Designing a Proposal Process
Winning reliably is a system. Map a right-sized path from capture to submission, lock story before drafting, and thread compliance, pricing, and reviews to avoid last-minute thrash.
This topic helps you build a calm, repeatable proposal process that fits your firm. You’ll define go/no-go criteria and decision records, map phases from capture through submit, and assign clear roles (capture lead, writers, reviewers, production). We’ll lock the story with storyboards before heavy drafting, keep a living compliance matrix from day one, and thread pricing, assumptions, and exceptions through the same cadence so value is explicit—not a late surprise. You’ll design review gates (Blue for strategy, Pink for storyboards, Red for final draft; add Gold when fee/scope raises exposure) and add quality loops for proofing, graphics, and citations. We’ll cover timelines with buffers, version control and file hygiene, and a production plan with checklists and a submission rehearsal. The outcome is a right-sized process that reduces risk, preserves voice, and makes your differentiators unmistakable to evaluators.