Outline for Writing a Linux Proposal

Here is a general layout for a project proposal. Your proposal may not need all this information. Use this when the client doesn't provide a solution but asks you to supply a solution instead. For a project of 6 months to a year, it can take 2 months to research the project and creating a hundred page project specification, and then another 2 weeks to prepare a 10 to 12 page the formal proposal.

Layout

• Use basic fonts at easy to read sizes (e.g. Arial 11)
• Use single-spaced text with wide outer margins for comments
• Have somebody else proof read for spelling and grammar
• Include a Table of Contents
• All pages should numbered

Cover Page

• The Project Title
• Whom the Project is Prepared For
• The Date Prepared
• The Team Leader
• The Team Members
• Contact Information

Executive Summary

• Background on the Problem
• What the Project Does (in layman's terms)
• How does it Solve the Problem

Constraints and Requirements

• The hardware/server required
• The operating system to be used
• The programming languages to be used
• The web requirements (for a web project)
• The minimum throughput requirements
• The hardware that will be interfacing with
• The software that will be interfacing with
• Migration/Porting Issues
• The deadline/target date

Phase 1: Review of the Problem

• Summary of existing problems
• Research into Tools to help correct the problem

Phase 2: Research into the Solution

• Techniques to Solve the Problems
• What You Chose to Use and Why You are Using Them

Phase 3: Project Development Outline

• List of Components of Project
• Describe Briefly What the Components Do
• Describe Briefly What the Components Are Responsible For

Phase 4: Project Maintenance Outline

• Rollout Requirement Details
• Migration Requirement Details
• On-going Maintenance Plans

Pragmatics and Contract Terms

• Background History and Clients
• Payment Method (Time/Materials, Fixed Cost, etc.)
• List of Payment Milestones
• Time, Quality or Cost Optimization
• Intellectual Property Terms
• Deliverables
• Risks
• Contact People and Responsibilities
• Your Contact Times and Call Return Times
• Guarantees and Limitations
• Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Terms
• Charges for Extra Work