[skip to content]

Staff Development

Writing International Bids - Preparing a Winning Proposal (IoE)

Unit value:
Objectives of the Workshop:
  1. To Introduce best practice in the preparation of competitive project proposals.
  2. To provide an opportunity for colleagues to share experiences in proposal preparation and to raise areas of concern.
Topics to be covered will include:
  • To bid or not to bid: Factors influencing the decision concerning whether or not to pursue a particular proposal; assessing risks, external partnership etc;
  • Preparing a proposal: Identification of the various components associated with preparing proposals, this will include:
The Preparation Process
  • identifying the team and other necessary resources
  • defining roles;
  • brain-storming;
  • defining the time-line for preparing the proposal; 
  • checking the teams of reference, including understanding the needs of the client;
  • seeking clarification;
  • positioning against the competition.
Structuring the Proposal
  • addressing the Terms of References - comments and limitations;
  • reviewing the evaluation/scoring of competitive bids;
  • the professional component;
  • identification of staff to deliver the project - presenting their CVs;
  • providing a work plan and structure for delivering the project, including monitoring, evaluation and reporting;
  • the financial proposal - understanding our costs, understanding what might be competitive;
  • submitting the proposal; length, presentation, style- and getting it there on time.

Evaluation: understanding the evaluation process, including the approach to scoring;

One winner - many losers: seeking feedback.

The workshop will have a strong practical focus and will drawn on previous invitations to bid from clients and the proposal submitted in response.