Free proposal worksheet
Federal Proposal Compliance Matrix
Connect the instructions to the draft, the evidence and the person who can close each remaining gap.
Show where each requirement is answered
A compliance matrix connects an instruction or evaluation point to a location in the response and the evidence behind it. It helps the team find omissions and unsupported claims. It is a working check, not a substitute for a persuasive response or agency approval.
The notice, incorporated instructions and applicable amendments determine the actual submission requirements. The worksheets below organize a decision; they do not certify eligibility or replace agency instructions.
Build the matrix in five passes
- Freeze the source set: name the notice, attachments, amendments and FAQs you are checking, with their dates.
- Separate the instructions: give each required action, deliverable or evaluation point its own row. Retain an exact source location.
- Locate the response: name the document, section and page or anchor where the draft addresses it. A heading alone does not prove the requirement is met.
- Connect the support: name the evidence and the technical owner who can confirm the claim. Distinguish documented support, confirmation needed and missing evidence.
- Assign the next action: identify the question, owner and due date. Recheck changed rows when the source or draft changes.
A row that exposes an unresolved claim
Fictional example. The requirement and draft locations below are invented to demonstrate the worksheet, not taken from a solicitation or client response.
| Requirement and source | Draft location | Support and owner | Open action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Describe planned validation conditions. Example instructions v1, §3. | Example draft, technical approach §2. | Protocol outline only. Technical reviewer to confirm conditions. | Name the conditions and evidence before claiming the approach is validated. |
Your blank matrix
Copy these headings into your team’s document or print the blank rows. Use one row per check, and keep the source version visible.
| Requirement / source version / location | Response document / location | Evidence / support status / owner | Question / next action / due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement: | Response: | Support: | Action: |
| Requirement: | Response: | Support: | Action: |
| Requirement: | Response: | Support: | Action: |
| Requirement: | Response: | Support: | Action: |
Check substance, not just the row count
- A cited document must support the actual claim and conditions used in the response.
- A partner’s role remains unresolved until the relevant organization and responsibilities are confirmed.
- An open item stays visible until the owner supplies the evidence or the draft is changed.
- Record what changed after an amendment; do not assume the earlier matrix still applies.
Official references
For procurements using the Uniform Contract Format, FAR 15.204-5 describes Sections K, L and M, including instructions and evaluation factors. It does not prescribe this particular worksheet. FAR 15.206 addresses amendments. Use the applicable notice and current source set, including any different format or agency-specific requirements. This original matrix is a planning aid, not legal advice.
For BAA, CSO or other-transaction, and SBIR/STTR opportunities, follow the specific notice’s instructions; FAR Part 15 and the Uniform Contract Format are not a universal template.
FAR reference version: FAC 2026-01, effective 13 March 2026; checked 18 October 2026. Check the notice for applicable agency deviations.
Have a draft that needs checking?
An independent Pre-Submission Review checks your supplied draft against the named sources and identifies the five priority fixes. The quote sets the document limits, fee and delivery date.
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