"Worth every penny, a real MUST HAVE for every bid an proposal manager."

"It is my deepest pleasure to write this review of “The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium” because this is a new “must-have” resource for Bid and Proposal Management.
This book is a masterwork and quite easily one of the very best of a short list of books that everyone in the business of winning business should own and reference often. In the very short-term, I fully expect this book to become one of the cornerstones to every successful individual’s and organization’s business library. With its breadth and scope, it truly can be considered the “Swiss Army Knife” for Bid and Proposal Management."

"The bid bible: Christopher S Kälin walks the talk and has composed perfect best practice bid bible with clear charts, tables and checklist for every step in a client centric bid & proposal process. The illustrations, figures and pictures are great and easy to understand. The best book on the subject I have read in my bid management career ."

“The compendium should be on the desk of every bid and proposal professional!”

“The book covers in detail all the elements that a company needs to establish and staff a successful proposal organization.”

"Just as the title indicates 'The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium' is concise, but detailed. Don't let the 450+ pages fool you, this guide is very easy to navigate and not meant to be read cover-to-cover. This is the perfect desk guide for bid and proposal novices and professionals alike.
Written for an International audience, the terminology isn't the same as the US Federal Government uses, but the BidMaster Framework is applicable for all bids and proposals worldwide. The Appendices are worth the price of admission providing a glossary, sample documents, checklists, and tools/links. I am APMP certified at the Professional level, and still find myself reaching for this Compendium!" (5-star Amazon Book Review)

“For me, it is the best and most complete book about Bid Management.”

“Looking for a great document with bid and proposal best practices?
My colleagues over at CSK Management have just released The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium, which offers a top-notch reference guide for winning bids, tenders, and proposals."

“All information is easy to follow with helpful diagrams and tips with clearly labeled best practices critical for bid professionals working towards certification.”

"One of the best books I have ever read about Bid Management!"

"The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium written by Christopher S. Kalin, is a recent addition to my business library. I have had it on my desk since the day it arrived and I find myself referring to its pages many times as I am compiling training material and building my proposal knowledge. I love the easy conversational style, ample graphics and the neat layout. This 460 page book is described as the "Swiss Army knife" of proposal management and it certainly lives up to being a useful guide and valuable tool. Christopher Kalin has covered everything you need to know in a user-friendly way which makes this volume a must-have if you are involved in proposal writing in any way. A nice addition to my library!"

"Kälin’s reference guide has lots of hands-on examples, so tweaking our ever-evolving proposal development processes to remain competitive may be our next goal—and it should probably be yours." (Article in APMP's 'Winning the Business': Mentoring and Best Practices Go Hand in Hand, July 1st 2019)

"[...] a lot of best practices. Fully relevant to prepare the APMP exam."

"A must-buy for anyone involved in winning business through bids and proposals.
The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium is a complete guide to writing and delivering winning proposals which can be used by organisations of any size. This is a substantial and comprehensive book which can be used both as a reference manual for anyone interested in specific areas of writing a proposal, or as a complete guide to the entire life-cycle of a pitch, proposal or bid. The authors present a comprehensive approach which can be tailored to suit large or small organisations, and varying opportunity sizes, from small to large. Although this is a physically large book at 460 pages it is well structured and easily navigated. The writing style is clear and concise and I refer to it frequently during the course of a bid(s). The BidMaster Framework developed by the writers is easily applicable to any organisation and would serve as a excellent reference point for anyone setting up, or revitalising, a bid function within a business. In summary, this book is not only very comprehensive, but also enjoyable to read. That's something you don't always expect with books of a management and technical nature. Congratulations to the authors. They've won the pitch! "

"For new input and know-how related Bid Management I can only recommend The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium from Christopher S. Kälin.
I have not yet had such a good specialist book (and I have some) in my hands"

"The Bid and Proposal Compendium is a very useful guide to winning contracts"

"Il libro è ben fatto, tiene conto di tutti gli aspetti sia operativi relativi alla scrittura che di contesto, rispetto alle diverse aree aziendali che ne sono coinvolte. Rappresenta un ottimo punto di partenza per chi si avvicina al bid management e un manuale da rileggere per chi ci lavora da anni. " (original text)
"The book is well written, it takes into account all the operational aspects relating to the writing and the context, with respect to the different business areas that are involved. It represents an excellent starting point for those approaching bid management and a manual to reread for those who have been working there for years. " (translation)

"In my office, these two books are never very far as I consider both to be the 'Bible' of Proposal Management. Putting all their great insights into practice might never guarantee a win but will always get you pretty close."

