SUMMARY:

Proposal Writing and Management

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Software Knowledge: MS Office Suite (Advanced User in Word); SharePoint, Visio, Deltek GovWin Project, Photoshop, Framemaker, Quark, InDesign, HTML; Database (Access, Filemaker Pro)

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• RFP / RFQ / RFI Analysis & Responses
• Process & Organization Development
• Standardization & Streamlining
• Formatting & Grammar Expertise
• Multilevel Communication
• Team Building & Development

PROPOSAL EXPERIENCE:

Confidential, Vienna, VA

Proposal Writer and Assistant Manager

Responsibilities:

• I perform writing, editing, coordination and management for Federal IT - oriented proposals.
• I write individual proposal sections, such as Executive Summaries, Management Plans, Technical Approaches, Past Performances, Resumes, Quality Control Plans, and Confidential .
• I edit proposals and sections, help to create a sense of “one voice,” reduce redundancies, employ effective words, eliminate run-on sentences, and give sharper focus to sentences, paragraphs, and sections.
• I research and fact-check sections to ensure that content is consistent, compliant, and correct.
• I perform desktop publishing, applying formatting, spelling, grammar, usage and visual checks before a review.
• I respond to RFI’s and task orders requiring quick turnaround.
• I manage individual proposal or volume, create compliance matrixes and schedules, lead meetings and reviews.

Confidential, Arlington, VA

Proposal Writer/Coordinator

Responsibilities:

• In this position, my formatting and editing of Federal proposals helped to create a “one voice,” as well as to reduce redundancies, use effective words, eliminate run-on sentences, and give sharper focus to sentences and paragraphs.
• I performed research and fact-checking to ensure that technical content was consistent and correct to the best of our knowledge.
• Some proposals, task orders and capability statements required fast turnaround.
• I applied my ability to quickly understand the objective and perform major editing, writing, re-writing and proofing for the proposal response to meet its deadline.
• I typically served as the keeper of the technical volume and desktop publisher, performing final spelling, grammar, usage and formatting checks before final review.
• On a day to day basis I worked with Management Plans, Technical Approaches, Past Performances, Resumes, Quality Control Plans, Acronyms, and so on.

Confidential, Alexandria, VA

Proposal Writer and Assistant Manager

Responsibilities:

• I worked with subject matter writers to put their sections together, offering suggestions for improving comprehension, compliance, and use of language to make clearer and less ambiguous statements, while not losing the importance of the technical information.
• I served as the Assistant Proposal Manager. In the Proposal Manager’s absence for one week vacation, I helped lead the team, along with the Capture Manager, to maintain the process schedule.
• Through daily meetings during which we reported the progress and engaged in friendly discussions, which helped develop the win themes to everyone’s satisfaction.

Confidential, Bowie, MD

Senior Proposal Writer (Consultant)

Responsibilities:

• Analyzed RFP solicitation and developed writing plan for meeting proposal requirement
• Authored key sections including Work Plan, Organizational Chart, Past Performance
• Ensured sections maintained compliance with RFP and amendments
• Part of team of writers, capture manager, and proposal manager
• Interfaced with subject matter experts from various company departments via email, conference calls, and in-person meetings
• Helped develop win themes through team discussions

Confidential, Vienna, VA

Proposal Writer

Responsibilities:

• A proposal for the Health and Human Services Network Operations Center was awarded a contract valued at $8 million
• Re-wrote and edited a number of proposals for the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Attended review meetings (pink, red) and assisted in revision process
• Assisted in writing marketing brochure for the division
• Assisted other divisions with proposal writing assignments
• Working under the Bid & Proposal Director, I helped write and edit proposals.
• I was also tasked with updating the proposal style guide and creating a writing guide and writing course for project managers and other contributors involved in the proposal process.
• My experience with style guides was established during my tenure at a monthly magazine where I chaired the style committee made up of 4 or 5 editors and proofreaders.
• The purpose of the writing course was to educate contributors to the proposal who did not have the training or adequate writing skills, which prevented them from contributing quality material. While their technical expertise was important, they may not have understood the best methods of organizing or presenting material. The course outline was implemented during lunchtime sessions.

Confidential, Bowie, MD

Senior Proposal Writer

Responsibilities:

• Authored key proposal sections, including executive summary, past project descriptions, and management approach for multi-billion-dollar IDIQ
• Worked with BD Executive and Capture Manager to identify proposal requirements
• Ensured writing style, win themes, compliance, and discriminators were being met for the bid
• Re-wrote and edited, maintaining accuracy, consistency and readability
• Maintained strict adherence to all schedules
• Interviewed project managers and other subject matter experts
• Accessed company knowledge base to find company best practices
• Demonstrated ability to work consistently during key personnel changes within proposal team

Confidential, Hyattsville, MD

Proposal Manager and Writer

Responsibilities:

• I was solely responsible for the writing, managing and coordination of all proposals for this large construction company with revenues of $60-120 million per year. Working with the help of 2-3 administrative assistants, I produced between 4 and 8 Federal, state and local proposals per month of varying degrees of size and complexity. I interviewed in-house subject matter experts as well as those from our partnership companies or subcontractors. I administered writing assignments and re-wrote and edited all material for the technical volumes. On two-step proposals where the first step was pre-qualification, my win rate was very high, estimated at 80-90 percent.
• One of my roles was to be the administrator of the Deltek GovWin Project module, a database system that served as repository for past performances, resumes and other material, searchable by keyword or categories. I kept this database updated on a monthly/weekly basis with new or revised information. The initial implementation required months of conversion from standard Windows programs. This was accomplished by myself and an administrative assistant.
• I was in charge of assigning professional photographers to shoot our past projects, and accompanied them, helping to select appropriate shots. I also maintained the photo library in computer directories.
• I maintained all text for proposals including boilerplate sections that I updated and re-wrote when needed to improve the writing or to update information. All existing material was carefully edited before insertion into a new proposal.
• Federal proposals submitted included DoD, Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, Post Office, VA, Architect of the Capitol, National Park Service, CIA, and many others
• State and local proposals included state agencies in Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, and county and city localities, including WMATA, DC WASA, and others
• Developed and managed strict schedules and deadlines
• Interfaced with and briefed management of proposal status
• Created timelines, coordinated kickoff meetings, progress meetings, and reviews
• Led multi-discipline and cross-functional teams that included contractors, engineers, architects, project managers and administrative personnel
• Solicited and coordinated information from other departments within the company, such as Human Resources, Scheduling, Accounting, IT, and Quality Control
• Managed and supervised others as needed, including coordination with subcontractors and partners
• Together with capture manager and estimators, developed win themes and discriminators
• Provided significant input into and coordinated the updating and management of supporting files such as resumes, contract descriptions, and standard text
• Standardized the style and formatting of proposals, and improved the overall quality of presentation and readability
• Played key role in winning pre-qualification on many bids, some surpassing $100M in value
• Visited job sites, and supervised professional photo shoots