Links Overview

What Is Sps? provides an overview of the Standard Proposal System. Sps uses Microsoft ® Access ® as its user-interface and relational database, and Microsoft Excel ® as the engine for its Validation Models and Proposal Analyzer.

Sps Components identifies and describes the products that comprise the Standard Proposal System.

Sps Proposal Builder Large Business (PBLB) and Small Business (PBSB) Menu Summary shows the various operations available in the Sps PBLB and PBSB applications and provides a brief description of each operation. A more complete description of these operations is provided in the Sps Proposal Builder Help file that is available as a Download. The Menu Summary provides an overview of the application's functionality and capabilities.

Sps PBSB Limitations Example is used to download an Excel 2016 (xlsx) Workbook file that demonstrates the maximum Cost Element (90), WBS Item (125) and SOW Item (65) capabilities of the Sps Proposal Builder Small-Business application. The subject Workbook includes four Worksheets. The first Worksheet is a standard Sps Cost Element Summary that includes fifty-two (52) cost elements. The second Worksheet shows the derivation of the ninety (90) cost elements needed by Sps to handle the fifty-two (52) cost elements shown on the standard Sps Cost Element Summary. The third Worksheet uses the sample XYZ Corp ARS Proposal structure to demonstrate how WBS definition is limited to the 4th level for the Sps PBSB versus the 7th level for the Sps PBLB. The fourth Worksheet uses the sample XYZ Corp ARS Proposal structure to demonstrate how SOW definition is limited to the 3rd level for the Sps PBSB versus the 5th level for the Sps PBLB. Observe that the subject application is capable of handling a fairly complex cost estimating structure, but there are limitations. The user needs to consider whether or not the subject application can be used to meet the requirements of the proposal requester, as well as its own cost estimating structure. Both the PBLB and PBSB are distributed as trial versions, with the option to purchase at any time during the trial period, so, before actually buying, the user can determine whether to buy either product and which version is needed to meet the user's needs.

Note that because an MS Excel run time error may occur when trying to open the subject file directly from a Web Browser, it may, or may not, have to be saved and then opened from its saved location. Also Note that opening the subject file, after having downloaded it via the Web, may, or may not, cause a dialog box with the message 'Excel found unreadable content in ... ' to be displayed. If the subject dialog box is displayed, click 'yes' to proceed. The subject file should open normally after being saved for the first time.

Sps Proposal Builder Data Entry Utility Menu Summary shows the various operations available in the Sps Proposal Builder Data Entry Utility application and provides a brief description of each. The subject Menu contains a subset of the operations available for the Sps Proposal Builders Large Business and Small-Business, and is limited to data entry. The Menu Summary provides an overview of the application's functionality and capabilities.

Sps Proposal Analyzer Menu Summary shows the various operations available in the Sps Proposal Analyzer application and provides a brief description of each. A more complete description of these operations is provided in the Sps Proposal Analyzer Help file that is available as a Download. The Menu Summary provides an overview of the application's functionality and capabilities.

SysPricer Sps Slide Presentation This slide presentation outlines the features and advantages of SysPricer's Standard Proposal System and provides information about the System's operations using an expansive set of screen captures generated during actual System usage. It demonstrates the look and feel of the System as well as many of its operational capabilities and features.

Note that the subject MS Powerpoint File exceeds 25 MB in size and may take several minutes to download, depending on your computer's speed and the speed of your internet connection. Your internet provider's user-interface may, or may not, allow you to monitor progress of the download. The downloaded file may open automatically or may show up on the MS Windows Taskbar.

ANSI TDS 805 Formatted File Example is one of the sample proposals distributed with the System, for training purposes, that the System has converted to the ANSI TDS 805 format. Data is entered into the System using forms similar to those shown in the SysPricer Sps Slide Presentation, that is viewable via the applicable Link on this Web Page, and converted to the ANSI format. This sample proposal, XYZ Corp ARS Proposal, is representative of a moderately sized systems contract proposal and has 67,688 data records in the TDS 805 segment. A large, complex proposal could have several hundred-thousand data records, or even more, if Interdivisional Transfers and Subcontracts are included. Note that the ANSI format handles both data and cost estimating structure in the same file, so that the proposal is totally self-contained. It's the standardization of both structure and data expression that makes this ANSI format so powerful and allows its use to propel cost data communication and analysis to a level that is otherwise unachievable. This file example was used directly by the Sps Proposal Builder Large Business (SpsPBLB) as the sole data source to build programmatically the Validation Model Example that is available as a Download.

Validation Model Example (MS Excel 2016) is used to download an Excel 2016 (xlsm) file that was generated by the System using as its data source the ANSI formatted file that is discussed in Links Overview subject ANSI TDS 805 Formatted File Example. Ms Excel 2007, or a later version, must be installed on the user's computer in order to open this file.

Note that because an MS Excel run time error may occur when trying to open the subject file directly from a Web Browser, it may, or may not, have to be saved and then opened from its saved location. The subject file is an Excel Workbook that includes Macros needed for it to function properly, so you must Enable them in response to any Security Warning(s). Also Note that opening the subject file, after having downloaded it via the Web, may, or may not, cause a dialog box with the message 'Excel found unreadable content in ... ' to be displayed. If the subject dialog box is displayed, click 'yes' to proceed. The subject file should open normally after being saved for the first time.

After opening the subject file, observe the following:

• The file is an MS Excel Workbook that includes the standard Excel Menu items plus a Custom Menu item added at the end of the Ribbon. The Custom Menu item allows the user to select individual proposal structure items for display within the Workbook's Worksheets. The Workbook includes six Custom Worksheets that are used to display all proposal data and for analysis purposes.

