If you were to research the web, you would find that software is available to assist in the writing of proposals,  including several packages for writing responses to federal Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The aforementioned software packages all have limitations because:

1. Federal RFPs do not have enough commonality to lend themselves to responses written with software support.
2. It is virtually impossible to ensure compliance with a RFP's requirements section through the use of software.
3. An effective proposal is created using a unique outline that is in perfect alignment with the contents of the RFP.

A proposal template fits the bill with respect to providing a unique outline containing each and every RFP requirement. Templates used for previous bids can be used as a starting point for services and solutions that are similar from RFP to RFP. But even then a previous template is only a starting point and the template must be developed further and refined by deconstructing the RFP, sentence by sentence.

A company's proposal manager should develop a proposal template in response to each RFP.  He or she can then use databases containing past experience narratives and resumes to begin to expand the template while RFP- specific content is developed by subject matter specialists.

Think of federal proposal writing as the refinement of an outline (template) rather than preparation of a document. Outline refinement will make the writing process easier and more controlled. One must understand, of course, that proposal writing at its very best is painful. Extraction of meaningful content from subject matter specialist reluctant to write is inherently painful. Templates ease the pain, not eliminate it.

Regards,

Richard White
President
Fedmarket
rwhite@thefederalmarketplace.com
301 908 0546 (cell)

Visit Fedmarket
For inquiries, call 888 661 4094. Press 2.