Structured Finance Software RFP Evaluation Guide

A structured finance software RFP or RFI should make vendor capabilities comparable across workflow scope, jurisdictions, controls, integrations, security, implementation and ongoing support.

This guide provides a practical framework for procurement, technology, operations, risk and compliance teams evaluating securitization software. Adapt the sequence, evidence requirements and scoring to your institution's governance and procurement process.

Structured Finance Software Evaluation Criteria

Use the following criteria to compare structured finance and securitization software on a consistent basis:

• Workflow scope: Define the transaction types, lifecycle stages, asset classes and user groups that must be supported.
• Configuration: Distinguish standard functionality, end-user configuration and bespoke development.
• Data and controls: Assess ingestion, validation, lineage, permissions, audit trails, calculations and exception management.
• Jurisdictions and reporting: Confirm regulatory, investor, rating-agency, accounting and management reporting requirements.
• Integration and deployment: Document source systems, APIs, file formats, hosting, identity management and data-residency needs.
• Security and resilience: Review independent assurance, access controls, incident response, business continuity and recovery.
• Implementation and support: Compare discovery, migration, testing, training, service ownership and change management.
• Commercial model: Compare implementation effort, licensing, support, infrastructure and total cost of ownership.

Ask shortlisted vendors to demonstrate critical requirements with representative data and identify which capabilities are available as standard, configurable or dependent on development.

Weight evaluation criteria before proposals are scored so commercial, operational, risk and technology priorities are transparent. Adapt this framework to your institution's governance, regulatory and procurement requirements.