
- Assessment format includes proctored exams or practical, hands-on labs
- Each certification has a defined validity period
- No formal certifications are offered
- Offers a single 'certificate of completion' for watching videos
- Assessments are low-rigor, open-book quizzes with no proctoring
4. Provide the URL to your primary public documentation portal. In your response, describe: a) its scope (e.g., product features, API reference, admin guides, tutorials); b) your update cadence and versioning strategy to keep it aligned with product releases; and c) whether it includes structured learning paths to guide users.
Why it matters. Accessible, current, and well-structured documentation is the foundation of self-service. Buyers need to evaluate the quality of documentation before purchase to gauge vendor transparency and reduce long-term support costs and time-to-value.
- A single, canonical public URL is provided
- Documentation is comprehensive, covering product, API, and admin topics
- Content is versioned in lock-step with product releases
- Documentation is gated behind a customer login
- Multiple, fragmented portals exist with no clear entry point
- Documentation is visibly out of date with the current product
5. How is your standard end-user training program priced: included in the standard subscription, or sold as a paid add-on? Identify which components fall in each category.
Why it matters. Training sold separately adds to the total cost of the subscription. Buyers need to know which parts are included before they compare bids.
- Clear statement of what is included in subscription vs. priced separately
- All training is delivered as a paid professional service
6. Do you provide a non-production sandbox or training tenant that administrators can use to practice configuration changes safely? If so, is this environment included in the standard subscription?
Why it matters. Without a sandbox, administrators learn by making changes in production. Buyers need to confirm that a non-destructive practice environment exists and is not an expensive, separate add-on.
- A dedicated sandbox tenant is available to all customers
- Access is included at no additional charge in the standard subscription
- The sandbox environment can be easily refreshed or reset to a clean state
- No sandbox environment is offered
- The sandbox is a separately priced add-on
- The sandbox is a feature-limited version that does not reflect production
7. Are any of your certifications required as a gating condition for partners, resellers, or consultants to deliver implementation services on your platform?
Why it matters. Buyers engaging implementation partners need to know whether the vendor enforces a minimum skill bar on the ecosystem delivering services.
- Partner program tiers require a minimum number of certified individuals
- Specific, advanced certifications are required for specialized partners
- Customer-facing project leads from partners must hold named credentials
- No certification requirements exist for partners
- Certifications are encouraged for partners but are not enforced or audited
- Partners are permitted to self-attest their skills with no verification
8. Describe your policy and process for ensuring documentation and training materials are updated when new product capabilities are released. Is there a commitment to have documentation available at the time of General Availability (GA)?
Why it matters. Features released without corresponding documentation or training frustrate users, increase support tickets, and slow adoption.
- A stated policy that GA features ship with complete user documentation
- Training materials are updated within a defined window after release, stated by the vendor
- Internal release process includes a mandatory checklist item for documentation
- Features are routinely released before documentation is ready
- No formal commitment or policy on documentation timing
- Documentation and training updates lag releases by weeks or months
What the audit changed
A language model drafted these questions and a second model critiqued them. Three audit passes followed and made 112 changes. Three examples:
Wrong or outdated citation
Draft: Accessible training is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and a baseline expectation for inclusive workforces.
Now: US federal agencies must ensure the information and communication technology they procure meets the Section 508 standards (36 CFR Part 1194), which require WCAG 2.0 Level AA conformance for electronic content and software.
'A legal requirement in many jurisdictions' named no law, and 'a baseline expectation' is opinion. 36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix A, E205.4 and E207.2 require conformance to WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA. https://www.access-board.gov/ict/
Wrong or outdated citation
Draft: How do you align this content with the EU AI Act Article 4 obligations?
Now: How does this content support a deployer's AI-literacy measures under EU AI Act Article 4, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744?
Art. 4 as amended requires measures to support AI literacy, not a guaranteed level; the follow-up names the current text.
Wrong or outdated citation
Draft: As amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, it requires
Now: As amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, with effect from July 27, 2026, it requires
Pass 1's wording could be read as the amended duty applying since 2025. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, Art. 4 (final article): it enters into force on the third day after publication (OJ L of 24 July 2026, so 27 July 2026) and sets no separate application date; its amended Art. 113, third paragraph, point (a) keeps Chapters I and II applying from 2 February 2025. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/1744/oj/eng
