Which of your records does it actually read?

Why it matters: Unanet ProposalAI says it works best on current, organized source material and can use uploads, connected sources or Unanet CRM opportunity documents. Kantiv says it pulls from drives, inboxes and old proposals and integrates with Deltek, SharePoint and Egnyte. RFPM.ai batch-imports resumes and project files from a shared drive. Tip: Name your CRM, ERP, DAM and file stores and ask which ones sync, how often, and what happens to files it cannot parse.

Can you trace each drafted paragraph to its source?

Why it matters: Unanet's brief says drafts show the sources from your library; RFPM.ai says every record keeps a link to the file it came from. Kantiv describes drafts built from the firm's actual wins. Tip: Pick three sentences in the demo draft and ask to open the exact past proposal or record behind each one.

How does it check compliance with the RFP?

Why it matters: ProposalAI lists an RFP shredder and compliance matrix analyzer and says it maps every requirement to the response; Kantiv lists requirement tracking, addendum syncing and compliance checks. Tip: Bring an RFP with an addendum and ask whether the changed requirement shows up as unanswered.

What does a go/no-go or pursuit score use, and can you see why?

Why it matters: Deltek says Dela scores pursuits based on your win patterns and flags go/no-go decisions; Unanet's Champ assesses opportunities before you pursue. Neither publishes how scores are calculated. Tip: Ask to see the factors behind one score on a pursuit you already decided, and what happens when your win/loss history is incomplete.

Which parts of an SF 330 does it produce, and which are still manual?

Why it matters: Flowcase and RFPM.ai both export SF 330 Section E resumes and Section F project sheets; RFPM.ai says Section G (the key personnel matrix) is not generated. Kantiv lists SF-330 completion. Tip: Run one real SF 330 end to end and list every step done outside the tool.

Is the AI in the plan you would buy?

Why it matters: Flowcase lists generative AI as a Premium add-on, not part of its Professional plan. RFPM.ai includes AI on every plan with allowances for pages read, model calls and storage. Deltek ties Proposal Builder to CRM Plus. Unanet, Deltek and Kantiv publish no prices. Tip: Ask for a written quote that names the AI features and any usage allowances or overage terms.

Is your proposal content used to train models, and who can see it?

Why it matters: Unanet's brief describes hosting on a secure private cloud; Kantiv says it is built with enterprise-grade security. We did not record a written training-data policy from these vendors. Tip: Get the answer in writing, including what happens to your proposal library and resumes if you leave.

Home / Guides / Questions to ask before a proposal, pursuit or resume AI pilot

Questions to ask before a proposal, pursuit or resume AI pilot

A checklist for a first conversation with a proposal, pursuit or resume AI vendor. These are our suggestions, drawn from our proposals, pursuits and marketing category and roundup. They are not findings: Means & Methods Lab has not tested any tool. Where a question mentions a vendor, it points to something that vendor publishes.

SUGGESTIONS, NOT FINDINGS. No tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab. Vendor facts are desk research from vendor websites and are not verified. Updated 2026-10-16.

The questions (7)

Q01Which of your records does it actually read?
WHY IT MATTERS · Unanet ProposalAI says it works best on current, organized source material and can use uploads, connected sources or Unanet CRM opportunity documents. Kantiv says it pulls from drives, inboxes and old proposals and integrates with Deltek, SharePoint and Egnyte. RFPM.ai batch-imports resumes and project files from a shared drive.
WHAT TO ASK · Name your CRM, ERP, DAM and file stores and ask which ones sync, how often, and what happens to files it cannot parse.
Q02Can you trace each drafted paragraph to its source?
WHY IT MATTERS · Unanet's brief says drafts show the sources from your library; RFPM.ai says every record keeps a link to the file it came from. Kantiv describes drafts built from the firm's actual wins.
WHAT TO ASK · Pick three sentences in the demo draft and ask to open the exact past proposal or record behind each one.
Q03How does it check compliance with the RFP?
WHY IT MATTERS · ProposalAI lists an RFP shredder and compliance matrix analyzer and says it maps every requirement to the response; Kantiv lists requirement tracking, addendum syncing and compliance checks.
WHAT TO ASK · Bring an RFP with an addendum and ask whether the changed requirement shows up as unanswered.
Q04What does a go/no-go or pursuit score use, and can you see why?
WHY IT MATTERS · Deltek says Dela scores pursuits based on your win patterns and flags go/no-go decisions; Unanet's Champ assesses opportunities before you pursue. Neither publishes how scores are calculated.
WHAT TO ASK · Ask to see the factors behind one score on a pursuit you already decided, and what happens when your win/loss history is incomplete.
Q05Which parts of an SF 330 does it produce, and which are still manual?
WHY IT MATTERS · Flowcase and RFPM.ai both export SF 330 Section E resumes and Section F project sheets; RFPM.ai says Section G (the key personnel matrix) is not generated. Kantiv lists SF-330 completion.
WHAT TO ASK · Run one real SF 330 end to end and list every step done outside the tool.
Q06Is the AI in the plan you would buy?
WHY IT MATTERS · Flowcase lists generative AI as a Premium add-on, not part of its Professional plan. RFPM.ai includes AI on every plan with allowances for pages read, model calls and storage. Deltek ties Proposal Builder to CRM Plus. Unanet, Deltek and Kantiv publish no prices.
WHAT TO ASK · Ask for a written quote that names the AI features and any usage allowances or overage terms.
Q07Is your proposal content used to train models, and who can see it?
WHY IT MATTERS · Unanet's brief describes hosting on a secure private cloud; Kantiv says it is built with enterprise-grade security. We did not record a written training-data policy from these vendors.
WHAT TO ASK · Get the answer in writing, including what happens to your proposal library and resumes if you leave.

Bring to the demo

One recent RFP or RFQ with its addenda and the response you submitted (won or lost).
Five current resumes and five project sheets, including one with an expired licence or outdated role.
One SF 330 package, if you pursue federal or DOT work.
Your go/no-go form or criteria and a list of last year's pursuits with outcomes.
Names of your CRM, ERP, DAM and file storage systems.

Sources

Unanet ProposalAI AEC https://unanet.com/proposal-ai-aec
Unanet ProposalAI AEC solution brief (PDF) https://unanet.com/hubfs/Unanet%20ProposalAI_AEC_Solution%20Brief.pdf
Kantiv https://www.kantiv.com/
Deltek Vantagepoint CRM & pipeline management https://www.deltek.com/products/erp/vantagepoint/crm-and-pipeline-management/
Flowcase pricing https://www.flowcase.com/pricing
RFPM.ai pricing https://rfpm.ai/pricing
RFPM.ai SF330 use case https://rfpm.ai/use-cases/sf330-proposals

Tools mentioned (alphabetical, not ranked)

Deltek Vantagepoint (CRM & pipeline) · A&E ERP with CRM, pursuits & proposals
Flowcase · Resume & project-sheet management
Kantiv · AEC pursuit intelligence
OpenAsset · AEC DAM & proposals
RFPM.ai · AEC proposal records, resumes & project sheets
Unanet CRM by Cosential · AEC CRM, pipeline & proposal data
Unanet ProposalAI (AEC) · AI RFP response drafting

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