¶ … Rfp)
Responding to Requests for Proposal (RFPs)
In accomplishing Requests for Proposal or RFPs, specific steps must be planned ahead of time to ensure that the proposal that will be developed is not only compliant to the standards set by the funding organization or agency, but also to ensure that the proposal is of exceptional quality that it would result to a successful outcome of the bid for the project/program.
One of the first steps one must take in preparing the proposal is to read carefully through the RFP guidelines. As Henson (1997) asserted in his article, the proposal writer must "follow the RFP guidelines precisely" (137). All donor agencies and grant funders require applicants to strictly follow the RFP guidelines, otherwise this could lead to disqualification of the organization or individual to bid. Usually, the requirements involve official documents that prove the organization's existence and work in a particular...
These official documents will be submitted in addition to the technical proposal itself, which would contain the implementation plan, organizational profile, management competence, and budget of the proposed project. Identifying these requirements, the proposal writing team would set out to collate and complete the required official documents. As for the proposal, the team would now begin brainstorming about the plan to develop the proposal and submit it within the stated deadline.
Whether proposal writing will be assigned to an individual or a team, it is important for the proposal writer to conduct background research that will "beef up" the proposal. Proposing a project for an HIV / AIDS project, for example, would require the proposal writer to have an understanding of the jargon and key concepts use when discussing issues and logistical terms associated with HIV / AIDS projects. A project for Persons Living with…
