OIAI · Procurement Review

Media Training: Two Proposals Compared

2 co-founders ~3.5 hrs Arabic + English Abu Dhabi
Bottom line

Insight is the stronger, lower-risk pick, at roughly half the price.

It answered OIAI's own RFP template in full: named bilingual trainers with bios, a broadcast camera operator, three references, plus recordings and written feedback per exec, all for $4,568 incl. VAT. Even after MSL's cut to $8,000 (excl. VAT), MSL costs about 75% more, leaves trainers unnamed, gives no references, and excludes the camera setup and tripod, so on-camera capture (the core of media training) is not covered.

Price

What each one costs

Insight Action

Responded on OIAI's RFP template

Lowest cost
$4,568 incl. VAT

$4,350.85 excl. VAT plus 5% VAT ($217.55). Venue and refreshments paid by OIAI.

MSL

Program proposal (deck), June 2026

↓ Reduced
$14,680$8,000 excl. VAT

Down from $14,680. VAT additional (about $8,400 incl.). Includes catering. Excludes camera setup and tripod.

Like-for-like with VAT, Insight is roughly $3,800 cheaper (a ~45% lower total) for a broader committed scope.

Detail

Deliverable by deliverable

Strengths & gaps

Where each wins, where it's thin

Insight Action$4,568 incl. VAT
+
Named, credentialed trainers. Tier-1 ex-broadcast journalist (EN) and ex-LinkedIn MENA editor (AR), bios in hand.
+
Complete deliverables. mp4 recordings and a written PDF critique per executive.
+
Three verifiable references (EY MENA, Miral, Falcon).
+
Answered the RFP as asked. Easiest to evaluate and hold to account.
+
Less than half the cost.
No structured baseline assessment, and no included catering.
Smaller specialist firm rather than a global network name.
MSL$8,000 excl. VAT (down from $14,680)
+
Global agency brand (Publicis network), and a possible wider PR relationship.
+
Baseline "surprise interview," a genuinely good opener.
+
Detailed timed agenda and included refreshments.
Trainers unnamed and unconfirmed. "Depend on availability," bios only later.
No references or case studies.
No camera setup or tripod in the $8K. On-camera capture would cost extra.
No committed recordings handover and no written per-exec feedback.
About 75% more expensive for a narrower scope.

Recommendation

Best approach

Award to Insight, but fold in MSL's two good ideas.

Insight meets every deliverable OIAI defined, names its people, backs itself with references, and does it for under half the price. MSL's discount narrows the gap but doesn't close it: you'd pay a premium for a team you can't yet name, plus deliverables (camera, recordings, written feedback) it hasn't committed to.

Best move: proceed with Insight and ask them to adopt the two things MSL does better, a recorded cold-open baseline interview and a tightly timed agenda shared in advance. Both are low-cost asks that round out an already-strong offer.

Choose Insight if…

The priority is training quality, named expertise, tangible take-home deliverables, and budget discipline. This is the default.

Choose MSL only if…

OIAI wants a broader relationship with a global network and can accept unnamed trainers, no camera, and $3,800+ more, ideally only after they add on-camera capture and close the gaps.