Upon receiving the solicitation, the proposal manager develops an outline based on the requirements. After circulating it to the bid team, the capture lead sends a reply. He writes the structure “doesn’t flow” and demands changes because the outline does not allow him to tell the story he wants.
Continue reading “Shattering Proposal Myths: Myth 6 – We Need to Tell a Story”
We are excited to launch a new feature on our blog – a video blog entry! Today, our President and CEO, Kevin Switaj, shares his top three takeaways from the 2018 APMP Bid and Proposal Conference in San Diego.
Continue reading “Top Three Takeaways from 2018 Bid and Proposal Con”
In my last post, I wrote about the importance of a strong introduction and how it sets up each proposal section for success. The next component of a proposal section is the most important to the evaluator – the approach. In short, this is where you are scored. A poorly written or poorly structured approach leaves an evaluator little choice but to give your proposal a low score. Even worse, your proposal may be tossed out completely. How can we put together compelling narrative to maximize our score? Here are four key tips to boosting your chances for success.
Continue reading “Top 4 Tips for Writing Strong Proposal Narrative”
To quote a song in the classic film The Sound of Music, bid writing needs to “start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.” A good introduction to a proposal section can make the difference between winning and losing a bid. A strong opening catches the reader’s attention and makes him/her more likely to focus on what follows. It also conveys a deep knowledge and appreciation of the buyer’s needs and teases an answer. A poor opening, or no opening at all, can alienate the reader. It makes the benefits and strengths described in the section harder to grasp.
Continue reading “Four Tips to Make Your Proposal Introduction Stand Out”
Many people struggle with proposal writing. Even those who normally can develop strong narratives have difficulty putting together good proposal content. As proposal professionals, we are constantly helping people write and rewrite (and rewrite and rewrite) their sections. Why is that the case?
Continue reading “The Three Key Components of Proposal Writing”
Proposal writing is a tricky business. The ability to craft a compliant, clear, compelling narrative is the number one challenge facing almost every organization. Whether a company competes in the Government or commercial sector, everyone seems to have trouble getting enough people to contribute, and to put together high-quality content.
The theme for SPAC 2018 was “Proposals from Start to Finish.” Much of the imagery chosen by the organizers revolved around travel. Little did they know the challenge those of us from the DC area would have getting to Atlanta!
BZ Opportunity Management President and CEO, Kevin Switaj, has been selected to present at the 2018 APMP Bid and Proposal Conference. Held 15-18 May in San Diego, CA, the conference is the largest gathering of opportunity life cycle professionals in the world. More than 900 people attended the 2017 conference, held in New Orleans.
Continue reading “BZ Opportunity Management’s Kevin Switaj to Speak at 2018 Bid and Proposal Con!”
On 22 February, the National Capital Area chapter of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Winning Orals: Tips and Tools for Effective Oral Presentations.” Today’s federal marketplace is at a crossroads. Some clients still require traditional oral presentations. Others have moved to the “demonstration” approach, in which you develop a solution and present it in a short period of time. Finally, some have gone “hi-tech” and request video presentations.
On Monday, the Trump Administration released its budget plan for the 2019 Government fiscal year. In its introduction, the President writes, “the Budget reflects our commitment to the safety, prosperity, and security of the American people.” (Efficient, Effective, Accountable: An American Budget, Office of Management and Budget, US Government Publishing Office, 2018; 2)
Continue reading “Three Lessons for Government Contractors from the 2019 Trump Budget”
