Proposal consultants are often contacted at the last minute by organizations that suddenly realize that their proposals are in trouble and they need help. Unfortunately, a consultant can't always come to their aid due to other commitments. In other cases, the proposal problems may be so extensive that they can't all be addressed and fixed before the proposal due date.
These last-minute realizations often come about because: (1) organizations don't want to spend the money for a proposal consultant, and (2) individuals in charge of proposal efforts sincerely believe that they or their staffs can do the whole proposal themselves. Then, with only a few days to go before the proposal must be submitted, they recognize that they're in trouble and send out a frantic call for assistance. By that time, it may be too late. They have spent a lot of time (and time = money) preparing a proposal that doesn't stand a chance of winning. And winning the bid is the whole point of preparing a proposal, unless it is being done just as a practical exercise.
One of the ways that last-minute desperation can be avoided is to hire a consultant at the outset to provide direction and guidance -- not to actually develop or help develop the proposal itself. This is an inexpensive and cost-effective way to get expert assistance as you move through the proposal process. Some of the things that a consultant can do for you are:
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