The number of universities and for-profit organizations competing for government funding gets more competitive every day. Although the government has made an unprecedented amount of funding available to stimulate technological innovation and improve US competitiveness, getting key projects funded is more difficult. In this hyper-competitive environment, receiving government funding hinges on the submission of an outstanding proposal. Differentiating a project and explaining the technological implications, financial needs, and market benefits so that it's easily understood by various audiences is critical. Given these circumstances, how do you position your technology to stand out among the crowd of proposals? Do you know what needs to be included in a proposal for an open solicitation?  Do you have the staff to put together a compelling 200-page document in a short period? ITECS can help.  

ITECS has expertise in helping clients win both state and federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds, Research Center Award grants, Stimulus Package funding, and specific agency project funds. Whether we write the proposal for you or manage the often complex proposal writing process, ITECS has successfully won proposals for capital funds, R&D funding, all types of state and local agency monies, university research center grants, and non-profit center awards. Recently, we have helped a major university capture a $13 million MRSEC Award and another university capture a $3 million Wright Center Award. We have also helped clients write proposals for and win a State Department of Energy ARRA funding awards for a biorefinery demonstration project and capital funds to establish a manufacturing plant for more energy-efficient batteries. (Success Stories)  

ITECS has a winning track record, expertise in capturing state level funding, and a proprietary process to help cultivate a differentiated value proposition. We also grant access to key decision-makers prior to proposal submission to increase the probability of success by addressing issues before they become problems. ITECS functions as a project manager by coordinating the collaboration among various internal and external experts to collect information, maintaining consistency, and keeping the process on track to meet vigorous government deadlines. Whether you need us to write your government funding proposal or just manage the process, ITECS' experience and understanding of the aggressive nature of proposal submissions will give your company the competitive edge it needs to draft and submit a winning proposal. At ITECS, we understand the complexities and extremely competitive nature of the research proposal writing process. We combine our expertise in identifying, validating, and positioning technologies with our ability to manage a complex collaboration of different universities, disciplines, and partnerships. The result is improved opportunity for success because you've developed a winning proposal and less time required by your Principal Investigator to manage the process.  

Hear what our clients have to say about our proposal writing expertise.  

Our Process:

At ITECS, we've written winning proposals and leveraged our strong government contacts and therefore understand that the crux of getting funded relies on establishing the value of the technology and your company or organization’s ability to implement a high-impact, well-integrated plan.  

Getting Started  

During our initial meeting with your Principal Investigator, we gain an understanding of your technology and identify the extent of ITECS’ participation in coordinating and writing the document. Then we create a preliminary proposal timeline.  

Differentiating the Proposal 

In possibly the most crucial element of this process, ITECS completes an exercise to help the team discover the unique value proposition of your project in fulfilling the needs of the government funding Request for Proposal (RFP). ITECS uses primary and secondary research to gain a deep understanding of the competitive landscape and determine how your project fits. This exercise validates whether the team has identified a meaningful way to make the proposal unique and attractive. If not, ITECS revisits this process and provides additional information and strategic thinking around positioning your company against the competition.

Outlining the Proposal 

To ensure that the team understands the requirements necessary to produce a winning proposal, ITECS outlines the proposal as a PowerPoint presentation. The purpose of the presentation is to ensure that the team members completely understand the RFP’s overall objective, the information that needs to be addressed, and are able to define the strategic approach before they start writing the proposal. This process helps the team identify information gaps and delineates the resources responsible for each portion of the proposal. 

Accessing the Agencies 

Questions arise frequently throughout the proposal process. In some cases, by leveraging ITECS’ connections with many federal agencies and congressional offices, we can get an audience with the appropriate decision-makers while the proposal is in the process of being written. As a result, the team is able to better understand the nuances of the agency and the RFP to ensure that the proposal is on target prior to submission.

Determining the Writing Process 

By building on the work done to date, ITECS and the team are now prepared to start dividing the proposal writing responsibilities. ITECS outlines who's responsible for each portion of the proposal and a strict timeline. We monitor this process, write and edit the proposal, and ensure that the team is meeting the deadlines and objectives that will result in a quality proposal. If needed, ITECS can be commissioned to write the entire proposal.  

Incorporating Revisions and Feedback 

To put the finishing touches on the proposal, ITECS edits and reviews the proposal submissions including all feedback from the team. We ensure that the proposal meets all the criteria outlined in the RFP. If time permits, ITECS sends the proposal to the team’s peers to get last-minute feedback.

Submitting the Proposal 

Companies, universities, and organizations may write a winning proposal, only to have it rejected because a form wasn't submitted; bios weren't in the correct format; or five case studies, instead of three, were included. These seemingly small issue can be the difference between winning and losing a contract. ITECS works with your team to ensure that all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed and that all required items are properly included.