Winning RFP Responses was written for businesses of all sizes that have either yet to delve into contract bidding or have bid but were unsuccessful. Individuals new to bid proposal writing and those with some experience will benefit from this training course, which teaches learners how to strategically win business contracts.
Winning RFP Responses was written by an entrepreneur that has owned and operated 15 small businesses over the decades. Bringing additional revenue into your business can increase its sustainability. Have you ever thought about all the other businesses, organizations, and government agencies that likely need your goods or services? Did you know that even the smallest business can submit an award-winning bid and benefit from steady revenues?
RFPs can be daunting when you are faced with page-after-page of legal language, questions, and forms to fill in. This course will guide you through each step of researching, reading, understanding, evaluating, writing, and submitting award-winning bid responses. By the end of the course, you might even find a new career track as an RFP bid specialist. The possibilities for your business and your career are endless.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Microsoft Word or equivalent, such as MS Word online.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
If you're an individual or business looking to increase revenue through contract opportunities, then this course is for you. Having the skills to bid on competitive contracts can increase your business's revenues as you carry it through declining economic times. Learn the ins and outs of finding, reading, and determining whether RFPs fit your business's services or goods. Then learn how to write the components of a winning RFP bid response for your business.
Introduction to Request for Proposals (RFPs)
In this lesson, you will be introduced to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). From RFP terminology to understanding the sections of an RFP, your research skills will be honed, and the term RFP will become clearer as you explore the lesson.
Reading and Marking Up RFPs
In this lesson, you will learn how to read and mark up RFPs to determine if a business interested in bidding on the goods or services can meet all of the procurement agency's expectations.
Federal RFPs
In this lesson, you will be introduced to federal RFPs and the government's procurement expectations of bidders.
Evaluating RFP Responses Internally
In this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate RFPs and use internal peer review rubrics to determine who and how each of your team members should be involved in the bid response development.
Creating RFP Boilerplate Language About Your Business
In this lesson, you will learn how to create a basic business history narrative. This boilerplate narrative can be reused in bid responses.
Writing the RFP Statement of Work
In this lesson, you will learn how to write the statement of work so that it is in compliance with the procurement agency's guidelines.
Preparing the RFP Cost Proposal
In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare the bid response's cost proposal.
Preparing RFP Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments
In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare RFP documents, exhibits, and other attachments required in the bid proposal submittal package.
Packaging, Submitting RFP Bids, and Preparing for Future Bids
In this lesson, you'll learn how to put together a highly competitive bid proposal package. You'll also learn about the submittal process and how to prepare for future bidding opportunities.
RFP Evaluating Factors for Contract Awards
In this lesson, you'll learn about the RFP evaluation processes and the factors that are critical components for contract awards.
RFP Bidding Mistakes to Avoid
In this lesson, you'll learn about common RFP bidding mistakes and how to avoid them.
Career Tracks for RFP Writers
In this lesson, you'll learn about the career tracks for RFP writers. Where will your ability to write winning bid responses take you?
What you will learn
- Describe the components of a winning business proposal
- Organize and draft business proposal components to create a winning RFP response
- Evaluate RFP peer responses like procurement agency teams
- Improve RFP responses with award-winning enhancements
- Explain career opportunities for skilled RFP writers
How you will benefit
- Increased ability to research RFPs and determine if they are a go or no-go for bidding
- Improved evaluation skills for evaluating your bid proposal's content before its submission to a procurement agency
- Better understanding of what it takes to submit a successful bid proposal
- Heightened analysis for sizing up your bidding competition and determining if your business should be a sole bidder or a subcontractor for another business with a higher chance of winning a contract award
- Awareness of how to protest a procurement agency's decision to award the contract to another business
Dr. Beverly A. Browning
Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.
Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).
Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).
