At The Proposal Lab, our Proposal Evaluation service – also known as the 21-Point Proposal Check-Up – is designed to help experienced proposal teams boost their win rates through an expert third-party review. Below, we cover practical concerns and frequently asked questions about our proposal evaluation service, from deliverables and timing to industry fit and confidentiality.
Understanding the Service
What is the Proposal Evaluation service?
It’s a third-party review of one or more proposals you’ve already submitted. We assess each against 21 industry best practices and provide clear, actionable recommendations to improve your future submissions.
Is this service for proposals we’re currently writing?
No. This service is only for reviewing proposals that have already been submitted. Our feedback is designed to inform and strengthen your next proposals.
What do you evaluate in our proposals?
We assess content clarity, layout, strategy, differentiators, client focus, visuals, and more—using a detailed 21-point checklist. Each proposal receives a score with supporting commentary.
Do you update or rewrite our proposals for us?
No. We don’t rewrite your proposal for you. Instead, we provide a feedback report that you can act on in your next submission.
What kinds of proposals do you evaluate?
We can review any formal proposal submitted in response to an RFP, RFQ, or similar solicitation — across public, private, or non-profit sectors.
Who It’s For
Is this service right for us?
It’s ideal if you’re submitting formal proposals but not winning as often as you’d like. For example, if your win rate is under about 35%, a 21-point check-up can be a game-changer.
Can seasoned proposal teams benefit from this?
Absolutely. Even experienced teams can develop blind spots. A third-party review helps sharpen your messaging, strategy, and overall impact with an objective perspective.
Can you handle complex or public sector proposals?
Yes. We routinely review government, Crown corporation, and other high-stakes submissions and know how to spot compliance and clarity issues. Complex, multi-volume bids are right in our wheelhouse.
Do you consider our industry when evaluating?
Yes — our evaluation process always includes an industry lens. We tailor our feedback to your sector and the specifics of the RFP to ensure our advice is relevant for your field.
When should we consider a proposal evaluation?
If you’re not winning as often as you’d like, it’s a good time to consider it. Many teams seek an evaluation when their win rate dips below around 35% or after a string of tough losses, to pinpoint exactly how to improve before the next big bid.
Common Issues
What are the most common mistakes you find in proposals?
We often find:
- Generic content that’s not tailored to the client
- No clear win theme or value proposition
- Lack of supporting proof (e.g. case studies, metrics)
- Weak formatting, design, or layout
- Self-focused language instead of client-focused messaging
How can your feedback help us improve?
Our report outlines exactly what to change and why — giving you a prioritized action plan for future proposals. You’ll know which fixes will have the biggest impact on your next submission.
Why do we need an outside evaluation to catch these issues?
When you’re deeply involved in writing, it’s easy to overlook flaws. A third-party brings fresh eyes and expertise to spot blind spots and common pitfalls that your team might miss internally.
Do you also highlight what we did well, or just the mistakes?
Yes, we highlight positives too. Our evaluation notes what you did well (so you can keep doing it) as well as what to improve, giving you a balanced view of your proposal’s strengths and weaknesses.
We get debriefs from clients after bids – why do we need this service?
Client debriefs are often brief and generic, so they only tell you so much. Our evaluation goes much deeper, providing detailed, actionable feedback that you won’t get from a standard debrief.
Process and Delivery
How do we get started?
Simply purchase the Proposal Evaluation service on our website. Once payment is confirmed, we’ll send you a brief intake survey to better understand your goals, industry, and proposal context. You’ll also receive a secure SharePoint link to upload your submitted proposal(s) and the related RFP/bid documents for evaluation.
Do we need to meet with you beforehand?
No meetings are required. This is a low-touch service designed for speed and affordability. The intake survey gives us just enough context to tailor the evaluation to your needs—no calls or consultations needed. Everything is handled online.
What happens after we upload our documents?
We begin the evaluation immediately. Within about one week, you’ll receive a comprehensive feedback report scored against our 21-point framework.
Can you work with tight deadlines?
Turnaround is typically around one week. If you’re in a rush, let us know – we’ll do our best to accommodate your timeline.
Do you offer NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements)?
Yes. We’re happy to sign an NDA for your peace of mind. We also use secure systems and restrict access to your files, so your proposal materials stay completely confidential within our small review team.
Pricing and Value
What’s the price of a Proposal Evaluation?
We charge a flat fee of $1,500. This covers the full 21-point evaluation for one proposal.
What do we get for the fee?
You’ll receive:
- A scored evaluation
- Detailed, actionable recommendations
- A prioritized “to-do list” for improvements
- Sector-specific feedback without the high cost of a custom consultant or rewrite
Is this service better than hiring a proposal writer?
If you’re looking for a strategic critique rather than hands-on writing, this service is a faster, lower-cost option. It helps your team get better at proposals over time – without the high consulting fees of hiring a proposal writer for each bid.
What if we want to evaluate more than three proposals?
Our standard package covers up to three proposals. If you have more you’d like reviewed, we can arrange a custom package or add-on pricing to evaluate additional submissions as needed.
Is the service really worth the cost?
It often pays for itself. One lost project can be worth far more than $1,500, so investing in this check-up is a smart move – it can help you win business that easily offsets the fee and then some, by boosting your future win rate.