Risk management in the proposal development process

With more large government Requests for Proposal (RFP) emphasizing the need for managing with an eye towards risk management, the role of risk management in the proposal process has grown extensively. Previously, large proposals were required to have a risk management section. Currently, several large proposals are being requested with risk management being the primary emphasis of the contract. As this has occurred, the role of risk management has become integral to the proposal development process and more importantly, to the overall proposal strategy development. This paper will describe the enhanced role risk management must now play in large government procurements. Specifically, the paper will address Government Risk Management requirements The Risk Management Sections of the Proposal Risk Management implications in the Technical Section of the Proposal Risk Management implications in the Management Section of the Proposal The interaction between the risk management proposal development organization and the other proposal section authors The interaction between the risk management proposal development organization and proposal management The use of Risk Management Tools specifically developed for proposal development (Mini-Cascade) Risk Management as a competitor "ghosting" tool Anticipating the role risk management will play in the government proposal evaluation effort Based on real-world experience writing the risk management portions of several large government proposals the paper will further describe many of the intangibles of being on a large proposal team and insuring the inclusion and proper emphasis of risk management throughout the proposal.