An effective Management Plan can be written by an experienced Proposal Manager with little or no expertise in the subject matter of the RFP. Writing one from scratch however, is costly, time consuming, and tedious. The Proposal Architect, our new proposal writing product, provides model text for the different sections that comprise a management plan. Using model text and, if you have it, information from previously written proposals, can save thousands of proposal writing dollars and make a proposal more compelling and responsive to the RFP requirements.

While using model text can save an enormous amount of time and money, it should be used judiciously. A proposal evaluator can spot untailored boilerplate in a heartbeat. Every paragraph should be carefully tailored to RFP requirements.

The RFP usually dictates what sections are required in your Management Plan. Any specific RFP requirements were identified during the RFP deconstruction phase. Using the outline created in the deconstruction process, develop as detailed an outline as you can. Then use the model text to augment it. Keep the following in mind when using model text.

* Tailor, tailor, and tailor. (It can't be stated too many times.)

* Use text only if asked for in the RFP. (If they didn't ask for a Quality Assurance Plan, don't write one.)

* Don't include material for the sake of words or to try to impress an evaluator.

* Management Plans for large contracts usually range from 20 to 30 pages in length; often the RFP specifies a page limitation for the Management Plan.

* Every RFP is different. Model sections may not fit perfectly. For example, an RFP might request that management, project organization, and staffing be written as a single piece or separately.

* In selecting model text, delete when in doubt. You will probably have to move the sections and subsections around to fit the requirements of the RFP. Don't be surprised if there are new sections that have to be developed from scratch

* Don't force-fit text; again, delete when in doubt.

The Proposal Manager should be careful to keep the writing of the Management Plan and the Technical Approach completely separate so that technical personnel focus on the technical approach alone. A draft of the management plan can be circulated to the technical personnel once both are finished.

It's up to the Proposal Manager to tie the two together as the proposal progresses.