1. To follow through on a proposal,
you need three categories of resources:
personnel
facilities
equipment
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2. The logistics of proposals:
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3. Solicited and unsolicited proposals respond to different needs:
Solicited proposals are sent in response to an information for bid (IFB) or a request for proposal (RFP).
Unsolicited proposals are submitted by a supplier who believes that the prospective customer has a need for goods or services.
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4. Proposals lead to two kinds of deliverables:
research
goods and services
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5. is a persuasive argument:
A successful proposal
is a persuasive argument:
Show that you understand your readers’ needs.
Show that you have determined what you plan to do and that you are able to do it.
Show that you are a professional and that you are committed to fulfilling your promises.
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6. Follow these six suggestions when writing international proposals:
Understand that what makes an argument persuasive can differ from one culture to another.
Budget enough time for translating.
Use simple graphics, with captions.
Write short sentences, using common vocabulary.
Use local conventions regarding punctuation, spelling, and mechanics.
Ask if the prospective customer will do a read- through.
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7. Follow these four guidelines to demonstrate your professionalism:
Describe your credentials and work history.
Provide your work schedule.
Describe your quality-control measures.
Include your budget.
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8. common dishonest practices:
Avoid these four
common dishonest practices:
saying that certain qualified people will participate in the project, even though they will not
saying that the project will be finished by a certain date, even though it will not
saying that the deliverable will have certain characteristics, even though it will not
saying that the project will be completed under budget, even though it will not
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9. There are three reasons to write honest proposals:
to avoid serious legal trouble stemming from breach-of-contract suits
to avoid acquiring a bad reputation, thus ruining your business
to do the right thing
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10. A typical proposal includes six sections:
summary
introduction
proposed program
qualifications and experience
budget
appendixes
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11. The introduction to a proposal should answer seven questions:
What is the problem or opportunity?
What is the purpose of the proposal?
What is the background of the problem or opportunity?
What are your sources of information?
What is the scope of the proposal?
What is the organization of the proposal?
What key terms will you use in the proposal?
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12. There are several techniques for evaluating completed work:
quantitative evaluations
qualitative evaluations
formative evaluations
summative evaluations
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