Multiple Draft Proposal Reviews

The SBIR Program is a highly competitive process - on average, about one out of eight Phase 1 proposals is selected for award. So, proposal preparation activities must be driven to the highest levels of excellence possible to achieve the best chance for a win. Our experience clearly shows that there is high potential for improving proposal quality through multiple critical reviews of draft proposals. Yet many proposals are submitted without a rigorous "polishing" process.

Critical reviews of draft proposals will reveal weaknesses in the proposed approach (e.g., the proposed team credentials, work plan), and in the written presentation (e.g., lack of clarity, inadequate use of graphics). Identification of these deficiencies early in the proposal preparation process will allow substantive corrective action. Finding them too late (e.g., the day before submission) allows only superficial fixes.

Multiple reviews are essential to create a high quality proposal that will end up above the "pay line" in the evaluation and selection process. One review cycle will not "comb out" all the knots in a proposal. Our experience shows that five or six critical review cycles each with about a one-week period will yield a high quality proposal.

A multiple critical review process is a sure way to significantly improve proposal quality, and achieve a better chance of a win. This review process is key to achieving overall excellence in the SBIR competition process. Yet, persons widely recognized for their skill in performing these reviews tell us that there often is little demand for their offers to help. Take advantage of this sure-fire mechanism for developing a competitive edge - insure that your proposal has the benefit of MULTIPLE CRITICAL REVIEWS!!!