• Is there an incumbent contractor?
  
• What is the scope of work?
  
• Do we have a customer-specific solution?
  
• Do we need subcontractors?
  
• If we need subcontractors, have they been identified and signed teaming agreements?
  
• Are subcontractor agreements exclusive?
  
• Are the subcontractors capable of producing the required work? Can they contribute to the proposal writing process?
  
• Who do we know at the procuring agency, and how do they fit into the decision making process?
  
• How does each decision maker view us?
  
• Does each decision maker prefer us or someone else?
  
• Do we know who the evaluators are and have we sold each evaluator?
  
• Is there funding for the procurement?
  
• Why will they select us?
  
• Who is the competition?
  
• What are the win themes?
  
• What differentiates us from the competition?
  
• Can we bid a competitive price?
  
• Do we have the time and resources to write a winning proposal?
  
• What other proposals are being written and how will they impact this decision?
  
• Should other bid decisions be changed?
  

Collectively, the answers to these questions should clearly indicate whether you should bid or not. Be brutal; writing losing proposals is deadly. Not having answers to some of the critical questions is an indicator for a no-bid decision.