Executive Summary

The executive summary is a concise, high-level overview that opens your proposal and summarizes your solution, key differentiators, and value proposition. It is often the first section evaluators read and sets the tone for the entire proposal.

An effective executive summary is typically one to three pages and addresses the customer's key needs, presents your solution and approach, highlights your win themes and discriminators, summarizes relevant past performance, and concludes with a compelling value statement. It should be written last, after all other sections are complete, to ensure it accurately reflects the proposal's content.

The executive summary should be written for a senior decision-maker who may not read the full proposal. It must be persuasive yet substantive, avoiding vague claims in favor of specific, quantified benefits. Every sentence should advance your win themes and differentiate your offering from the competition.