The Importance of Proposal Development Expertise in Winning Proposals

By Amber Audrain

Teams endeavoring to win new business through RFP responses often bolster their capacity with grant writers who focus on writing proposals. Grant writers are multi-talented professionals who can offer excellent writing capacity to teams. Still, when it comes to B2B or government RFP responses, Audrain Advising believes that exclusively utilizing grant writers can be insufficient. We believe that a more comprehensive approach is needed, one that includes engaging a proposal development team who can guide the whole proposal response process from start to finish.

One of the key benefits of engaging a proposal development team is the added human capacity it brings to your business’s approach. Responding to an RFP is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. By leveraging a team of experts, you can prevent your internal staff from becoming overwhelmed, allowing them to focus on their core responsibilities. This additional capacity ensures that your proposal gets the attention it needs to be polished, compliant, and competitive without stretching your team too thin or compromising existing priorities.

Further, proposal development teams offer unique strategic competencies beyond writing that support a holistic effort. These include: 

• Strategic Alignment: A grant writer typically focuses on crafting compelling narratives, but a proposal development team goes beyond that. They ensure that every aspect of your proposal aligns strategically with the RFP requirements and the goals of the awarding entity. This involves a deep understanding of the RFP’s nuances, including evaluation criteria and how to showcase your business’s strengths best to meet those criteria.

• Comprehensive Design: Responding to an RFP is not just about writing—it’s about designing a feasible, innovative, and impactful project. A proposal development team includes project management, budgeting, and subject matter experts who collaborate to create a robust project plan. They ensure the project design is realistic, aligns with your organization’s capabilities, and meets the funder’s expectations.

• Multidisciplinary Expertise: A proposal development team brings together professionals with diverse expertise—grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and subject matter experts. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that all aspects of the proposal are covered comprehensively, from the narrative and budget to the technical aspects and compliance requirements. This breadth of expertise differentiates between a well-crafted proposal and a winning one that your team can deliver upon award. 

• Risk Management: RFP responses often come with tight deadlines, complex requirements, and dizzying levels of compliance. A proposal development team is adept at managing these challenges, identifying potential risks, and developing mitigation strategies. They ensure that your proposal is submitted on time and free from errors and omissions that could jeopardize your chances of success.

While writers are essential to any proposal process, a proposal development team offers a comprehensive, strategic approach that significantly enhances your chances of success in responding to an RFP. By investing in a team with the right mix of skills and expertise, you position your organization to compete and win. This holistic approach makes all the difference when the stakes are high.

Audrain Advising provides a full suite of business strategy, proposal management, and product design and delivery services, tailored to meet your specific needs. Our experienced team is equipped to guide you through every step of the process, from identifying the right proposal opportunities to delivering a winning submission and ensuring successful project execution.

Ready to take your proposals to the next level? Contact us at [email protected] or visit our contact page to discover how we can streamline and elevate your proposal process for maximum impact.