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.