Proposal Contents

1. Summary: A one paragraph executive summary of your proposal. Assume that a prospective client has contacted you for writing software. You are desperate to land this client and need to convince them that you can write this software, can write it cheaply, and can deliver on time.

2. Problems: What are the problems that you are trying to solve? What use is this software? How many pieces are there? How do they fit together?

3. Steps to solve problems: For each problem and sub-problem listed above, what software development needs to be done, and how this fits into the overall deliverable. Are you using previously developed packages (Googu, for example)?

4. Timeline: You have to be very conservative and justify the time needed for each piece of software developed.

5. Short and long term recommendations: Beyond the scope of this proposal, what do you recommend for improving the software (for solving client problems) in the next six months (short term) and beyond (long term).

6. Budget: How many hours? What rate? How much travel? Equipment? You will need to find out what software consultants charge and how they manage hours.

7. Statement of qualifications, Personnel: One paragraph. What are your qualifications? Your educational background? Projects you have successfully worked on? Awards received? ...