"This great book is a must have for all Bid and Proposal Managers!"

"Yes, a great addition to a bid manager’s bookshelf. 5 stars."

"Don‘t read the compendium because you can earn up to 5 CEUs, read it because it is a great source of knowledge and a collection of best practices. Eyery bid and proposal manager should read it. Thank you Chris for this Book!"

"Do they need my highlighted, flagged, Post-it covered pages as proof? Absolutely love this book. Hands down my most beloved proposal resource."

"I love the compendium. Plain English, easy to read and comprehensive. [...]"

"I love this book it is next to my desk [...]"

"Worth every penny of the asking price!
Chris Kalin leads you step by step through the entire proposal process, providing clear and actionable advice, with practical examples and templates along the way. This compendium is an essential companion for anyone seeking to challenge and improve proposal processes in their organisation."

"As far as I am concerned, this is the best book on bid and proposal management. It is on my desk, every day."

“This compendium is totally comprehensive and strikes a more pragmatic view than Shipley. It is abundantly clear that dialogue with real APMP practitioners is the foundation for this excellent reference. It has already become a vital weapon in my armoury.”

"CSK produces excellent products and the Bid and Proposal Compendium is now my go to book for all things Bid Management.
We have applied a number of the processes and approaches from this book in the charity sector context. "

“'The Swiss Army knife for proposal management'? It is not unusual to find overstated claims on book jackets, so I smiled when I read the claim on the front cover of 'The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium'. But Christopher S. Kälin's massive tome does exactly what it says on the cover. In fact, after a few pages, I realised that Kälin practices what he preaches. The structure, layout and content follow the pragmatic advice that is to be found on each of the 420+ pages. The comprehensive indexing and logical layout make this text easy to ‘dip in’ to, as the checklists, tables and practical tips cover the end-to-end process. Everyone who writes tenders will find something of value. Having read a few similar texts, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. It really is the 'Swiss Army knife of proposal management' "

"Great reference for winning proposals!"

"The best single-source for proposal wisdom you can find: If you can afford only one text on bids and proposals on your book shelf, make it this one. It provides in one place a guide to proposal writing, business development process, organisation, and standards. But beware! It should be a largish shelf to accommodate this book's generous proportions. Although the physical volume weighs roughly the same as an old London telephone directory, the style is light and digestible. Generous also describes the author's approach to content. He provides not only an authoritative and approachable guide to BD organisation and process implementation but you also get access to a comprehensive description of CSK's BidMaster framework and also his intuitive and powerful Storyline method. The latter is one of the best 'step-by-step' approaches to content development that I have encountered. Candidates preparing for APMP(tm) certification will find plenty of hints and tips and well signposted links to the syllabus. The book is also well larded with personal stories and anecdotes that make it both readable and enjoyable."

“No other proposal book is as detailed and relevant.”

"Recommended reading! 'The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium' by Chris Kälin, a Fellow of APMP, is a weighty volume packed with insightful, practical advice.His excellent new book is a worthwhile reference work for anyone involved in bidding. " (posted on LinkedIn)

“Want to win? With Swiss precision, this reference guide gives you the tools you need. More handy than a Swiss Army Knife, this book belongs in the toolkit of every proposal ninja.”

"This book covers everything you need to know. Not only to improve your own skills but also to build up a complete Bid Centre."

"Die notwendigen Prozesse um ein qualifiziertes Angebot zu erstellen (Angebotsmanagement / Bid & Proposal Management) werden sehr strukturiert in einer einfachen Form dargelegt. Das Gute an diesem Compendium, der Einsteiger kann es genauso gut verwenden wie Fortgeschrittene. Keine Angst vor der Größe des Buchs, mir gefällt besonders gut der praktische Ansatz mit leicht verständlichen Skizzen und Tabellen. Auch sehr hilfreich ist die Glossary, Beispiel-Dokumente, usw. Ferner wird ein Weg aufgezeigt wie eine international anerkannte APMP-Zertifizierung zu erreichen ist die ggf. berufliche Vorteile mit sich bringen kann. Alles in Allem eine Runde Sache und ein Invest der sich lohnt."

"Great whether new to the proposal world or an experienced proposal professional"

"I’ve been working in the presales area in my company from the beginning of 2012, and earlier supported the presales activities as project manager for 5-6 years. Historically, in our company, proposal management was never seen as a valuable profession like software engineer, project manager or sales director. For years, I was under the impression that this job is a sort of corporate clerk position, which is a part of the internal corporate playground and has no real value in the outside market. The Compendium and the entire exam preparation process radically changed my understanding of proposal management as a profession. I realized that this is a common cross-industry profession, just like project management (I am a certified PMP since 2006). And it prompted me to elevate the job perception not only for myself but for our entire team of more than 20 proposal managers."

"I recently came across a fantastic book written by Christopher S. Kälin, The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium. This book is a MUST READ to all organizations/managers who are new to the bid world. The first chapters give you advice on how your company should set up their bid team, how to identify the right profile for bid managers, as well as how to upskill your team. A later chapter helps you to understand the view of the customer ( essential to do if you want to win). The majority of the book is focusing on the actual bid work. It is comprehensive, very detailed, well structured. It is a great addition to the APMP BOK (Body of Knowledge) with more detailed explanations and examples. I would recommend this book to everyone who is involved in creating proposals or answering bids."

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nfold-pty-ltd_mondaymatters-nfold-wordsthatwin-activity-6680778619670798336-BODs

"This is an outstanding guide for the B&P practitioner. It clearly and concisely addresses everything from organization setup, team structure, the customer, proposal strategy, writing & editing, and compelling proposal content. If you've ever searched for "how do I...." while in the midst of the B&P lifecycle, then this guide will probably answer most or all of those questions. It's full of great tools, tricks, and processes to efficiently & effectively coach your team, stay on track, and get to a winning proposal. "

"Chris's book is a must read for every bid & proposal professional."

"I can't recommend it highly enough, one of the most comprehensive book that is easy to read and navigate with the compelling KEY MESSAGES in every section. 10/10 from Head of Bids - Siemens Saudi Arabia."

"Christopher S. Kälin's The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium. Really well laid out, easy to digest. You can navigate through sections easily for specific needs/lessons. Highly recommend."

"In my top 3 of bid and proposal literature!"

"So glad to have found a clear and concise book that can helps me grow on the workfloor. Very good and tactically linked by examples which is great. Recommended!"

"Worth reading every page, from roles in Bid Management and bid framework to understanding customer perspective and developing a convincing response. Warmly recommending it to anyone involved in bids, industries experts or leadership."

“My favourite book, too. So clearly written. "

“I'm re-reading Christopher S. Kälin's Bid and Proposal Compendium because we're using it to train new employees at #Loopio. One of my favorite sections is The Dynamic Dozen: Key information that you need to collect at the beginning of every bid. Christopher tells us everything we need to know to kick off a project on p. 119 of this epic book."

“Chris Kalin has created a masterpiece compendium which comprehensively addresses the complex concept of proposal management."

“You can't be cranky with Christopher S. Kälin's book... it's too good of a resource."

"The compendium contains really hands-on practical advice and best practice rules for every single aspect of proposal management."

“This guide is a great reference for candidates undertaking the APMP Foundation exam.”

“When I read a notification on LinkedIn on this book I thought: Again, another proposal guide... And when I saw the price: that price is above average what I usually pay for professional literature. But I had a look in the preview and I know CSK is a trusted company. So I decided to buy it, and it was worth it. What I value most is “The Storyline Method™”. This method helps you to develop the key messages throughout your proposal to tell the customer why to buy from you. The book is very complete and gives not only guidance on proposal writing. It covers the whole process from pre-RFP to post proposal submittal, as well as the organizational aspects of proposal management. That makes it also a big book: more than 450 pages in a large (A4 size) format. Appendices include sample documents, checklists and references to tools, literature and organisations such as APMP. I recommend this book as it is a true reference guide and ultimate compendium for anyone involved in bids / proposals!”

