Proposal Builder

The Proposal Builder generates complete project proposals ready to send to clients. It combines your firm's context with the specific project opportunity to produce a proposal that reads as if a senior member of your team wrote it from scratch.

What makes TrussNote proposals different

Most proposal tools produce generic text that clients recognize immediately. TrussNote's AI:

• Adapts the tone and emphasis to the client type (institutional, developer, government, private)
• Structures the scope section around the actual project challenges, not boilerplate
• Generates fee narratives that justify your rate rather than just listing it
• Includes relevant experience language drawn from your organization's profile

What you need to provide

• Project name and client name
• Project description (what the client has asked for)
• Your proposed scope (bullet points or notes are fine)
• Fee (fixed fee, hourly rate, or percentage of construction cost)
• Your team (names and roles)
• Any relevant project experience you want to reference
• Proposal format preference (letter format vs. structured document)

How to run the proposal builder

1. Open Proposal Builder from the sidebar
2. Fill in the project and client details
3. Paste or type your scope notes
4. Enter your fee and team information
5. Add any experience or differentiator notes
6. Click Generate Proposal

What the proposal includes

A standard proposal includes:

• Cover letter (client-addressed, project-specific)
• Understanding of the project (demonstrates you read the brief)
• Proposed scope of services (organized by phase or discipline)
• Project team (with brief bios)
• Relevant experience (project examples)
• Fee summary (with optional breakdown by phase)
• Terms and conditions (basic engagement terms)
• Next steps

Customizing the proposal

Every section is fully editable after generation. You can:

• Add your firm's logo and branding (via PDF export settings)
• Swap in actual project photos and team headshots
• Adjust tone and formality level
• Add or remove sections
• Save as a reusable template for similar project types

Exporting your proposal

• PDF: Formatted, print-ready document with your organization name in the header
• Word (.docx): Editable document for further customization in your own template
• Shareable link: Send a web-viewable version directly to the client (no PDF attachment needed)

Tips for winning proposals

• Be specific about what you understand about the client's problem. Generic scope sections lose to specific ones.
• Include a clear fee narrative that explains what is included and what is not. Ambiguity creates objections.
• Mention the client by name in the cover letter and opening paragraph, not just in the address block.
• Close with a specific next step ("We would welcome a 30-minute call to discuss the approach") rather than a passive close ("We look forward to hearing from you").

Frequently asked questions

Can I save proposals as templates for future similar projects? Yes. After generating a proposal, click Save as Template and give it a name. It will appear in the template picker when you start your next proposal.

Does the proposal builder integrate with my CRM? Direct CRM integration is on the roadmap. Currently you can export the proposal and upload it to your CRM manually.

Can I use this for government RFP responses? Yes. Select "Government / Public Sector" as the client type and the AI will adjust the format and language to align with standard RFP response structures. Note that many government RFPs have strict formatting requirements, so always verify compliance with the specific RFP instructions.