Standard Sections for Proposal Reports

• Project summary
• Project description
  • Introduction
  • Rationale and significance
  • Plan of the work
    • Scope
    • Methods
    • Task breakdown
    • Problem analysis
  • Facilities and equipment
• Personnel
• Budget
• Conclusion
• Appendices

Standard Structure for Progress Reports

Progress reports are commonly structured by task, time, or goals.    

Structure by Task

• Introduction
• Project description
• Summary of work to date
• Summary of work in this period
• Work accomplished by tasks this period
• Work remaining on specific tasks
• Work planned for the next reporting period
• Work planned for periods thereafter
• Cost to date
• Cost in this period
• Overall appraisal of work to date
• Conclusions and recommendations concerning problems

Structure by Time

• Introduction/project description
• Summary of work completed
• Work completed
  • Period 1 (beginning and ending dates)
    • Description
    • Cost
  • Period 2 (beginning and ending dates)
    • Description
    • Cost
• Work remaining
• Period 3 (or remaining periods)
  • Description of work to be done
  • Expected cost
• Evaluation of work in this period
• Conclusions and recommendations

Structure by Goals

• Introduction/project description
• Summary of progress to date
• Work completed    
  • Goal 1
  • Goal 2
  • Goal 3, etc.
          
• Work remaining
  • Goal 1
  • Goal 2
  • Goal 3, etc.
• Evaluation of work to date
• Conclusions and recommendations

Key Quotations and Terms

“Many proposal consultants believe that a project will be accepted or rejected based solely on the effectiveness of the summary.”

“Once the proposal has been written and submitted, it becomes a legally binding document.”

RFP (request for proposal)
RFQ (request for qualifications)
SOW (statement of work)