Supporting bids and proposals
Whether you need production support for a large infrastructure bid or just need occasional support with a 30 page RFP - we have ways to support you and your team.
We have over 20 years experience supporting bids with:
- document templates and formatting
- graphics
- bid coordination
- editing and proofreading
We have many methodologies and initiatives to help with your bid production whatever your circumstances, including overnight formatting, macro template development and Microsoft Word customisations, an online Drop'n'Collect formatting service and even content re-use.
Don't leave the presentation and appearance of your bid documentation to chance - with bids you really do get one chance to make your impression, so make it a good one.
Producing the perfect bid
The Groundwork
- Initial meeting to determine requirements
- Produce and agree on templates / style guides
- Determine any training requirements for writing team
Ideally, we should be involved at an early stage in order to either produce the bid template, or confirm its suitability. We will ensure that all members of the writing and reviewing teams know how to use the template correctly and effectively.
Once the template is agreed - Don't change it !!
Writing and review phase
- Remote formatting and graphics support as required
- Available to help authors as required
- Refining documentation for key review stages
We tend to take a back seat for the writing phase - at least until the documents are mature enough to make formatting them worthwhile. Obviously, we are available to offer support to any member of the team that has any issues with their documentation or the template.
We get more involved again during the run up to reviews, with both formatting and producing/editing graphics.
Production and delivery
- Full time support for formatting and graphics, either on-site or remote
- Working closely with authors and bid management to ensure smooth production process
- Coordinating and prioritising bid documents for sign off
This is where the fun begins! For the perfect bid - we would receive the signed off documents in good time allowing us to format them before the delivery deadline. Of course this rarely happens, unless the whole team has been duped into thinking the delivery date is a week before the real deadline.
As such, we will take a leading role in the coordination, prioritisation and version control of documents, in order to make this high pressure and stressful phase of the bid process run as smoothly as possible.
Other ways we can help
Microsoft Word template development
What our Word templates give you
- High quality, consistent documentation across your organisation
- A more efficient document production process
- Less requirement for Microsoft Word expertise
We design Word templates that, not only conform to the requirements set out in the bid specification, but also embrace your corporate style. Making use of styles in a properly designed Word template is the first step towards the consistency required for bid documentation.
Macro-enabled templates can be an exceptionally useful tool for bid production, improving quality and consistency during bid writing and increasing productivity via the customised ribbon and the use of automation for time consuming, repetitive processes.
Get Word working with you
…instead of against you
Drop'n'Collect
Online formatting support via Dropbox
- Send us your file
- Let us know when you need it back
- Pick it up on completion
- Pay via PayPal
For smaller bids, or where you need occasional support, why not use our Drop'n'Collect service. Once we know what your templates/style guides are, just send us the document you need formatted or that you are experiencing difficulty with, and let us sort it out for you.
This is a really convenient and cost effective way to get documents formatted. Little or no notice required, quick turn around, no long term commitment - just there when you need it.
Overnight formatting
Keep your bid team fresh
When providing support remotely, with a bit of notice, we can provide an overnight support service.
Your writers and editors can finish their working day, send us the documents or graphics they have been working on, and we turn them around overnight. These documents are then available again, first thing the following morning, allowing your team to continue working with no downtime.
No downtime waiting for documents to be formatted
Content re-use
Build bid responses and RFPs faster
Often RFPs have similar requirements and questions, and you will no doubt have standard content such as company profiles, financial statements and staff profiles.
This content can be stored centrally, available to everybody in the team via a comprehensive search mechanism, already edited, approved and formatted - just pick the content that you want and it will appear in your document. You don't even have to leave Word as it is fully integrated.
Find out more about how SmartDocs can dramatically improve your proposal generation efficiency and the quality of the result.
What our customers say
Great flexibility in working at whatever time of the day or night proved necessary and sticking with it when things got tough. Had ample and valid excuses to dodge what was coming, but did not let us down when many would have faded. As the person carrying the can, I valued that most highly.
Diligence, accuracy and attention to detail were second to none and the client was delighted throughout. MS Word skills saved us masses of time and producing the macro templates up front smoothed the frantic final days. It was a real pleasure having Andrea as part of the team, and we all look forward to working with her again soon.
Anthony Jones Managing Director - ECP
So far Andrea has helped me with two substantial RFP responses, each of which if successful will become multi-million £ contracts.
Given the unpredictable nature of RFPs – Andrea takes it all in her stride; calm under stress and willing to work outside normal office hours if necessary to get the job done. Andrea is very helpful and easy to work with.
Andrea is happy to take a document in any state and transform it into a really well formatted document that looks highly professional.
I’m very happy to recommend Andrea – providing you don’t need her at the same time as me
Chris Morrell Sales Director EMEA - Enterprise at Fleetmatics
I have worked with Andrea on high-value and short deadline proposals for major UK companies. She provided me with an outstanding service in document editing, formatting and presentation that enabled me to deliver winning proposals for my customers. Her help was absolutely critical to that success, which often included her turning documents around in what seemed to be impossibly short timescales. I have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone as she provides a level of service and cooperation that I have found nowhere else.
Phil Spencer Consultant - Dextra Insight Ltd
Andrea is a very professional document specialist. She takes great pride in her work, working with a high level of attention to detail even under pressure and with immense time pressures.
She has gone the extra mile on several projects and always provides high quality work. Her knowledge of the subject is also excellent.
Jane Fisher Project Manager - Abellio
Andrea, has done great work for us.
She has combined hard work with good quality and outstanding team work.
Even at the most stressed moment she kept the team going and delivered outstanding work.
Ruud Haket Chief Operating Officer - Keolis UK
I have worked with Andrea on a number of assignments with very tight deadlines and find her work to be highly effective.
Andrea's knowledge of Word is excellent. Her ability to reset documents is impressive as is her patience in managing multiple documents under the pressure caused by tight bid deadlines.
Mark Pierson Director - DCLW
I have worked with Checkpoint on a number of projects to date. In every case they have been very responsive to the requirement and met all delivery deadlines. The finished work has looked very professional and been easy to use. I recommend Checkpoint as a business partner to help you to create MS Word templates that make document creation easier.
Tony Birch Managing Director - Shipley