How to Develop a Compliant Proposal
A compliant and high-scoring proposal starts with a well-thought-out outline. This course dives into the intricacies of developing proposal outlines, annotating these outlines, preparing compliance and cross-reference matrixes, and preparing storyboards or work packages the right way. It starts with analyzing different types of Requests for Proposal (RFP) and Requests for Quote (RFQ) formats to show how various customers may organize the requirements.
A great outline reduces stress and rework during the proposal development process. It helps direct the authors and integrate the proposal from the start.
The course subsequently delves into when the use of storyboards (or writers’ work packages) is more appropriate than annotated outlines, and vice versa. It shows how to develop storyboards the right way, avoiding the typical problems companies face with storyboard development.
This self-paced course is designed for professionals in Proposal Management, Proposal Writing, and Proposal Coordination. It teaches advanced skills in annotated outlines and storyboard development, exploring the topic in greater depth than the Foundations of Proposal Management and Writing Persuasive Federal Proposals courses. The course focuses on practical techniques and real-world applications, helping proposal professionals master the nuance of outline and storyboard creation that distinguishes truly effective proposal development.
How to Develop a Compliant Proposal
Original price was: $1,195.00.$777.00Current price is: $777.00.
This self-paced course includes a mix of guided instruction and practical exercises designed to help you apply what you learn immediately. Approximately 20 percent of the content focuses on instructional material, while 70 percent emphasizes hands-on exercises and 10 percent reflection and application.
The experts who designed this course are highly experienced, currently practicing proposal professionals whose years of successful experience in Government acquisition and training allow them to offer valuable insights. The material reflects real-world challenges and current industry best practices. You can learn more about our instructors on the About Us page.
Course Curriculum
Learning Objectives
Upon course completion, the participants will have learned and be able to put into practice:
- Understanding how properly annotated outlines help reduce stress in proposals and get a higher score with evaluators
- Navigating different types of RFX structures like a professional
- Mastering the techniques for structuring proposal outlines correctly
- Setting up compliance matrixes
- Developing cross-reference matrixes
- Developing compliance checklists
- Allocating the page count correctly
- Developing effective resumes and past performance templates
- Setting up outlines for business and cost volumes
- Creating useful annotations to guide the authors
- Incorporating proposal mock-up elements into the outline
- Incorporating section flow into the outline
- Reviewing and refining the outline
- Issuing assignments to the authors using an annotated outline
- Navigating through the pros and cons of working with storyboards and writers’ work packages
- Deciding when to use storyboards
- Setting up the storyboards correctly for the writers to eliminate typical storyboard breakdowns
Day 1 Highlights
Module 1: Introduction
- Introductions and learning objectives
- Overview of where outlining and storyboarding fit within the proposal process
- How annotated outlines help reduce stress in proposals and get a higher score with evaluators
Module 2: Navigating RFPs and RFQs
- How to read an RFP or RFQ
- Different types of RFX structures (including Task Order RFPs), and how to navigate them successfully
- How to decide what sections are important for compliant outlining and what sections are part of a contractual document and therefore don’t require proposal mention.
Exercise: Identify sections pertinent to outlining in different types of RFPs and RFQs.
Module 3: Structuring Proposal Outlines
- Techniques for structuring proposal outlines correctly Sources of information and degrees of their reliability.
- Proposal outlines hierarchy
- Telling a story while remaining compliant
- Deciding on the outline structure
- Allocating page counts correctly
Exercise: Decide on the top-level outline structure for a practice proposal.
Module 4: Ensuring Compliance
- The difference between compliance matrixes, cross-reference matrixes, and compliance checklists, and how to use each one correctly
- Other techniques for showing compliance in a proposal document
- How to set up a compliance matrix
- How to develop a cross-reference matrix
- How to develop a compliance checklist
Exercise: Develop a cross-reference matrix for the practice proposal.
Day 2 Highlights
Module 5: Developing Resume and Past Performance Templates and Other Volumes
- How to develop effective resume templates
- How to design compliant and compelling past performance templates
- Setting up outlines for business volume
- Setting up outlines for the cost volume
Exercise: Set up a past performance template, resume template, and business volume outline for the practice proposal.
Module 6: Transforming the Topical Proposal Outline into an Annotated Outline
- Creating useful annotations to guide the authors
- Incorporating proposal mock-up elements into the outline
- Incorporating section flow into the outline
- Reviewing and refining the outline
- Issuing assignments to the authors using an annotated outline
Exercise: Annotate the practice proposal outline.
Module 7: Creating Proposal Storyboards and Work Packages
- The pros and cons of working with storyboards and writers’ work packages
- Deciding when to use storyboards
- Setting up the storyboards correctly for the writers to eliminate typical storyboard breakdowns
Exercise: Create a writer’s work package for the practice proposal.