A bid proposal is a document which explains the products or services offered at a certain cost to an organization. A bid proposal can be unsolicited in the sense that there is no contractual agreement that exists between the author and the recipient of the bid. However, if the bid proposal is in response to a certain request for proposal, it is possible to accept it as a bid later in the contracting process. The bid proposal is sometimes submitted with the use of a bid form which can be handwritten or printed using software for professional bidding.
Writing a bid proposal can be tasking even for professional writers. These days, the internet now acts as one-stop shop for any kind of bid proposal template with different formats. Therefore, it is easier now to get a bid proposal that is also completely out of the mark. However, all good bid proposal formats should contain the most basic information required in a bid. It must include information about required materials, total cost, job completion time frame, qualification list, subcontractors if any and overview showing procedure for accomplishment. Sometimes a professional bid proposal may include an executive summary which can be used to highlight why the bidder is the most qualified to be chosen for the job.
Effective bid proposals are well crafted, easy to read, detailed in such a way that it addresses the specific nature of duty to be performed or executed. While some may find it difficult to create a good bid proposal, some others have it easy. Whatever the case, the following step by step guide will help in creating an effective bid proposal.
Step1
The first step to creating an effective bid proposal is to introduce yourself. Your introduction should include a brief description of yourself, company, the specific services or products you offer as well as your work experience. The purpose of this is to position yourself to your client as qualified for the job in the first place especially as there would be other competing bidders.
Step2
You are expected to provide some specific details especially in cases where the bid proposal is geared towards completing a specific project. Note that you have to be as detailed as possible when describing how the undertaken will be approached. It is better to include a proposed start/ finish dates, overview of responsibilities to be completed, the breakdown of cost involvement and the expected outcome.
Step3
Depending on the area of bid proposal you are creating, it is possible that you may have to include or attach documents. For example, if the bid proposal is about painting a house, then there is actually nothing wrong putting paint samples and similar photos of house painted. Note that your bid proposal must be very inclusive so as to demonstrate to the decision makers why you are the best fit the job.
Step4
When creating a bid proposal, it is not out of place to include references. You can do this by asking former satisfied clients to furnish you with a good letter of recommendation which can be attached to your bid proposals. Get commitment from your previous clients to use them for a personal reference. This will give the indication that you have done an excellent work in the past and you are confident that customers are willing to vouch for your professionalism and efficiency.
1
Ensure you read details of the job posting before submitting your bid proposal. It is important to state that specification of the job is very important. You must have to read every detail carefully in order to ascertain if you are actually qualified for the job or not.
2
If the job is a physical job, it is important you visit the site first before creating a bid proposal. This will make sure relevant applicable laws are taken into consideration before writing a bid proposal.
3
One trick in catching the full attention in your bid proposal is by using an attention grabbing phrases. For example phrases like “ I can complete your project within the budget and time you have specified” will gain interest or notice from the client and show you are an expert in the field.
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