Crafting Winning Proposals: Strategies For Successful RFPs (March 17, 2025)

Description

More and more frequently private sector companies and government organizations are releasing Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) as part of their procurement process and moving away from the traditional bid process. Construction companies will win or lose contracts based on their responses to these RFP’s. Responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP) successfully requires knowledge, understanding and a proposed solution of the subject, while convincing the potential Owner that your company is the best suited to build their project. Your response must not just be compliant, it must be compelling as well!

Through case study of an actual RPF and the development of the RFP response participants will:

• Understand the differences between a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and the typical prequalification in the bid process and how to respond to that RFQ. Your company must first pass the “RFQ” test before being invited to participate in the RFP process.
• Learn to analyze your companies’ SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats) and how to leverage these for the RFP response.
• Learn how to analyze the RFP to:
• Understand the Owner’s requirements both for the RFP response and the project
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Owner
• Understand how your company can best suit the solution
• Create a successful strategy for developing a winning response.
• Learn to prepare your written response effectively while following the guidelines set out in the RFP.
• Learn how to complete refillable schedules and understand what the schedules are asking for.
• Learn how to effectively complete a CCDC-11 2019.
• Learn how responses to RFP’s are evaluated and how best to address the criteria.
• Learn engaging and effective presentation techniques.

Exclusive to this workshop is a comprehensive manual that is used as a reference and guide throughout the sessions. The manual is based on accumulated knowledge gathered over 40 years in the construction industry. It is a valuable and effective tool that contains not only practical how-to’s, checklists and templates but will also be a foundation for new processes and procedures back in the office or on the jobsite.

Who Should Attend:

General contractors, subcontractors, architects, designers, engineers, consultants, Bid/Proposal Managers and allied professionals in the construction industry.

Virtual Classroom Sessions:

•   3 sessions of 3 hours each

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

1. A laptop or desktop computer to access the workshop and participate in the exercises. The computer must have a microphone and speaker capability to participate.  It is highly suggested to use headphones plugged into the computer so that the audio connection with the workshop is clear and background noise is kept to a minimum. A camera is not required.
2. All participants will be required to download this link: Windows: www.adobe.com/go/ConnectShell11  OR for Mac: http://www.adobe.com/go/ConnectSetupMac. Please note: if you have previously downloaded Adobe Connect, please use this link to download the updated version. This link will also be provided in the “welcome” email sent to all participants.

This course is offered in partnership with construction associations across Western Canada and you'll be participating with a cohort with peers from throughout the country.

This course is worth 2 Gold Seal credit

INSTRUCTOR:

Lee Kelly M.A.A.T.O., P.GSC, is the Founder and President of Constructing Minds Inc., a company dedicated to providing training to construction professionals. Lee knows construction because she has built it. With over 30 years of construction management/General Contracting experience under her belt, she has extensive knowledge of construction practices, processes, and procedures in all contract delivery formats. Lee is a long-serving member of the National Gold Seal Committee, and the winner of the Construction Institute of Canada (TCIC) “Chancellor’s Award of Excellence.” Her enthusiasm for training makes her a highly informative, interactive, motivated, and sought a trainer.