May 26, 2005
My May Site Update
I updated my proposal.com website a few days ago. Click here to see what I've added.
One of my new links is to a company by the name of Envirobidnet. Last week I received an e-mail from the President of this company, who asked if I was interested in exchanging links. Although I prefer to list free resources on my website, I was sufficiently impressed with Envirobidnet to list it, even though it is a commercial venture.
As its name implies, Envirobidnet is a site where you can subscribe to receive bid notifications for various types of environmental, contracting, engineering and analytical projects. The company currently provides bid and business opportunity notifications from the federal government and from all 26 states east of the Mississippi River. It plans to cover the remaining states within the next 18 months.
Envirobidnet's home page shows a list of over 30 enviromental-related categories for which it provides bid-related information. You'll also find a Frequently Asked Questions Page as well as subscription information. And, as you will see, there's a link to my own site on the left hand side.
If you are or want to be in the business of providing environmental services to the government, it may be worth your while to take a look at Envirobidnet. (No, there's nothing in it for me -- just a head's up for my blog readers.)
Posted by Deborah at 4:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 25, 2005
Page Counts
Many RFPs and RFAs specify the number of pages a proposal can contain. Some specify a total number (e.g., not to exceed 75 pages for all technical sections), while others may limit the number of pages in each subsection of the technical proposal. When this is the case, an RFP/RFA will typically state that the pages that exceed the required limits will be thrown out. You need to be careful to stay within these limits; not only will your excess pages be tossed, but you'll make a bad impression on the reviewers, demonstrating that you can't follow instructions.
Thus, when you're preparing your proposal outline, you should specify the number of pages that will be written for each major section and subsection. You may also want to allot pages to minor subsections if they will cover material that is particularly important. Don't keep these page limits in your head -- write/type them in next to each heading on the outline so that all writers can see what they are up against in terms of the number of pages they must produce.
You'll probably have to play with the numbers to get them to come out right. It's not just a question of assigning page counts willy-nilly so that they add up to the total number of pages that you'll have in the proposal. You need to consider the importances of each section/subsection to the whole, based upon the evaluation criteria and other factors.
Your page allocations may also change as you go through the proposal process. But if you don't keep a careful eye on them, you may end up with a proposal that needs a huge amount of cutting and editing to get it down to the right length and the right proportions.
Stick to your guns re page counts. Many writers will write a treatise when what is needed is a concise discussion.
Posted by Deborah at 4:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 23, 2005
Grant Proposal Writing for Non-Professionals
Do you want to learn how to identify grant opportunities and write successful proposals? You can take an online teleclass that will get you started. This teleclass, sponsored by Charity University, will be held on July 27. Although I haven't taken the class myself, I can tell you that the instructor, Renata Rafferty, is a very well-known and highly-qualified grants professional. I have no doubt you'll get a lot for your money with Renata's class.
Speaking of money, the cost is only $119.00 plus any phone connection charges. And if you're wondering -- no, I don't have any affilitation with Charity University or this class. I just see it as an excellent opportunity to learn the basics about grant writing.
For a more detailed class description, click here and scroll down the page. Classes are listed in alphabetical order.
Here's where you can register for the class.
Posted by Deborah at 5:45 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 18, 2005
RFP Sections
Yesterday I got an e-mail from someone who asked:
"I was wondering how the letters in each RFP was developed. For instance, I'm familiar with sections C (SOW), L, M, K, but why aren't they sequential? i.e., there's no Section A or B, etc....I look forward to your reply."
A good question. Most, but not all RFPs do have sequential sections but lots of times we really don't pay attention to those we feel are less important. And some RFPs just leave out certain sections if they don't apply. But in case you want to know, here they are:
A -- Solicitation/contract form
B -- Supplies or services and prices or costs
C -- Description/specifications/work statement
D -- Packaging and marking
E -- Inspection and acceptance
F -- Deliveries or performance
G -- Contract administration data
H -- Special contract requirements
I -- Contract clauses
J -- List of documents, exhibits, and other attachments
K -- Representations, certifications, and other statements of bidders/offerors or quoters
L -- Instructions, conditions, and notices to bidders/offerors or quoters
M -- Evaluation factors for award
Posted by Deborah at 9:09 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 16, 2005
Being a Consultant
I've decided to return to work this week. Not that I really want to -- I've still got some things to do with regard to my mother's passing. And the weather has been so nice that it's hard to go back to being cooped up in the house, staring at the computer all day.
The other issue is that I don't really have much work to do. I turned down many assignments over the past couple of months while my mom was ill. I just didn't have the time to devote to work while I was helping her out with her daily activities. But since her health was a lot more important than my work, it was an easy decision to make.
Many people want to be consultants because they hear about the good things -- you can set your own schedule, set your own fees, be your own boss, and work where you please. These are all wonderful things to have, and they are the main reasons that I have stayed with consulting for over 15 years. I've been offered a number of enticing jobs but have always turned them down. I like being independent.
But being an independent consultant has its downsides too. And one of the major downsides concerns income. If you're a consultant, no one pays your salary while you are on personal leave, on vacation, or if you get sick. You don't get paid a salary for those inevitable "down times" that occur when you have no work coming in. If your consulting practice requires you to market your services, you don't get paid for that either. You've got to pay for your own equipment, supplies, materials, and everything else you need to establish and run your business including legal and accounting services. You also need to get and pay for insurance, and set up your own retirement plan. Plus, like everyone else, you need to save for those rainy days and emergencies.
I'm not complaining -- just trying to give a realistic view of what's involved in being an independent consultant. So if consulting is something you're thinking about doing, make sure you consider both the good and not-so-good aspects of this type of work.
Posted by Deborah at 5:31 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 9, 2005
Sad Days
Sadly, my mother passed away on Saturday night -- the day before Mother's Day. At age 93, she was still an active, dynamic woman. We will miss her.
In memory of my mom, Betty.
I have a lot of things to take care of, so it will probably be a week or so before I begin blogging again.
Posted by Deborah at 6:31 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 3, 2005
No Brand Names
From the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy:
In an April 11, 2005, memorandum to federal procurement officials, the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) reinforced the need for federal agencies to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in writing contract specifications. FAR part 11.105 directs agencies not to write contract requirements so as to require a particular brand name product or a product feature that is peculiar to one manufacturer, thus precluding other companies from bidding.
In the memo, OFPP Administrator David Safavian cited an example in which a federal agency issued a request for quotation for approximately $81 million in office supplies. The requested supplies were identified by a vendor number unique to one large office supply company. OFPP’s reminder followed an inquiry in January 2005 by the National Office Products Alliance, the national trade association for independent resellers, most of whom are small businesses.
Posted by Deborah at 4:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