“The Compendium is definitely the most comprehensive guide for those involved in bids and tenders. Although it is a quite weighty volume, also with a rather hefty price tag, it is worth every cent. It is packed with insightful, always very practical advice. It covers all aspects of modern bid management, including organizational aspects and concrete instructions on how to develop winning bids. Highly recommended book.”

“A lot of useful content, and a great resource for our business”

“[...] This Compendium is really an amazing and professional reference that was issued right on time for my extended job. You sense the years of experience of the author. Many practical and best practices, very well structured and organized. This is an invaluable book I refer often to in my daily business. I used it also to be prepared for my APMP certification."

“Compendium worthwhile reading/studying and a nice bonus!"

“A strong description with quite a lot of best practices. Fully relevant to prepare the APMP exam."

“I have been reading voraciously on Bid Management for around 6 months. During that time I have read a few APMP publications, Shipley and this, amongst others. I have found this to be my most thumbed, 4 months later and today's coffee cup is sat on it so that should tell you a lot about how useful I find it. I think this is really useful for anyone like me who was quite new to bid management, or trying to improve the efficacy of your organisations approaches towards proposal management. It's a really useful guide, packed full of practical and crucially tested advice. I see this less as a method / manual and more of the right advice at the right time for what ever stage you are in within the bid process"

“‘The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium’ has become my ‘go-to’ reference when working on proposals."

“I can’t praise Christopher S. Kälin enough. I have attended two of his webinars and both of them were excellent. I thought I knew all there was to know about executive summaries but no... I learned something new. He is without doubt one of the best trainers I came across within the APMP family. It’s even more remarkable as English is not his first language and yet his delivery is flawless. I bought his The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium and that too is excellent. Incredible value for money. I wish I had that in my hands when I started working on bids and proposals 20 years ago. We are so lucky to have such amazing colleagues in APMP. "

“I truly appreciate The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium structure which is really an excellent platform, to empower each individual/company with high confidence level, to improve, identify gaps, thus to create a win-win approach."

“The Compendium contains very wide-ranging and practical, 'how-to' information. It should, in my experience, help tenderers give their bids a winning ‘edge’. Additionally, its extensive use of graphics helps simplify what would otherwise be unnecessarily complex topics. If you're wondering whether it’s worth the investment… it is."

“There are so few valuable resources that are actually digestible for bid and proposal managers. This document has easy-to-use charts and graphs, and it doesn't force a 400-step process on those of us who are just trying to learn or reinforce basic proposal concepts. I'll be reporting back over the next few weeks with more insights from this book ... definitely a worthwhile read!"

“I have a copy of this and it’s fantastic!"

“Perfect Guide if you want to get your APMP Foundation Certification
I first had the chance to meet the author when I've made the training to get the APMP Foundation certification. Besides the fact that Christopher Kälin is a passionate person who loves to share his experience, I could find all the best tips in his book and could also feel his enthusiasm through it. The Bid and Proposal Compendium shall be kept as a guide for junior persons to start the journey as bid manager but even as a more senior one, as the book addresses all kind of issues one can face during bid preparation no matter what field you work in. The book is also a great support to prepare for the APMP Foundation certification."

“This book is a MUST READ to all organizations/ managers who are new to the bid world. The first chapters give you advice on how your company should set up their bid team, how to identify the right profile for bid managers, as well as how to upskill your team. A later chapter helps you to understand the view of the customer ( essential to do if you want to win). The majority of the book is focusing on the actual bid work. It is comprehensive, very detailed, well structured. It is a great addition to the APMP BOK ( Body of Knowledge) with more detailed explanations and examples. I would recommend this book to everyone who is involved in creating proposals or answering bids. "

“A great and helpful book! "

“No-brainer - Simply the Best Book: The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium. "