Question

Imagine that a company has a problem or wants to make some sort of improvement. The company sends out a request for proposals; you receive one and respond with a proposal. You offer to come in, investigate, interview, make recommendations—and present it all in the form of a report.

Answer 1

Here are the basic steps it goes through:

You introduce the proposal, telling the readers its purpose and contents.

You present the background--the problem, opportunity, or situation that brings about the proposed project. Get the reader worried about the problem, excited about the opportunity, or interested in the situation.

State what you propose to do about the problem, how you plan to help the readers take advantage of the opportunity, how you intend to help them with the situation.

Discuss the benefits of doing the proposed project, the advantages that come from approving it.

Describe exactly what the completed project would consist of, what it would look like, how it would work--describe the results of the project.

Discuss the method and explanation (of why something works or happens the way it does) or approach behind that method--enable readers to understand how you'll go about the proposed work.

Provide a schedule, including important achievements or checkpoints in the project.

Briefly list your qualifications for the project; provide a mini-resume of the background you have that makes you right for the project.

Now (and only now), list the costs of the project, the useful things/valuable supplies you'll need to do the project.

End with a review of the benefits of doing the project (in case the shock from the costs section was too much), and strongly encourage the audience to get in touch or to accept the proposal