Proposal writing rarely starts with perfect clarity. Vague requirements, shifting expectations, and incomplete information can derail even the best bids. The challenge is navigating this ambiguity without losing direction, wasting effort, or missing the mark with the client.​

Proposal writing is a race against the clock. With multiple contributors, shifting priorities, and tight deadlines, it's easy for plans to slip. But when timelines derail, quality suffers—and in the worst cases, you miss the deadline altogether. The challenge is keeping your bid plan on track without burning out your team.

Proposal writing is a team effort – but the quality of the final product depends on the weakest link. Managing multiple contributors, each with different writing styles, experience levels, and availability, can lead to inconsistent, unclear, or off-message content. The challenge is to raise the standard across the board – ​without rewriting everything yourself.​

Proposal writing demands more than good intentions – it needs a clear, compelling strategy. Yet many bids start with vague ideas and end with diluted execution. The challenge lies in translating strategic thinking into a focused, actionable plan that resonates with the client and sets your proposal apart.

Proposal writing is a collaborative process—but without clear communication, even the best teams can fall apart. Misunderstandings, inconsistent messaging, and siloed thinking can derail a bid, confuse the client, and waste valuable time. The challenge is ensuring everyone is aligned, informed, and working toward the same goal.

Proposal writing is a team sport, but too often, bid leaders try to do it all. The result? Bottlenecks, burnout, and missed opportunities. Delegation isn't about offloading tasks, it's about enabling your team to deliver their best work, while you focus on steering the bid to success.

How agile bidding strategies help defence suppliers respond faster to MOD and NATO opportunities.

How agile bidding strategies help defence suppliers respond faster to MOD and NATO opportunities.

Capture planning can be fast, focused, and effective — even in high-volume, short-deadline bid environments.​

TrainingESG expert Laurence Higgens highlights how social value is beginning to merge with ESG criteria, shaping a more integrated and strategic approach to proposals.St

New research reveals the human drivers of happiness in proposal teams – and how leaders can unlock them.

Branding doesn’t have to slow you down. Learn how to embed creativity into your proposal process - fast, focused, and effective.

Branding isn’t just a design exercise, it’s a strategic tool that starts at capture. Discover how early branding shapes client perception and sets your bid apart.

Measuring and reporting social value is crucial for demonstrating your commitment and impact. Laurence Higgens shared his expertise on this topic during a recent briefing to the SP team. This blog provides practical tips for bid and proposal managers on how to effectively measure and report social value.​

Government contracts increasingly emphasise social value, making it a key factor in the bidding process. Laurence Higgens, a social value expert, discussed this trend in a recent briefing session with the SP team. This blog explores the role of social value in government contracts and provides tips for bid and proposal managers.​

Delivering social value in bids can be challenging, especially for organisations new to this concept. In a recent briefing to the SP team, Laurence Higgens shared his experiences and strategies for overcoming these challenges. This blog delves into his insights and offers practical advice for bid and proposal managers.

Have you ever wondered how the skills from journalism, public affairs, and ghost writing can elevate your proposal writing? These disciplines are not just about writing; they are about crafting a narrative, engaging the audience, and delivering a clear, concise message. Denise Mullen, our new team member, brings a wealth of experience from these fields, making her an invaluable asset to our proposal team.

The UK government's Procurement Act is in full swing and brings with it a significant emphasis on market engagement, recognising its critical role in ensuring successful procurement outcomes. This blog explores the details of the guidelines on market engagement and their implications for both bidders and buyers.

Delving in to the details of the new UK government KPI requirements. The UK government's Procurement Act introduces stringent guidelines on Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and performance in public procurement. These guidelines require contracting authorities to set and publish at least three KPIs for public contracts with an estimated value of more than £5 million. This blog delves into the details of these requirements and their implications for bidders and buyers.

The UK government's Procurement Act introduces a significant shift from Model Award Criteria (MACs) to Missions, reflecting a broader political agenda aimed at driving economic growth, energy efficiency, and breaking down barriers to opportunity. This change necessitates a rethinking of bidding strategies to deliver real value and align with the new missions. Read more about it here: PPN 02. ​

Navigating the UK Government's AI guidelines: implications for bidders and buyers Read our views on the impact of PPN 017 on bidding into the UK public sector. The UK government's recent guidelines on AI transparency in procurement, outlined in PPN 017, targets ensuring ethical and responsible use of AI in public sector procurement. These guidelines aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and fairness in the use of AI technologies, which are increasingly becoming integral to procurement processes. They are a must read for those bidding in to the public sector.

In the ever-evolving landscape of bids and proposals, generative AI has emerged as a transformative force. To harness its potential effectively, it's crucial to adhere to a set of guiding principles that ensure its use is strategic, ethical, and aligned with business objectives. Drawing from the insights from a recent AI survey from our own research, here are the foundational principles for integrating generative AI into your bidding process:

Strategic Proposals is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in proposal development, so we're exploring applications of AI in our proposal development process.

