Templates can play an important role in federal proposal writing. If a company wants to win a bid opportunity, the proposal it submits in response to a federal Request for Proposal (RFP) must be unique. Furthermore, the proposal must address the customer's issue or problems and the company submitting the offer must propose customer-centric solutions. Proposals that do not address the foregoing elements lose. Common components or sections of a proposal include:

• Executive Summary
• Compliance Matrix
• Technical Approach
• Management Plan
• Personnel
• Corporate Experience

Companies entering the federal arena are often unaware that templates addressing the common elements listed above can be used to make the process of proposal writing much more efficient and cost effective. Templates can save your proposal team countless man hours. They are outlines to begin the process of writing a proposal in a structured way. Furthermore, they provide your writing staff with the free time needed to tailor your proposal to the needs of the client or end user. Excerpts from a template for an Executive Summary are shown below.

Executive Summary Template

This template provides a general structure for an Executive Summary. Not all sections may apply to your proposal; delete and add sections as necessary. You may not be able to answer all of the questions in the writing guidelines; try to answer those that apply to you.

Writing guidelines are shown in red and model text is shown in black font. Delete red text after completing the Executive Summary. Refine the appropriate model text to fit your proposal and add text as necessary. Then delete unused model text.

Sample:

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Introduction

Describe your team (company) in a simple introductory sentence. ______, ______, and _____ (the "Team") (or Company) propose to combine their individual corporate experience and capabilities to provide ______ services to the ______ (agency). The Team recognizes the challenges involved in this contract, and we are committed to providing ______ (agency) with high-quality service while at the same time providing the continuity of in-place, experienced staff (or reducing the risk of contract problems)(or ....).

1.2 Proposal Overview

Describe what you will do and the benefits associated therewith in one or two paragraphs. Answer the following questions:

• How will the customer benefit from your solution?
• How will your solution help your customer achieve his long-term and short-term goals?
• How does your solution solve the customer's specific problems?
• What immediate improvements will your customer notice as a result of your solutions?
• How (or why) is your solution cheaper or more efficient?
• How (or why) does your solution provide the best value?
• How does your proposal meet or exceed the evaluation criteria in the RFP?

Our proposed approach is (comprehensive, unique, innovative, creative, practical, reliable) and will (integrate, provide, result in, reduce, etc.).....

Our approach to this project features:

• List primary features

Examples:

• Lowers development risks
• Provides a foundation to migrate legacy systems to new technology
• Uses standards-based tools and platforms
• Uses open source software

1.3 Program Manager

Our proposed Project Manager, _______, (name of person) is (known to the agency, highly qualified, experienced, proven, an expert). Specifically, Mr./Ms. _______ has:

• List the relevant capabilities of the Program Manager pertinent to the contract.

1.4 Personnel

(Continued)

Templates should be viewed as a starting point for your proposal outline. They save time and provide structure but they must be tailored to the customer.