Work backward from the deadline
Federal deadlines are firm. A proposal that arrives late, even by a minute or because of a portal upload problem, is generally not considered. Strong teams plan backward from the due date and schedule color team reviews:
- Blue / Strategy: confirm win themes and the solution before writing.
- Pink Team: check the outline and storyboards against the compliance matrix.
- Red Team: score a near-final draft the way evaluators will, using Section M.
- Gold Team: executive approval of the final, including price.
Reference: FAR 15.208 (submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals). Questions to the contracting officer usually have a separate, earlier deadline in Section L.
Key dates
Your proposal schedule
| Milestone | Date | What "done" looks like |
|---|
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