In today's competitive bidding landscape, social value has become a critical component for winning contracts. Laurence Higgens, a social value expert, recently shared his insights on this topic during a briefing given to the SP team. This blog explores the key points discussed and provides actionable advice for bid and proposal managers to help maximise evaluation scores in bids and make a real difference to the customer and their communities.​

The challenge for managers is to instil a culture of learning and adaptation, drawing lessons from past bids to refine future strategies. This process of reflection and analysis is crucial for evolving practices and staying ahead in a competitive landscape. ​

Leveraging technology is a game-changer in our world​. The challenge is like a surfer balancing on the top of an ever growing wave of tech. Staying on top of the wave and abreast of the latest tools and software is key to success and streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency. But that's easy said than done. Bid and proposal leaders and managers must navigate an ever-evolving tech landscape to find solutions that can give their teams (and wider groups of subject matter experts and sales) a competitive edge. ​

Building a collaborative team culture is a vital challenge for bid and proposal managers. According to our ProposalBenchmarker data, creating a positive team environment is one of the areas that sets the very best bidding organisations from the rest. It's the foundation upon which successful, winning proposals are built. A team that works well together, sharing knowledge and resources, is more likely to produce a winning bid. However, fostering this kind of cooperation and trust within a team is not always straightforward. ​

Resource coordination is a critical challenge in bid management, where managers must juggle conflicting priorities and finite resources. The ability to balance the demands of multiple bids, each with its own set of tasks and deadlines, is essential for ensuring that each proposal receives the attention it deserves. And by the way… if you can't give it the right level of attention – guess what – don't push it. No bid it. ​

Navigating the murky waters of ambiguity is a common challenge for bid and proposal managers. The task of managing uncertainty in client requirements or project scopes is daunting, as it can significantly impact the direction and quality of a proposal. Ambiguity can stem from vague project outlines, fluctuating market conditions, or unclear client expectations, leaving managers to make strategic decisions with incomplete information. ​

In the intricacies of bidding, every step, every move counts. But what happens when there's a missing link in the chain? Much like a strong metal chain, the strength of a bid lies not just in its individual components but in their connection, their seamless integration, creating an unbreakable sequence of strategies and tactics that leads to you winning. ​

Enhance proposals by applying product management principles: storytelling, personas, communication, and market insights.

The ability to keep a bid plan on track ensures that every phase of the proposal process is completed on time, ultimately leading to a timely submission. However, the complexity of coordinating multiple tasks and contributors can often lead to delays. The risk of a derailed schedule is significant. Time is a finite resource, and any delays can compress the remaining schedule, forcing teams to rush and potentially compromise the quality of the proposal. Moreover, missing the submission deadline can disqualify the bid altogether, wasting the effort and resources invested.

Ensuring the highest quality of content from contributors is a pivotal challenge for bid and proposal managers. The quality of the content can make or break a proposal, and it's essential to harness the collective expertise of your team to produce a compelling bid. However, managing a diverse group of contributors and maintaining a high standard can be daunting. ​

Crafting a winning strategy is a pivotal challenge for bid and proposal managers. It involves translating a conceptual framework into an actionable plan that resonates with clients and sets the stage for a successful bid.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful proposal development. For bid and proposal managers, the ability to convey clear and consistent messages throughout the bid process is paramount.

Delegation is more than just assigning tasks; it's about empowering your team to make a difference on each bid they contribute to whilst ensuring you’re able to guide the opportunity to victory. Discover practical tips and strategies to delegate effectively, ensuring that every member of your team is engaged and contributing to their fullest potential.

Recently, one of our team had an eye-opening conversation with a client who revealed that they only run a very basic level of capture on less than 5% of their opportunities. This got me thinking – how many of us are truly leveraging the full potential of our capture management processes?

Insights from our recent poll: ​What's the right balance between internal bid process/governance effort versus creating a compelling proposal?

Crafting proposals that resonate with customers is more essential than ever. Discover how a customer-centric approach can distinguish your proposals from the rest and why it's crucial to appeal to both the logical and emotional aspects of your evaluators.

Dive into the transformative journey of proposal design and learn how these unsung heroes are redefining success in the competitive realm of bidding.

This paper contains the results of brand-new research into the innovative ways organisations are leveraging GenAI to enhance their proposals.

What does design mean to you? Is it just about aesthetics, or does it hold a deeper significance? We've reimagined design to be more than just visual appeal.

In a world where authenticity and originality are becoming increasingly scarce, understanding the hidden pitfalls of AI-generated images is crucial.

This blog delves into essential strategies that can significantly enhance your chances of securing that coveted win.

When navigating the complex world of bids, striking the right balance between leadership and management can be the difference between success and failure.

In the high-stakes world of large and complex sales opportunities, winning the deal demands precision, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Uncover the secrets to crafting executive summaries and brochures that captivate and convince your audience.

In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming industries, we are unlocking its untapped potential in the realm of bids and proposals.

In the high-stakes arena of bidding, a well-structured strategy is your greatest ally, ensuring each phase of the process builds upon the last for success.

Unlock the secrets of winning bids by mastering the art of connecting every dot in the bid lifecycle.

Discover how achieving APMP micro-certifications can elevate your proposal expertise to new heights.

More than simply helping to decide which deals you should chase, a good qualification process will help you identify actions that could improve your success.

We recently received an RFI from a prospect that raised some eyebrows. Here's why...

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

Here are some highlights taken from Tim and Graham's occasional TGV video series on recruitment, retention and development in the bid and proposal industry.

In the high-stakes world of bidding, the battle is often won or lost in the minds of the buyers long before the RFP is issued. While the logical aspects of a proposal – compliance and completeness - are scrutinised under the microscope of evaluation criteria, it’s the emotional connection that often tips the scales towards one bidder over another.

In the competitive arena of bidding, the three Cs - Customer, Capability, and Competition - form the cornerstone of a win and proposal strategy. But it’s the first C, the Customer, that often holds the key to unlocking a winning bid. To truly understand the customer, we must delve into the three (and sometimes four) tiers of understanding. Let’s test if you’ve unpeeled all these layers on the bid you’re working on at the moment…

More than simply helping to decide which deals you should chase, a good qualification process will help you identify actions that could improve your success.