Government Proposal & RFP Tips

Avoid Mistakes in Government Request for Proposals

Our proposal writing experts can help you meet your next deadline while ensuring all of the RFP requirements are met in your document.

Call Watson & Associates toll free today at (866)601-5518.

Watson & Associates utilizes a proposal team of lawyers and former government contracting officials to help you write persuasive government proposals that stand a chance of winning. A well thought-out business proposal increases probability of award. Solid delivery puts you ahead of the competition or even the incumbent. No only do we show you how to write a proposal but our government RFP and proposal writers  also provide sound tips focus on helping you submit a proposal that withstands an unexpected bid protest. Our success in the federal market place encourages small businesses and large corporation to come to us for a business proposal that can withstand the fierce competition.

Watson & Associates RRP services

Our government proposal services include support from start to finish. Our experts provide:

• Proposal developments and creation of winning strategy
• Proposal management
• Statutory interpretation
• Strategic approaches
• Past performance deficiencies
• RFP planning and team configuration
• Compliance management (compliance matrices)
• Technical proposal evaluation and development
• Subcontracting plans
• Teaming agreements and joint venture assistance
• Proposal review and editing
• Proactive bid protest review
• Graphics
• Flat rates
• Free initial consultations

The approach

The key to any successful proposal writing project is planning. Our government proposal writers will discuss and plan a winning theme and strategy before any writing begins. Your staff will not only learn how to write a proposal effectively but our proposal writing team will then initiate a compliance matrix that meets submission deadlines. After studying the solicitation, the proposal format will be initiated. A thorough review of your company’s performance will be paramount.

Watson & Associates will utilize experience as former government contracting executives to extract the critical information needed to meet the final packages for selection. We will rely upon heavy coordination and thorough responses from your experts.

Proposal management for effectiveness and deadline compliance

For effective proposal management, you will need to ensure that all pieces come together with respect for the proposal deadline. Scheduling is critical. Federal agencies will not accept your package if it is late.

Request for Proposal help center

As a prospective or existing government contracting bidder, you will certainly find that responding to a Request for Proposal is not as simple as it seems. After all, you are sometimes pursuing a contract worth more that a million dollars. It simply does not come without hard effort and investment.

Each proposal writer at Watson & Associates has assisted with numerous government RFPs and understands what it takes to get to the final page. Our proposal consultants diligently work with your key players all the way through the writing process to guarantee that:

• Each proposal section is carefully outlined and formatted to meet the agency’s request
• The technical and management sections reflect your strengths and demonstrate you have conquered hurdles in the past

Each government RFP is a mandatory frame of mind

Each Government Request for Proposal mandates certain formats. They are generally rules mandated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This very lengthy and detailed set of rules defines what must go into an RFP and how it must be structured.

Government contracting bids also contain various sections that you must be familiar with. Having government proposal consultants who understand the rules can save you a substantial amount of time and money. Government proposals have sections A–M. Your proposal format should follow the same sections as you work to the end.

What does it take to win?

A government request for proposal asks you to submit a response that demonstrates you have the ability to successfully perform a federal project at a fair and reasonable price. What does this mean to you? This should be the first question when considering whether or not to respond to a government RFP. Here are four considerations that will start you in the right direction.

♦ Can you demonstrate that you have the technical and management experience to manage risk, avoid delays, and simply provide cost-effective solutions to solve the government’s problem(s)?

♦ What are the best ways to highlight your key personnel and management approach?

♦ Clearly address the experience you have in the industries the proposal addresses (construction, IT, remediation, etc.)

♦ Explain in detail how you will approach the statement of work. The government needs to understand how you plan to successfully perform the project if you are awarded.

♦ Does your proposal writing approach address how you plan on performing the project if awarded?

♦ Is your proposal pricing fair and reasonable? The agency normally conducts a government estimate of what the project will cost. You should be doing the same. You  never want to have the lowest or highest-priced proposal.

Do you need to only show government contracting past performance?

The simple answer is no. However, the government wants to know the details of how your commercial experience is relevant to the current statement of work cited in the solicitation—this is where most bidders fall short. You must explore each commercial project and tell the government exact details that are most relevant to the current effort. Generalization will get you nothing but low scores. Keep in mind that:

• It is up to you (the bidder) to explain relevance
• Display projects similar in size, scope, location, and industry
• Highlight success stories in your past performance

Can you utilize subcontractors or teaming partners?

As a prime contractor, you must understand the legal rules pertaining to teaming partners. Effective proposal bidders effectively utilize teaming partners to:

• Overcome shortfalls of insufficient experience (the government can consider past performance of teaming partners or subcontractors, but they are not mandated to)
• Strengthen the likelihood of successful performance

Note: You must be aware of affiliation and the Ostensible Subcontractor Rule.

Avoid the biggest mistakes that can cost you the award

Inexperienced government proposal writers make simple mistakes that can cost you the award. This happens not necessarily through an inability to write.

Lack of experience with the regulations can lead toward the following:

• Repeating the exact statement of work contents—this will guarantee you a position in the not-to-consider pile of responses
• Failure to up-play your management team and the responsibilities  for the project—government wants to read about the key players, their experience, and how they will function in this particular project
• Cutting and pasting resumes (they should be tailored to meet the requirements at hand)
• Never looking to adjust labor rates in order to set up for lower pricing offers
• Failure to address risk mitigation and knowledge about governing contracting
• Stumbling upon the landmine of solely relying on price and past performance to win
• Including too many “fluff” statements—”dedication to customer service” and “we love our customers”

How to include “best value” when responding to a government RFP

The key to any government RFP award is to offer the best value possible. Remember, the highest price is not what the government looks for. However, trade-off for additional value can compensate for a higher price. It is up to you to offer that value.

Government contract law shows that at a minimum the agency can look at price and past performance to determine best value. It is up to you to offer the perks of the particular industry.  Your business proposal has to beat your competitors. You may consider some examples of ways to do add value to your offer:

• Guarantees
• Free replacements (products and furniture)
• 24/7 service
• Robust quality assurance plans
• Discounts for quantity orders
• Payment discounts

You are the expert in your industry. Think of value considerations that mean something to the government.

Nationwide government proposal services

Watson’s government proposal consultants and advisors provide business proposal writing services to clients in all states who want to do business with the federal government. This includes Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska, New York, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado Springs, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Ohio, Maine, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Maryland, Louisiana, Las Vegas, Georgia, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, Washington, Mississippi, Tennessee, Tampa, Miami, Virgin Islands, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Arizona, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Montana. We also perform proposal writing services in cities that include Denver, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Anchorage, San Antonio, and Philadelphia.

Contact us for immediate help

For immediate help with your federal project, contact the government contract proposal writing consultants at Watson & Associates.

Call Watson & Associates toll free 1-866-601-5518.