Proposal Outline

A proposal outline is a structured framework that maps the organization of your proposal response to the requirements and evaluation criteria of the RFP. It serves as a blueprint for the writing team, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all requirements and a logical, evaluator-friendly structure.

A well-developed outline includes section and subsection headings that mirror the RFP's structure, assigns responsibility for each section, maps evaluation criteria to specific sections, allocates page budgets, identifies required graphics and tables, and references relevant content library materials.

The proposal outline is typically developed during kickoff and refined through the initial review stages. It ensures consistency across multiple authors, prevents redundancy, identifies gaps early, and keeps the proposal focused on what matters most to evaluators. Many proposal professionals consider the outline to be the most important planning artifact in the proposal process.