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Writing an RFP (Request for Proposal)


A while back, a potential client provided me with some general details of the writing work he wanted me to do for his company. Then he asked me to send him a proposal.

Proposal?! I panicked as I tried to confirm with him what he meant by that since I had never done one before, at least not as a freelancer.

I must've not really wanted to pursue this opportunity since I didn't bother to do research or follow up with the company after submitting a contract instead of a proposal. A little time passed, I came across an article on writing RFPs (Request for Proposal). Ding! The light bulb went on. This guy verbally gave me his RFP and wanted a written response.

When a company needs a project to be completed by a contractor or outside source, they write a RFP. This is a formal document describing the project, how the contract companies should respond, how the proposals will be reviewed, and contact information. Often, the company documents the submission guidelines to make it easier for them to compare responses. There are no specific standards or guidelines for creating the RFP, but government agencies usually strict standards they follow when conducting the proposal process.

Outside companies read the RFP and write a proposal (a bid) explaining how they can best provide and meet those needs. When writing the proposal, the company should closely follow the guidelines established in the RFP to avoid being removed from consideration for the potential project.

A typical proposal contains:

  • Executive summary - summary of the entire proposal
  • Statement of need - why project is necessary
  • Project description - How project will be implemented and evaluated
  • Organization information
  • Project schedule
  • Budget
  • Conclusion

My situation was an informal version of all this. The client gave me a high level overview of what I might do for him. If I knew then what I know now, I would've written up a description of the client's needs and how I would complete the work in meeting those needs.

Small businesses would likely do a proposal in between the one I got and the complex government required ones. Most small businesses will be prompted to write a proposal when approaching a client. The client may ask you to submit a proposal outlining what you can do for them. In this case, write a proposal including the elements of a typical proposal and keep it short and to the point especially if the client is not a large company.

There are examples of RFPs and responses peppered throughout the Web, but which one you can learn from depends on the type of work involved. A proposal can be two pages or as big as a book. Rely on your favorite search engine and do the research to create an unbeatable proposal.

Meryl K. Evans, Content Maven, is Editor-in-Chief of eNewsletter Journal and The Remediator Security Digest. She's a slave to a MarketingProfs weekly column and a Web design reference guide at InformIT. She is the author of the popular e-report, How to Start a Business Blog and Build Traffic. Visit her site at http://www.meryl.net/blog/ for free newsletters, articles, and tips.


MORE RESOURCES:

Negotation Skills - Google News

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Medical events in Riney's sights - Crain's Detroit Business


REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Medical events in Riney's sights
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Riney has honed his relationship and negotiation skills during his 33-year career at Henry Ford by working in nearly every one of the system's business units. And he's forged relationships with numerous national leaders as vice chairman of the National ...

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Harvard helps J&K cops shed killer image - Daily News & Analysis


Harvard helps J&K cops shed killer image
Daily News & Analysis
The police have roped in experts from Harvard University to introduce soft skills including negotiation and communication, listening skills, ethics and professional conduct based on a public service mindset. Conducted by Jim Tull, the training covered ...

'Hone negotiating skills to seal robust contracts' - Hindu Business Line


Hindu Business Line

'Hone negotiating skills to seal robust contracts'
Hindu Business Line
Robustness of a contract flows from the skill to negotiate convincingly and manage trade relationships and commitments, according to a leading management consultant. This requires constant updating of knowledge and exposure to various international ...

Learn to negotiate - GreaterKashmir.com


Learn to negotiate
GreaterKashmir.com
Close your eyes for a minute and think how many times you negotiated yesterday, you will see that your day almost started with negotiation and even ended with it. It is not just negotiation. There are other important abstract skills that we practice in ...

Donald Trump Gets Chumped in Century 21 Super Bowl Ad - Reuters


Donald Trump Gets Chumped in Century 21 Super Bowl Ad
Reuters
But the Donald's latest collaboration takes a playful dig at the famously egocentric real-estate mogul's negotiation skills. Also read: Super Bowl Ad Sneak: Preview Seinfeld, Ferris, "Hunger Games" and All the Rest In the spot, Trump goes head-to-head ...

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Three Negotiation Skills That Can Jumpstart The Economy - Forbes


Three Negotiation Skills That Can Jumpstart The Economy
Forbes
In a commercial environment laden with these challenges, negotiation skills are a key skill set to getting the economy back on track. Negotiation skills are the life-blood of business. From the decisions made by executives at the top, ...

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West Point group teaches art of negotiation - ArmyTimes.com


West Point group teaches art of negotiation
ArmyTimes.com
Perhaps no Army organization values the power of persuasion like the West Point Negotiation Project, a group that is changing the way cadets and soldiers communicate — often by teaching techniques that fly in the face of traditional Army bravado.

The art of negotiating - Fiji Times


The art of negotiating
Fiji Times
Negotiation is an art and those who are good at it can bring success to a business entity. For international business, negotiation techniques and skills are necessary tools of the trade. Before we move to international trade and business, ...

Negotiation Skills have Global Appeal - NewsReleaseWire.com (press release)


Negotiation Skills have Global Appeal
NewsReleaseWire.com (press release)
"The students who sign up to improve their negotiating skills represents every aspect of ambition in life from securing admission to a particular university, improving the profits of an individual company or a giant corporation, counseling patients, ...

The Top 3 Negotiation Skills That Will Advance Your Career - MarketWatch (press release)


The Top 3 Negotiation Skills That Will Advance Your Career
MarketWatch (press release)
Jim Camp, states, "You are only one decision away from safety and one decision away from success when you have a system of negotiation." One should know strong negotiation skills are life's corner stone to all you will ever build.

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