• The Workbook's Summary Worksheet format has been optimized, based on extensive observation of various formats' effectiveness, and includes the following features:

• Cost proposal cost elements are shown in the first column of the Worksheet. Generally, each cost element whose value is either referenced or used in a formula is listed before any other cost element that either references it or uses it in a formula.

• The data for each cost element is organized into sets of three columns (i.e., Base, Rate and [Extended] Amount) for each proposal period plus a set of three columns for each cost element's Totals.

• For each cost element, the Base column entry is either a direct entry or a cell reference, whichever is appropriate, with cell references being preferable and used whenever possible.

• For each cost element, the Rate column entry is always a direct entry.

• For each cost element, the Amount column entry is always a formula.

• Using the file format with the features described above has been found to provide several advantages:

• It simplifies cost model build and limits cost model error.

• It's flexible and lends itself to standardization.

• It's relatively easy to trace relationships and how different parts relate to the whole.

• If necessary, it can be readily transitioned from one user to another.

• It's readily reviewable and promotes effective supervision.

• Details of the proposal data are sufficiently transparent to be readily understood by non-experts to facilitate effective proposal management.

• Its use allows a proposal to be inactive for an extended period and then reopened without reentry onto a steep learning curve.

• On the sample proposal's Summary Worksheet, there is a gap between Rows 6 and 67. These rows exist in the Workbook, but are hidden from view, because the proposal's cost logic structure has been coded to do so. It could be coded to show all rows, but, generally, this won't be desirable. For a cost proposal with a complex structure, half, or more, of a Summary Worksheet's rows may be hidden. Hiding rows allows complex structures to be accommodated without cluttering data display. By design, all proposal Worksheets are password-protected and certain cells are Locked. These limitations have been implemented to preserve the integrity of the proposal Workbook that will function properly, only if certain cells are fixed in relation to certain other cells. Any structure changes must be made to the proposal database file (using the Proposal Builder), which will then flow through automatically to the associated proposal Workbook file when it's created.

• The following are noteworthy characteristics of the various Worksheets:

• All Cells, structure and data, are Locked on the Summary, Structure and AdmnData Worksheets.

• Only structure Cells, but not data Cells, are Locked on the SyBases, SyRates and Bases Worksheets.

• Data Cells in the SyBases Worksheet are overwritten whenever the user selects a new proposal structure item from the Custom Menu, so this Worksheet cannot be used to save base changes. However, changes made to values on the SyBases Worksheet flow through immediately to the Summary Worksheet, so it's very useful for real-time sensitivity analysis.

• Data Cells in the SyRates Worksheet aren't overwritten whenever the user selects a new proposal structure item from the Custom Menu, so this Worksheet can be used to save rate changes. Also, changes made to values on the SyRates Worksheet flow through immediately to the Summary Worksheet, so it's very useful for real-time sensitivity analysis.

• Data Cells in the Bases Worksheet aren't overwritten whenever the user selects a new proposal structure item from the Custom Menu, so this Worksheet can be used to save changes. However, changes made to values on the Bases Worksheet don't flow through to the Summary Worksheet immediately, so it cannot be used directly for real-time sensitivity analysis. Instead, after making changes to the Bases Worksheet, the user needs to select a proposal structure item from the Custom Menu, which will repopulate the SyBases Worksheet that is used for real-time sensitivity analysis.

Sps Proposal Builder Help File is used to download the Help file that is distributed with the Sps Proposal Builder applications and used as the source for all Sps Proposal Builder application Help. Extensive information for every application operation can be found in this file. Note that there is only one Sps Proposal Builder Help File and that certain topics aren't applicable to the Proposal Builder Data Entry Utility.

Note that because of problems that may arise when opening the subject file from the Web Browser, it must be saved and then opened from its saved location (i.e., the Download folder of the user's computer). Depending on the user's version of MS Windows, downloading this Help file from the Web Browser may cause a Dialog Box to be displayed that informs the user that 'This file is not commonly downloaded'. Mouse left-click on the subject file name and then Mouse left-click on the 'Allow download' button. This sequence is necessary to allow the subject file to be properly downloaded to the Download folder of the user's computer. Opening the subject Help file in the Download folder will cause a Dialog Box to be displayed that includes a Check Box for 'Always ask before opening this file'. To enable display of Help topics in the Contents Window, Uncheck this box and click the 'Open' Button. Alternatively, before opening the subject file, Mouse right-click it in the Download folder, select 'Properties' and then click the 'Unblock' button.

Sps Proposal Analyzer Help File is used to download the Help file that is distributed with the Sps Proposal Analyzer and used as the source for all Sps Proposal Analyzer application Help. Extensive information for every application operation can be found in this file.

SpsInstallationReadMeFirst File provides information about installing SysPricer Corporation's Standard Proposal System on your computer. The user is strongly advised to read and understand this documentation before trying to install the subject software on your computer.

SpsPB Large Business Application Download, SpsPB Small Business Application Download and SpsPB Data Entry Utility Application Download are used to download the applicable Setup.exe files that are executed to install the respective Sps Proposal Builder applications on the user's computer. Before downloading any one of the Sps Setup.exe files, the user is strongy advised to download and read the SpsInstallationReadMeFirst file. Downloading the subject Setup.exe files is restricted, so the user must first contact SysPricer to obtain a User Name and Password to proceed. After obtaining the User Name and Password, the applicable Setup.exe file can be downloaded by supplying them when prompted by the Web site. After download, the application is installed by executing the Setup.exe file and following the installation prompts. After the application has been successfully installed, before it can be used, it must then be activated, as explained in the SpsInstallationReadMeFirst file.

Contact SysPricer Corporation provides information about contacting SysPricer Corporation.