How much contingency time should be reserved when planning the proposal schedule?

In proposal scheduling, reserving contingency time is crucial for accommodating unforeseen delays and uncertainties that may arise during the preparation process. A 10% contingency is generally considered a reasonable amount as it provides a buffer without significantly impacting the overall timeline. This percentage acknowledges that while preparation processes can generally be anticipated and planned, unexpected challenges can still occur, whether they stem from resource availability, changes in requirements, or unforeseen complications in gathering information.

In practice, using 10% of the total schedule allows for a balance between being sufficiently prepared for surprises while still aiming to meet deadlines. A higher percentage might mean too much time is allocated for contingencies, leading to inefficiencies, whereas a lower percentage could result in unnecessary pressure and potential failure to meet the proposal submission date if issues arise.

Thus, reserving 10% of the proposal timeline as contingency time is viewed as a prudent strategy in project management, particularly in the context of proposal preparation. This helps ensure that time is effectively managed and that there is enough flexibility in the schedule to deal with any unexpected issues that may surface.