I recently reviewed proposals for a federal agency. It was a worthwhile use of my time for six key reasons:
- I got to see examples of well-constructed proposals and some that were not so good. In the process, I picked up some tips I can apply if and when I respond to a federal RFP.
- I was reminded that you can’t assume your readers are jargon junkies. Companies assume their reviewers share a fondness for acronyms at their peril.
- Organization counts. I don’t care if a request for proposals is convoluted; your response shouldn’t be. A reviewer is likely to score your application higher if he/she can identify the key elements and follow your discussion.
- Results count. Give me examples that demonstrate your expertise and how your work helped other clients.
- It takes time to keep up-to-date. Serving as a reviewer gave me a glimpse into how others build their communications methodologies. Even one tiny takeaway is helpful.
- My fellow reviewers were really smart people. Each brought his/her expertise to the table, and I learned from their perspectives.
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