A proposal schedule is built backward from one fixed point. Offerors are responsible for submitting proposals, and any revisions and modifications, so that they reach the government office designated in the solicitation by the time it specifies 1.
Plan for change as well. When, either before or after receipt of proposals, the government changes its requirements or terms and conditions, the contracting officer shall amend the solicitation 2. Under FAR 52.215-1, offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment by the date and time the amendment specifies 3.
Route questions through one person. After release of the solicitation, the contracting officer must be the focal point of any exchange with potential offerors 4, so your team's questions go to the contracting officer, not to program staff you happen to know.
Build the schedule backward
Worked example. Proposals are due in 30 calendar days. Contractor K sets its internal upload date two working days before the due date, a Gold review three days before that, a Red review of the full draft on day 18, a Pink review of the outline on day 8, and logs the solicitation's questions deadline on day 5.
Bids2Bank's deadline list records question deadlines, site visits and amendments alongside proposal due dates 5.
Put the solicitation dates on your deadline list →
Owners and gates
Give each bid one accountable owner. In Bids2Bank each pursuit has at most one owner, a person on the workspace team 6. Its review gates are Pink, Red and Gold 7, and the Gold checklist includes a Red Team review of the current draft 8 and clearing every needs-review sentence 9.
Assign owners on the pursuit board →
Indented paragraphs are invented worked examples. Tool links open Bids2Bank and need a free account.