Resources
What affects the cost of RFP writing services.
No two solicitations ask for the same work, so a responsible quote follows a reading of the RFP. These are the factors that shape it.
Published
The factors that matter
- The length of the response and the number of volumes or sections
- How much usable material your organization already has
- The technical depth of the subject
- The time remaining before the deadline
- Whether you need the full response or a single service
- How many reviewers and rounds of revision your organization requires
How engagements are usually structured
Across the industry, proposal work is commonly priced as a fee for a defined proposal, by the hour, or on a retainer for organizations that bid often. A fee for a defined scope gives the client the clearest view of the commitment, provided the scope is written down before work begins.
Weighing the fee against the contract
The useful comparison is with the value of the award, which for a multi-year public contract can be many times the cost of preparing the response. A stronger proposal does not guarantee the award, but a weak one can lose a contract your organization was well qualified to win.
Keeping the work efficient
A few habits on the client's side make any engagement run more smoothly: sharing the complete RFP package as soon as it arrives, gathering past proposals and project descriptions in one place, naming one person who can make decisions, and confirming references early. Each of these shortens the schedule and reduces the number of revision rounds.
How we quote
We quote each engagement individually after reading the RFP and discussing the scope with you. The scope, schedule, and fee are set out in a written engagement letter before any work begins, so there is nothing to interpret later.
Begin with a private consultation.
Tell us about the opportunity and your deadline. We review every inquiry personally.