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Cost Preparer Practicum for USAID Proposals

4.7 (5)

7 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

By the end of this course, you will know how to prepare a responsive and competitive cost proposal for USAID.

Cost Preparer Practicum for USAID Proposals

4.7 (5)

7 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

By the end of this course, you will know how to prepare a responsive and competitive cost proposal for USAID.

Hosted by

Kristen Hamaoui

A Cost & Pricing expert who has overseen hundreds of winning cost proposals

Kristen Hamaoui

A Cost & Pricing expert who has overseen hundreds of winning cost proposals

Course overview

From analyzing an RFP to developing a cost strategy

Keylime’s C&P expert will guide participants through developing a responsive cost volume based on a standard USAID RFP. In this hands-on practicum, participants will prepare a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee proposal together with the instructor and learn how to develop a cost strategy.

Who is this course for

International development professionals at all levels that want to learn how to prepare a cost proposal for USAID

Business development managers that want to hone their skills in preparing cost proposals

Proposal Leads who want to learn strategies to make their proposals more competitive

International development professionals at all levels that want to learn how to prepare a cost proposal for USAID

Business development managers that want to hone their skills in preparing cost proposals

Proposal Leads who want to learn strategies to make their proposals more competitive

New Partners for USAID who needs the cost proposal to be demystified

By the end of this course you will

Understand how to read and analyze an RFP

It is critical to review RFPs from a cost and contractual lens. You will learn the anatomy of an RFP and tactics for finding and dissecting the necessary information to prepare not only a compliant, but also a responsive, cost proposal.

Be cognizant of the key regulations

Overwhelmed with the myriad of regulations governing cost proposals? You are not alone. The key is to know which regulations apply to the actual development of a cost proposal. You will become cognizant of the key regulations pertaining cost proposals and their applicability.

Become a skilled cost preparer

This course is a practicum, and participants will gain hands-on experience developing a cost proposal, line-by-line. You will learn how to prepare a cost proposal for USAID based on best practices.

Gain confidence to lead a cost strategy

USAID awards contracts based on a 'best value determination'. You will learn how to conduct a technical/cost trade-off analysis and develop a cost strategy that maximizes your proposal's value. You will be prepared to apply cost-effectiveness principles to project design.

This course includes

Interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

9 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

Projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Session 1 - RFP Review, Anatomy of a Cost Volume, and Contract Types

The first session covers the key concepts needed to start preparing a cost proposal for USAID. We will walk through the first steps you’ll take when an RFP is issued, including how to review an RFP and outline your cost volume. We will also cover the major contract types used by USAID.

Session 2 - Cost preparer practicum, part 1

Sessions 2-5 are a practicum in which we will prepare a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee proposal, using MS Excel, tailored to typical USAID requirements. The instructor will cover applicable USAID regulations and prepare a budget in real-time, sharing best practices along the way. Participants are expected to prepare a budget alongside with the instructor.

Session 3 - Cost preparer practicum, part 2

Session 4 - Cost preparer practicum, part 3

Session 5 - Cost preparer practicum, part 4

Session 6 - Cost strategy

In this session, participants will learn how to develop a cost strategy based on most frequently used RFP evaluation criteria and methodologies. This includes learning how to conduct a technical/cost trade-off analysis to increase cost effectiveness and maximize value.

Session 7 - Supporting documentation and subcontractor pricing

There's more to a cost proposal than the spreadsheets. In the final session, we will go over the supporting documentation submitted in cost volumes, including how to outline the budget narrative based on an RFP's instructions and evaluation criteria. Participants will also learn how to review a subcontractor's budget to ensure price reasonableness.

4.7 (5 ratings)

What students are saying

Kristen Hamaoui

Director, Keylime

Kristen leads Keylime Academy's Cost & Pricing curriculum. She is a seasoned project implementation, business development, and program management specialist with more than 15 years of experience managing and implementing USAID-funded programs. As a cost and pricing expert, Kristen provides pricing advisory expertise to clients within the USAID market, as well as those looking to enter the USAID market or increase their USAID portfolios. Previously as a manager in Chemonics International's Cost and Pricing Department, Kristen provided formal cost proposal preparation trainings, mentored staff members, and provided pricing strategy and analysis to proposal teams and senior leadership.

Course schedule

2 hours per week

Wednesdays from January 17th- February 20th
09:00am - 11:30am EST
Homework
1-2 hours per week
We'll assign homework to put your new skills into practice! You'll get feedback from your instructor on your homework and will have the opportunity to discuss in class.

Free resource

How to Avoid Cost Proposal Panic

We’ve all see it happen—the proposal team is chugging along, and days before submission there’s a huge problem with your cost proposal. Maybe your calculations aren’t adding up, maybe there’s a mysterious error in the spreadsheets, or maybe your budget is simply unrealistic. Whatever the reason, last-minute issues with the cost proposal can derail a proposal team and jeopardize your chances of success.

Keylime Academy has compiled the most common pitfalls we see on the cost proposal, and strategies to avoid them.

Get this free resource

What people are saying

This course was very, very well put together and obviously led by an experienced and knowledgeable teacher. Kristen kept a good pace and answered all questions thoroughly. Going through the template on our own time was also very helpful and forced me to review the material after class.

Lauren

Private Sector Engagement Officer

This was a super informative and well-paced course. Kristin is a great instructor who takes the time to explain all aspects of cost proposals and always takes the time to answer any questions. I came into this course very new to preparing cost proposals, and now feel a lot more comfortable with supporting in this area.

Peter

Analyst

I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot! I appreciated how detailed the instructor was.

Zoe

Program Budgeting Associate

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