Our Proposal & Quoting Process Explained
After we have assessed your requirements, we produce a formal proposal. This article explains what to expect and how to evaluate it.
What Is in a Proposal?
- Executive summary: A plain-English description of what we understand your need to be and how we propose to address it
- Our approach: Methodology (Agile/Waterfall/Hybrid), phases, and reasoning
- Scope of work: What is included — and explicitly what is excluded (the exclusions are as important as the inclusions)
- Team: Who will work on your project and their relevant experience
- Timeline: Milestones and estimated delivery dates
- Pricing: Fixed price, T&M estimate, or retainer fee, with payment schedule
- Assumptions: What the quote is based on — things that if different would affect the price
- Validity: How long the quote is valid (typically 30 days)
Evaluating a Proposal
When reviewing our proposal, pay particular attention to:
- The exclusions: Make sure nothing critical to you is excluded
- The assumptions: If any assumptions are wrong, flag them immediately — this affects price
- The payment schedule: Is this achievable within your internal approval/PO process?
- The timeline: Are the milestones realistic given your own team's availability?
Negotiation
Proposals are a starting point for discussion. If budget is the constraint, we can explore scope reduction, phasing the project, or changing the delivery model. We would rather find a workable solution than lose a project because of a gap that could have been bridged.
Accepting a Proposal
If you are happy to proceed, let your Account Manager know. We will issue a formal Statement of Work for signature via DocuSign.