After defining the organization's requirements for co-location service offerings, expectations for the engagement methodology should be defined. Engagement practices help to set expectations up front. Establish criteria and evaluate vendors on practices, such as soliciting client references, aligning project management processes, and establishing channels of communication for the term of the contract to ensure a successful relationship.

The checklist provides:

• Criteria items for consideration when addressing engagement practices.
• A full description of each item and its importance.
• Examples of criteria and questions to address in the RFP.

Include vendor engagement practices in the selection criteria for a co-location vendor agreement to help increase chances of success.