After a successful interview call, Experts will have access to the Proposal tab in the project workspace. This is where you create and submit your proposal. Once the proposal is submitted, the Client will review it and may request iterations. Once the proposal is finalized, an e-signature tool is available to execute the contract.
During the Proposal Stage
Define the Approach: In the Proposal Stage, Experts and Clients focus on defining the project approach and the details around timeline and fees. Both parties are encouraged to communicate in the messaging pane in the Workspace and to use Catalant’s Zoom integration to schedule calls to discuss the details live.
To learn more about each of the below click the hyperlink:
Resolve Questions: Catalant recommends using the Proposal stage to raise and resolve any outstanding questions around Client needs and expectations. It is essential to discuss these items in detail prior to the start of a project to ensure a successful engagement.
Complete the Proposal: After discussing with the Client, Experts should complete the fields in the Proposal tab with the details of the proposed approach, timeline, and fees. Once the proposal is complete, the Expert should request Client approval of the proposal where prompted in the Platform.
Move to Contracting: At this point, Clients may request additional changes to a proposal or may approve a proposal. If a Client approves an Expert’s proposal, the Expert and Client will move to the Contracting Stage.
Note: When a Client approves an Expert’s proposal, other Experts who submitted interest may be notified that another Expert has been selected for the project.
Proposal Best Practices
Formalize the Offering: Detail your approach to the project, including a description of services to be provided, deliverables, and a clear timeline. While this is your chance to highlight your experience to the Client, the information you provide would also be the substance for the project agreement if the Client chooses to move forward with you.
Be Persuasive: Your proposal should reflect not only your proposed approach and deliverables but also the level of detail and professionalism you will bring to the engagement. Feel empowered to attach additional materials, such as relevant work samples, detailed work plans, or client references to support your proposal.
Avoid Ambiguity: Use clear language to specify exactly what is in-scope and out-of-scope for a project. Defining key items (e.g. deliverables, timelines, budget, data sources, etc.) up front aligns both Client and Expert and reduces any chances of future misunderstandings.
Highlight Dependencies: To make sure both you and the Client are aligned, outline your expectations of the Client — including data sharing or scheduling commitments — and any other externalities that would determine the project’s success.
If a Client approves your proposal, you will move to the Contract tab to generate a Project Agreement for your agreed-upon scope of work. Projects cannot be initiated through Catalant without a Project Agreement fully executed on the platform.