Resources
What does an RFP consultant do?
The titles are used loosely, but the two roles answer different questions. The writer answers how the response should read. The consultant answers whether to respond and how to win.
Published
The consultant's work
- Assessing whether an opportunity is worth pursuing
- Reading the evaluation criteria and contract terms for risk
- Setting the strategy and the themes evaluators should remember
- Reviewing drafts against the RFP before submission
- Interpreting a debrief and preparing for the rebid
The writer's work
The writer turns your information into a clear, compliant narrative: the technical approach, management plan, qualifications, executive summary, and the answers to each question the RFP asks. A good writer also keeps the document consistent from the first page to the last.
When to bring a consultant in
The earlier, the better. A consultant who reads the RFP in its first week can help settle the bid decision, raise questions before the question deadline closes, and shape the strategy before anyone starts writing. Brought in during the final days, the same person can only review what already exists.
Why the roles belong together
When strategy and writing are handled by different people, something is often lost between them. A theme agreed in a planning meeting may never reach the page, or a requirement noticed by the writer may never reach the strategy. Keeping both roles with the same person or firm closes that gap.
How we work
Otter International Proposals acts as consultant and writer on every full engagement. The same people who read the RFP and set the strategy write the response and oversee its review. Clients who need only the advisory part can engage us for a bid decision review, a quality review, or a debrief review.
Begin with a private consultation.
Tell us about the opportunity and your deadline. We review every inquiry personally.