Bid proposal template
A bid proposal says what you will do, when, and for how much, in a form the buyer can compare against everyone else's. For commercial work the structure is yours to choose. For federal work it is not, and that difference is worth understanding before you download anything.
10,678
open federal solicitations right now, each one specifying its own required proposal structure. On federal work the solicitation's instructions override any template, including this one.
The sections that earn their place
A cover page with the solicitation or project reference. A short summary of what you are proposing and why you. The scope, restated in the buyer's own terms so there is no ambiguity about what is included. Your approach and schedule. Pricing, broken down the way they asked for it. Relevant past work with references. Assumptions and exclusions. Terms and validity period.
Assumptions and exclusions is the section most often skipped and the one that prevents the most disputes. Write down what you are not doing.
Commercial versus federal
A commercial bid can be structured however you think is persuasive. A federal proposal must follow Section L of the solicitation exactly, and failing to can get you eliminated before evaluation. If you are bidding federal work, build from Section L rather than from a downloaded template.
Price it properly
Break the price down the way the buyer asked, even where a single number would be simpler. An evaluator comparing bids needs to see labour, materials and overhead separately, and a lump sum invites the assumption that something has been left out.
Questions people ask
What should a bid proposal include?
Scope, approach, schedule, priced breakdown, relevant past work, and your assumptions and exclusions.
Is there a standard bid proposal template?
For commercial work, no. For federal work, the solicitation's Section L dictates the structure and overrides any template.
How long should a bid proposal be?
As long as it takes to answer everything asked and no longer. Federal solicitations usually impose a page limit that is strictly enforced.
Should I include terms and conditions?
Yes, with a validity period for your pricing. On federal work the government's terms generally apply instead.
What is the difference between a bid and a proposal?
A bid is usually price against a fixed specification. A proposal includes how you would approach the work and is evaluated on more than price.
Related
RFP response template · What is an RFP? · Capability statement · Browse open solicitations