15 Questions You Should Ask to Hire the Perfect Proposal Consultant
Have you found yourself needing help with your proposals? Maybe a few extra hands or additional expertise? Weather you are breaking into the federal market or all RFPs of interest were just issued all at once, consider having the backup of an experienced proposal consultant firm.
Being prepared is the best attack approach to creating a successful proposal. Doing your homework and hiring a Proposal Consultant prior to the immediate need is essential. Once you’ve hired a proposal consultant, they can be a part of your team even during the pre-solicitation phase for brainstorming and building a content library to hit the ground running once the RFP is actually issued. Having the consultant on board from the beginning will give them ample time to create an award-winning proposal.
All of this is easier said than done right. The hard part is finding and hiring the right consultant. It is so important to find a consultant that jives well with your company; that understands your company’s goals and respects your approach to achieve them.
It’s also key to find someone who will add value to your company. Proposal Consultants can be extremely beneficial in providing solutions and helping the growth of your company, however, they can also get costly and not align with your company’s goals. A proposal consultant can bring a different frame of mind, an expanded knowledge and objective insight.
Questions You Should Ask Every Potential Proposal Consultant
When shopping for a proposal consultant ask (at least) the following questions. These questions will give you a good idea of their overall experience and capabilities to perform. Be sure to ask any other questions that are specific to your companies needs and goals. Don’t be shy or hesitant to ask the tough, direct questions. It’s best to know what you are getting into before committing to a consultant relationship.
What experience do you have managing proposals relevant to our interests?
Can you coordinate our full team of A/Es, teaming partners and subcontractors?
Do you deal directly with the procuring agency?
How will my existing information be protected?
How far in advance do I need to engage or commit to you for a specific proposal?
What is your resource availability to support last-minute efforts?
What is the cost? Do you take a percentage of the awarded contract?
Do you provide a proposal/project estimate beforehand?
What role will each company play and how will specific proposal responsibilities be determined?
What is your typical process for proposal management?
Will I be provided with all final files at proposal completion?
Do you have capabilities for graphic design?
Do you also print and ship final proposals?
Do you have existing templates to utilize?
Do you take on more than one client for the same proposal submission?
Any highly experienced proposal consultant should have no problem answering these questions and should appreciate your thoroughness in finding the perfect consultant for your company. Watch for our next blog post to get Meridian West Consultants answers to these questions and visit www.meridian-west.com for additional information.
