Ep 5: USAID Proposal Trends & the TEC: Best practices for preparing proposals

Recorded: December 6, 2022

Join this event co-hosted with Konektid International. We will hear from two USAID business development panels.

The first will discuss recent trends and best practices with USAID proposal development. This will be followed by a panel taking us inside the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and their decision making process for awarding proposals.

Inside the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) Process:
- What is the TEC? Who decides who is on the TEC? When are the TEC members determined (before RFP release?)?
- What happens inside USAID after the proposal submission deadline? How soon after proposal submission does the TEC meet?
- Who are the TEC members? Are they all technical experts?
- How is the TEC process supposed to work? Does this usually happen?
- Any interesting insight/stories?
- So what? What do USAID partners need to know about TECs? How can they write better proposals?
- How does TEC assess doing a comp range, BAFO, or going straight to award?
- What happens internally after the TEC decides on the winning proposal?
- How are decisions typically reached? In writing and then Source Selection Authority weighs in or discussions or other?
- How often are stakeholders engaged in the evaluations? Counterparts? PSC experts?
- What are some of the worst mistakes you've seen partners make on their proposal submissions?

Inside the TEC panelist bios:

Meri Cuculoska
Meri Cuculoska is an experienced and versatile international development professional who has served as Program Manager, Project Manager and Technical Expert on USAID-funded programs in Economic Growth and Trade, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and Strategy and Business Development programs. She was with USAID for 17 years as AOR, COR, Team Leader, and Acting Office Director. She led the design teams, prepared project approval documentation, served as a Chair and as a member of the Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs), and managed the projects. Her expertise is in business enabling environment and private sector development, and her assignments were in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Liberia, Malawi, Moldova, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, and Ukraine.

Christy Hollywood, Chief Operating Officer, Konektid International; Eve Hamilton, Senior Consultant; Thom Bruce, Senior Consultant; Meri Cuculoska, Senior Consultant; David Meyer, Senior Consultant

ABOUT THE HOST:

The podcast is hosted by Mike Shanley, Founder and CEO of Konektid International and AidKonekt Data, the leading USAID partner support firms that help clients to grow their USAID funding portfolios. Mike has nearly two decades of experience in working with USAID projects and funding opportunities. His USAID funding expertise has been recognized by the largest aid and development associations, partners, and conferences, including by USAID, Devex, British Expertise International, AidEx, and by the Society for International Development-US where he also serves as Board Member.

Websites:

Konektid International: www.konektid.com

AidKonekt Data: https://www.aidkonekt.com/usaid-biz-dev

Connect with Mike Shanley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konektid-usaid-specialists/