MEDEV

School of Medical Sciences Education Development

Bid writers checklist

Have you read the guidance on structuring a bid?

Establish need

• Read the funding prospectus and supporting guidance documentation.
• Identify main priorities, themes or strands to be funded.
• Establish and agree target theme under which to bid, in line with with institutional and departmental plan.
• Contact funding body to establish an informal link and clarify undertanding.

Ideas generation

• Generate initial ideas for the project, involving relevant parties from within the institution.
• Prepare a working document outlining the project's initial ideas to be used when contacting prospective partners.
• Identifiy and consult prospective partners, especially those external to the institution, to ascertain levels of commitment.
• Confirm the focus of the project and further develop the working document, taking into account feedback from the internal and external partners.
• Cross reference the working document with the assessment criteria outlined in the prospectus to ascertain fit (and identifiy any perceived gaps).

Bid development

• Establish a small team (or nominate an individual) charged with the responsibility of generating the bid.
• Develop working document into a draft bid using, if available, the framework provided in the prospectus or guidance for applicants.
• Circulate draft bid to all relevant parties for comment, including key individuals not directly involved in the project (e.g. Pro Vice-Chancellors).
• Prepare the final draft of teh bid and ensure that the set of basic principles or common features of a successful application are satisfied.
• Sign-off final draft of the bid with project partners.
• Provide supporting documentation (e.g. letters of support from project partners) and complete other forms as required.

Bid submission

• Review final draft of the bid against the criteria for assessment outlined in the prospectus and ensure any gaps are filled.