39.CIF bid writing fee models

39.1No-win-no-fee

Used by Eddisons and Coomber Associates. No upfront cost; fees recovered from the grant on success within the ESFA 10 percent professional services cap.

39.2Quote-only

Used by S2E, Barker, Roger Hannah, SAAF, Synergy, Make Consulting and Spicer. Bursars should obtain a written fee schedule before instructing.

39.3Worked comparison on a £500k grant

On a £500,000 grant the ESFA 10 percent cap is £50,000. A no-win-no-fee engagement therefore costs nothing upfront and at most £50,000 on success. A published fixed fee is paid regardless of outcome. A quote-only engagement is unbenchmarked until the consultant responds in writing.

39.4When each model fits

• No-win-no-fee: cash-constrained trusts; first-time bidders.
• Fixed fee: trusts that prefer predictable cash-flow and accept downside if the bid fails.
• Quote-only: trusts in a long-term advisory relationship with the consultant.