template_name: "Competitor Analysis Template"
template_id: "competitor-analysis-tmpl"
template_type: "document"
template_category: "proposal"
template_description: "A structured format for conducting a comprehensive competitor analysis for government RFQ responses"
template_help: "This template helps proposal teams understand the competitive landscape, identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop effective strategies to differentiate their proposal."
template_tags:
  - "competitor analysis"
  - "competitive intelligence"
  - "market positioning"
  - "SWOT analysis"
  - "competitive strategy"
  - "differentiation"

usage_instructions: |
  1. Complete this template early in the proposal development process
  2. Involve business development, capture managers, and technical SMEs
  3. Use objective data and intelligence rather than assumptions
  4. Update the analysis as new information becomes available
  5. Use the analysis to inform win themes and proposal strategy

sections:
  - section_id: "document_header"
    section_title: "Document Header"
    section_type: "header"
    section_template: |
      # [RFQ Number] Competitor Analysis
      # [Agency Name]
      # [RFQ Title]
      # [Date]
      # [Version]
    elicitation_questions:
      - "What is the RFQ number for this opportunity?"
      - "What is the name of the agency issuing this RFQ?"
      - "What is the title of this RFQ?"
      - "What is today's date?"
      - "What is the current version of this document?"

  - section_id: "executive_summary"
    section_title: "Executive Summary"
    section_type: "content"
    subsections:
      - subsection_id: "competitive_landscape_overview"
        subsection_title: "Competitive Landscape Overview"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Market Position Summary**:
          [1-2 paragraphs summarizing the overall competitive landscape and our position]

          **Key Competitors**:
          [Brief list of the primary competitors and their significance]

          **Competitive Assessment**:
          [Brief assessment of our competitive position and key differentiators]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "How would you summarize the overall competitive landscape for this opportunity?"
          - "Who are the primary competitors for this opportunity?"
          - "What is your competitive position and what are your key differentiators?"

  - section_id: "competitor_profiles"
    section_title: "Competitor Profiles"
    section_type: "content"
    subsections:
      - subsection_id: "competitor_1"
        subsection_title: "Competitor 1: [Competitor Name]"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Company Overview**:
          [Brief description of the competitor, including size, capabilities, and market position]

          **Relationship with Customer**:
          [Description of the competitor's relationship with the customer agency]

          **Past Performance**:
          [Summary of relevant past performance with this customer or similar work]

          **Core Capabilities**:

          - [Capability 1]
          - [Capability 2]
          - [Capability 3]
          - [Capability 4]
          - [Capability 5]

          **Key Personnel**:
          [Information about key personnel likely to be proposed]

          **Strengths**:

          - [Strength 1]
          - [Strength 2]
          - [Strength 3]
          - [Strength 4]
          - [Strength 5]

          **Weaknesses**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]
          - [Weakness 4]
          - [Weakness 5]

          **Likely Approach**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely technical and management approach]

          **Pricing Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely pricing strategy]

          **Win Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely win strategy and themes]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "Who is the first key competitor for this opportunity?"
          - "What is this competitor's relationship with the customer agency?"
          - "What relevant past performance does this competitor have?"
          - "What are this competitor's core capabilities?"
          - "Who are the key personnel this competitor is likely to propose?"
          - "What are this competitor's strengths and weaknesses?"
          - "What technical and management approach is this competitor likely to take?"
          - "What pricing strategy is this competitor likely to use?"
          - "What win strategy and themes is this competitor likely to use?"

      - subsection_id: "competitor_2"
        subsection_title: "Competitor 2: [Competitor Name]"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Company Overview**:
          [Brief description of the competitor, including size, capabilities, and market position]

          **Relationship with Customer**:
          [Description of the competitor's relationship with the customer agency]

          **Past Performance**:
          [Summary of relevant past performance with this customer or similar work]

          **Core Capabilities**:

          - [Capability 1]
          - [Capability 2]
          - [Capability 3]
          - [Capability 4]
          - [Capability 5]

          **Key Personnel**:
          [Information about key personnel likely to be proposed]

          **Strengths**:

          - [Strength 1]
          - [Strength 2]
          - [Strength 3]
          - [Strength 4]
          - [Strength 5]

          **Weaknesses**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]
          - [Weakness 4]
          - [Weakness 5]

          **Likely Approach**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely technical and management approach]

          **Pricing Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely pricing strategy]

          **Win Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely win strategy and themes]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "Who is the second key competitor for this opportunity?"
          - "What is this competitor's relationship with the customer agency?"
          - "What relevant past performance does this competitor have?"
          - "What are this competitor's core capabilities?"
          - "Who are the key personnel this competitor is likely to propose?"
          - "What are this competitor's strengths and weaknesses?"
          - "What technical and management approach is this competitor likely to take?"
          - "What pricing strategy is this competitor likely to use?"
          - "What win strategy and themes is this competitor likely to use?"

      - subsection_id: "competitor_3"
        subsection_title: "Competitor 3: [Competitor Name]"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Company Overview**:
          [Brief description of the competitor, including size, capabilities, and market position]

          **Relationship with Customer**:
          [Description of the competitor's relationship with the customer agency]

          **Past Performance**:
          [Summary of relevant past performance with this customer or similar work]

          **Core Capabilities**:

          - [Capability 1]
          - [Capability 2]
          - [Capability 3]
          - [Capability 4]
          - [Capability 5]

          **Key Personnel**:
          [Information about key personnel likely to be proposed]

          **Strengths**:

          - [Strength 1]
          - [Strength 2]
          - [Strength 3]
          - [Strength 4]
          - [Strength 5]

          **Weaknesses**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]
          - [Weakness 4]
          - [Weakness 5]

          **Likely Approach**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely technical and management approach]

          **Pricing Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely pricing strategy]

          **Win Strategy**:
          [Assessment of the competitor's likely win strategy and themes]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "Who is the third key competitor for this opportunity?"
          - "What is this competitor's relationship with the customer agency?"
          - "What relevant past performance does this competitor have?"
          - "What are this competitor's core capabilities?"
          - "Who are the key personnel this competitor is likely to propose?"
          - "What are this competitor's strengths and weaknesses?"
          - "What technical and management approach is this competitor likely to take?"
          - "What pricing strategy is this competitor likely to use?"
          - "What win strategy and themes is this competitor likely to use?"

  - section_id: "comparative_analysis"
    section_title: "Comparative Analysis"
    section_type: "content"
    subsections:
      - subsection_id: "capability_comparison"
        subsection_title: "Capability Comparison"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          | Capability Area | Our Company | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | Our Position |
          | --------------- | ----------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
          | [Capability 1]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 2]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 3]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 4]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 5]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 6]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 7]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 8]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 9]  | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Capability 10] | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |

          **Rating Scale**: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are the key capability areas to compare for this opportunity?"
          - "How would you rate your company and each competitor in each capability area?"
          - "What is your competitive position in each capability area?"

      - subsection_id: "past_performance_comparison"
        subsection_title: "Past Performance Comparison"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          | Performance Area | Our Company | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | Our Position |
          | ---------------- | ----------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
          | [Area 1]         | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Area 2]         | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Area 3]         | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Area 4]         | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Area 5]         | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |

          **Rating Scale**: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are the key past performance areas to compare for this opportunity?"
          - "How would you rate your company and each competitor in each past performance area?"
          - "What is your competitive position in each past performance area?"

      - subsection_id: "customer_relationship_comparison"
        subsection_title: "Customer Relationship Comparison"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          | Relationship Factor | Our Company | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | Our Position |
          | ------------------- | ----------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
          | [Factor 1]          | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 2]          | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 3]          | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 4]          | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 5]          | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |

          **Rating Scale**: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are the key customer relationship factors to compare for this opportunity?"
          - "How would you rate your company and each competitor in each relationship factor?"
          - "What is your competitive position in each relationship factor?"

      - subsection_id: "pricing_comparison"
        subsection_title: "Pricing Comparison"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          | Pricing Factor | Our Company | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | Our Position |
          | -------------- | ----------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
          | [Factor 1]     | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 2]     | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 3]     | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 4]     | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |
          | [Factor 5]     | [Rating]    | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Rating]     | [Position]   |

          **Rating Scale**: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are the key pricing factors to compare for this opportunity?"
          - "How would you rate your company and each competitor in each pricing factor?"
          - "What is your competitive position in each pricing factor?"

  - section_id: "competitive_strategy"
    section_title: "Competitive Strategy"
    section_type: "content"
    subsections:
      - subsection_id: "swot_analysis"
        subsection_title: "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Our Strengths**:

          - [Strength 1]
          - [Strength 2]
          - [Strength 3]
          - [Strength 4]
          - [Strength 5]

          **Our Weaknesses**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]
          - [Weakness 4]
          - [Weakness 5]

          **Opportunities**:

          - [Opportunity 1]
          - [Opportunity 2]
          - [Opportunity 3]
          - [Opportunity 4]
          - [Opportunity 5]

          **Threats**:

          - [Threat 1]
          - [Threat 2]
          - [Threat 3]
          - [Threat 4]
          - [Threat 5]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are your organization's strengths for this opportunity?"
          - "What are your organization's weaknesses for this opportunity?"
          - "What opportunities exist for your organization in this opportunity?"
          - "What threats does your organization face in this opportunity?"

      - subsection_id: "competitive_positioning"
        subsection_title: "Competitive Positioning"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Key Discriminators**:

          - [Discriminator 1]
          - [Discriminator 2]
          - [Discriminator 3]
          - [Discriminator 4]
          - [Discriminator 5]

          **Positioning Strategy**:
          [Description of our positioning strategy relative to competitors]

          **Ghost Strategy**:
          [Description of our strategy to "ghost" competitors by highlighting their weaknesses]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What are your key discriminators for this opportunity?"
          - "What is your positioning strategy relative to competitors?"
          - "What is your strategy to 'ghost' competitors by highlighting their weaknesses?"

      - subsection_id: "competitor_specific_strategies"
        subsection_title: "Competitor-Specific Strategies"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          #### Strategy for Competitor 1: [Competitor Name]

          **Key Weaknesses to Exploit**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]

          **Neutralization Strategy**:
          [Description of how to neutralize this competitor's strengths]

          **Messaging Approach**:
          [Description of messaging approach to position against this competitor]

          #### Strategy for Competitor 2: [Competitor Name]

          **Key Weaknesses to Exploit**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]

          **Neutralization Strategy**:
          [Description of how to neutralize this competitor's strengths]

          **Messaging Approach**:
          [Description of messaging approach to position against this competitor]

          #### Strategy for Competitor 3: [Competitor Name]

          **Key Weaknesses to Exploit**:

          - [Weakness 1]
          - [Weakness 2]
          - [Weakness 3]

          **Neutralization Strategy**:
          [Description of how to neutralize this competitor's strengths]

          **Messaging Approach**:
          [Description of messaging approach to position against this competitor]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What weaknesses of each competitor can you exploit?"
          - "How will you neutralize each competitor's strengths?"
          - "What messaging approach will you use to position against each competitor?"

  - section_id: "competitive_intelligence"
    section_title: "Competitive Intelligence"
    section_type: "content"
    subsections:
      - subsection_id: "intelligence_gaps"
        subsection_title: "Intelligence Gaps"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Key Information Needs**:

          - [Information Need 1]
          - [Information Need 2]
          - [Information Need 3]
          - [Information Need 4]
          - [Information Need 5]

          **Intelligence Collection Plan**:

          | Information Need | Potential Sources | Collection Method | Priority          | Status   |
          | ---------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | -------- |
          | [Need 1]         | [Sources]         | [Method]          | [High/Medium/Low] | [Status] |
          | [Need 2]         | [Sources]         | [Method]          | [High/Medium/Low] | [Status] |
          | [Need 3]         | [Sources]         | [Method]          | [High/Medium/Low] | [Status] |
          | [Need 4]         | [Sources]         | [Method]          | [High/Medium/Low] | [Status] |
          | [Need 5]         | [Sources]         | [Method]          | [High/Medium/Low] | [Status] |
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What key information do you still need about competitors?"
          - "What are the potential sources for this information?"
          - "What methods will you use to collect this information?"
          - "What is the priority of each information need?"
          - "What is the status of each information need?"

      - subsection_id: "intelligence_updates"
        subsection_title: "Intelligence Updates"
        subsection_type: "content"
        subsection_template: |
          **Recent Intelligence**:
          [Summary of recent competitive intelligence]

          **Impact Assessment**:
          [Assessment of how recent intelligence impacts our strategy]
        elicitation_questions:
          - "What recent competitive intelligence have you gathered?"
          - "How does this intelligence impact your strategy?"

  - section_id: "competitor_analysis_best_practices"
    section_title: "Competitor Analysis Best Practices"
    section_type: "content"
    section_template: |
      - **Objectivity**: Base analysis on facts and data, not assumptions or biases
      - **Comprehensive Coverage**: Analyze all likely competitors, not just the obvious ones
      - **Customer Perspective**: View competitors from the customer's perspective
      - **Specific Insights**: Develop specific insights rather than generic observations
      - **Actionable Intelligence**: Ensure analysis leads to actionable competitive strategies
      - **Regular Updates**: Update the analysis as new information becomes available
      - **Multiple Sources**: Use multiple sources to validate competitive intelligence
      - **Ethical Collection**: Ensure all intelligence is collected through ethical and legal means
      - **Strategic Application**: Apply competitive insights to proposal strategy and win themes
      - **Continuous Monitoring**: Monitor competitor activities throughout the proposal process
    elicitation_questions:
      - "How will you ensure objectivity in your competitor analysis?"
      - "How will you ensure comprehensive coverage of all likely competitors?"
      - "How will you view competitors from the customer's perspective?"
      - "How will you develop specific insights rather than generic observations?"
      - "How will you ensure your analysis leads to actionable competitive strategies?"
      - "How will you update the analysis as new information becomes available?"
      - "How will you use multiple sources to validate competitive intelligence?"
      - "How will you ensure all intelligence is collected through ethical and legal means?"
      - "How will you apply competitive insights to proposal strategy and win themes?"
      - "How will you monitor competitor activities throughout the proposal process?"