Carefully “Shred“The Request For Proposal (Or Bid, Etc.) Before Making A Bid/No Bid Decision
“Shredding“ means breaking down each element of the customer or client request. You can do this manually or use an automated process tool that includes
Protestable Issues
There are a number of instances, both pre- and post-proposal submittal, when the team involved in developing a proposal to the government should consider filing a protest with the US Government Accounting Office (GAO).
Videotaped presentations have become another way of implementing oral presentations in the procurement environment. There are two fundamental reasons why the Government uses videotaped presentations.
Many proposal and business development professionals not only respond to RFPs but also assist the customer in developing RFPs. I gave a presentation on the subject of the perfect RFP recently to the Chattahoochee Chapter of the APMP in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Following below is a condensed version of my presentation.
Let's take the high road. You've received the draft RFP and you have approximately four weeks until the final is released. These weeks can count toward a victory. Don't waste them. If you follow the simple step-by-step plan within this article, your company can be optimally positioned for that final RFP.
A lot of misunderstanding exists about storyboards. This is partly because, when they are not properly implemented, data acquired in the storyboard process does not make it into the files that the writers start with. To often, storyboards are treated as a discreet step that, once finished, is never looked back upon -- storyboards become a brainstorming tool that every one is forced into. No wonder so many people try to avoid doing them.
The single most important element of a winning proposal is a clear set of direct benefits the customer will receive by selecting you. Nothing is more important than that. Your proposal will win or lose on that alone.
Preferably before the RFP ever comes out, you should be assessing the potential competition on a proposal. Because a proposal is a competition, you need to score higher to win. In order to boost yourself, or even lower them, you have to know who they are.
10) Start after RFP release. The winner has already started, the clock is ticking, and you don’t have you act together? No bid.
9) Start writing with the intent to improve the draft. You’re going to write it wrong and then correct it with no way of knowing when it’s right? No bid.