[webproducers] Re: Proposal question

Just curios...does anyone have a sample proposal they'd be willing to
share..


On 9/10/04 7:00 AM, in article
20040910110006.2792.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Michael James Pinto"
<michaeljamespinto@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> --- Lee Semel <lsemel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> We often get potential clients who submit RFPs with long wish lists of
>> desired features and ill-defined requirements.  The client then asks for
>> itemized prices for implementing each one.  So what they're asking for is
>> \for us to do all the strategic work, all the analysis work, and to specify
>> and design the system, for free, as part of the RFP response.
>> 
>> Obviously this isn't possible, and the client needs to be educated.  Often,
>> we propose a short phase where we work with them to nail down their
>> requirements, do the strategic work, and design the system, but often the
>> client doesn't see a need for this and can't understand why we can't give
>> them a price right away.
> 
> While you can't give a price right away - you should be able to
> indicate a range right away based on your experience. You may
> want to do this pre-proposal to save time if you're out of their
> range of "reality".
> 
> Something else important to keep in mind is that as a custom software
> shop you may be up against other shops that offer off-the-shelf
> solutions. So the off-the-shelf shop may come back with a quick
> "here are X number of your requested features for this low fee,
> but if want these other features we'll have to talk". To an uneducated
> client who may or may not know what exactly they want, this can
> seem to be the solution on the spot.
> 
> So as a custom shop you first have to explain the difference between
> "off the rack" and bespoke. And when you're paying for bespoke, part of
> what you are paying for is the measuring process itself - as where
> off the rack will always be cheaper but may not fit as well.
> 
> Quick Tip: Your boilerplate proposal should have a section that
> explains what a discovery/specification phase is and why it's important.
> Then give a range for each requested feature set so they have
> a rough idea of what may be involved. Giving ranges may also
> give you the freedom to suggest additional potential feature sets
> which an off the shelf shop couldn't offer because they sell a
> single widget.
> 
> Try to avoid the classic sin of custom software shops by
> overestimating (i.e. writing a spec in advance) - it's always best to
> feel out a customer with a quick ballparks to see how they react.
> If they get sticker shock on the spot you may save yourself some
> wasted proposal writing.
> 
> One method for ballparking is to look at a requested feature and
> figure out how many days may be involved. Most programmers can
> quickly say "oh that's just two to three days" vs. "that's quite
> complex it's a week to a week and a half". Then put down the
> full range even if it's very broad - but add a note that you need
> more details to be specific. You need to make the client understand
> that more complexity = time = money.
> 
> 
> 
> =====
> Michael James Pinto | http://www.vm.com | http://www.anime.com
> 
> Please join my Arts & Tech list:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EIA_list
> 
> My political hobby for this year:
> http://www.democraticactionteam.org
> __________________________________________________________________________
> Be sure to trim your posts and delete personal information such as
> telephone numbers if you do not want them in the archive.
> 
> To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to
> webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public web archive linked at
> www.WebProducers.org.
> 
> 
> 

---------------------
Evan M. Silberman
P: 917-699-1449
Esilbe1@xxxxxxx


__________________________________________________________________________
Be sure to trim your posts and delete personal information such as
telephone numbers if you do not want them in the archive.

To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to 
webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public web archive linked at 
www.WebProducers.org.

Other related posts: