The document discusses Niwot Ridge's approach to developing Integrated Master Plans (IMPs) and Integrated Master Schedules (IMSs) for project proposals. Their process starts by capturing the key themes that will lead to success and ensuring they are traceable to the significant accomplishments and criteria for each program event. They establish accomplishments and criteria to demonstrate the increasing maturity of the program in the proposal. All activities and deliverables are vertically and horizontally traceable in the IMS to a risk-adjusted schedule. Their process differentiates proposals by clearly defining traceability and maturity of deliverables in the IMP/IMS from the beginning.

1. Developingthe IMP/IMS isa Systemsengineeringprocess – not just a cost and schedule exercise.
The IMPandIMS describe the programmatic architecture of the proposalandthe basisof successfor the executionof the program.
Niwot Ridge’s approach to IMP/IMS development starts bycapturing the win
themese, assuring theyare traceable to the Significnate Accomplishments and
Accomplishment Criteriafor eachProrgam Event.
Startingwith the RFP, our IMP/IMS development processestablishes the
Accomplishments and Criterianeededto assure that the increasingmaturityof
the program is made visible in the proposal. Thismeans that the Technical
Performance Measures, contractual deliverables, and supportingdevelopment
activitiesare verticallytraceable to Program Events. As well these activities are
horizontallytraceable to a risk adjustedcredible IntegratedMaster Schedule.
Programmatic Architecture starts with the Proposal Submittal IMP/IMS
The IMP/IMS developedfor the proposal submittal is the foundationfor the program’s successful evaluationand
selection. Thissuccessis assuredby:
 Clear andconcise definitionof the Verticle and Horizontaltraceabilityfor all deliverables
 Definitionof Physical Percent Complete, Technical Performance Measures, andthe programmatic and
technical risk assoaictedwitheachdeliverable andthe effort neededto produce those deliverables.
Figure 1 describesthe general approachto increasing maturityof a proposal IMP/IMS development process. Our
process steps assure the resultingsubmittalis not onlycompliant withthe RFP, but also differentiates the submittal’s
win themes in the IMS to show the buyer how the program canconfidentlydeliver onthe requiredproducts or
service stated inthe RFP.
The Performance BasedProject Management® approach assures:
 All Significant Accomplishements derivedfrom the WorkBreakdown Structure, CDRLs, DIDs andother
contractual deliverables for each ProgramEvent are Identifyied.
 Each Significnat Accomplishment and its Accomplishment Criteria are show the increasingmaturityof the
deliverable products or services.
Our Capabilities are Based on Direct Field Experience
Using the process in Figure 1 Niwot Ridge has providedIMP/IMS development leadershipto aerospace, defense and
civil government proposal teams. This leadershipstarts ondayone of the proposal. Usingour IMP/IMS Step-by-Step
process, each Niwot Ridge consultant is guided bya detailed
Integrated Master Plan (IMP)
Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
 Usinga ProductDevelopment Kaizen
(PDK) our IMP development process
provides a seamless connection
between the RFP and an executable
Integrated Master Schedule.
 Our IMP/IMS submittals are
execution ready, with risk adjusted,
baselined cost,schedule,and
technical performancemeasures.
Figure 1 –lifecycle for the development of proposalsubmittal IMP/IMS