Working with the Excel Add-In

  • Published on Jan 13, 2026
  • 4 minute(s) read
Prev Next

The GovEagle Excel Add-In brings AI assistance directly into Microsoft Excel, enabling you to create compliance matrices, gap analyses, pricing structures, and other data-driven proposal components without leaving your spreadsheet. Excel is essential for structured proposal data, and GovEagle makes it easier to populate and analyze that data.

For instructions on installing and opening the add-in, see Authoring Workspace Overview.

Common Excel Add-In Use Cases

Building Compliance Matrices

Create comprehensive compliance matrices that map every solicitation requirement to your proposed solution.

Example prompts:

  • "Create a compliance matrix for all Section L requirements"

  • "Build a cross-reference matrix showing where we address each evaluation criterion from Section M"

  • "Generate a requirements traceability matrix for PWS Section 3"

Conducting Gap Analysis

Analyze your capabilities against solicitation requirements to identify strengths and gaps.

Example prompts:

  • "Create a gap analysis comparing our capabilities to the technical requirements in SOW Section 4"

  • "Build a skills assessment matrix for the labor categories in the PWS"

  • "Analyze our past performance against the relevancy criteria and identify gaps"

Developing Pricing Structures

Organize pricing information, labor categories, and cost breakdowns.

Example prompts:

  • "Create a labor category matrix with the rates and qualifications from CLIN 0001"

  • "Build a pricing table structure for the cost volume based on Section B"

  • "Generate a staffing plan showing FTE loading by year for each task area"

Creating Evaluation Scorecards

Develop scoring frameworks for evaluating subcontractors or analyzing competitors.

Example prompts:

  • "Create an evaluation scorecard for subcontractor selection based on the criteria in our RFI"

  • "Build a competitive assessment matrix comparing our team to likely competitors"

Populating Template Worksheets

Use GovEagle to fill out existing Excel templates with proposal-specific data.

Example prompts:

  • "Read this workbook and fill out the compliance matrix template with requirements from Section L"

  • "Populate this gap analysis template based on our capabilities in the content library"

  • "Fill in this staffing plan template using the labor categories from the PWS"

Reading Your Current Workbook

GovEagle can read and understand the structure and content of your current Excel workbook. This powerful capability allows you to:

  • Ask the AI to fill out pre-formatted templates

  • Request that the AI continue populating partially completed tables

  • Have the AI analyze existing data and add commentary

  • Ensure new content matches the format of existing worksheets

To use this capability, include phrases like:

  • "Read this workbook..."

  • "Fill out this template..."

  • "Continue populating this table based on..."

  • "Analyze the data in this worksheet and..."

  • "Add to the existing matrix..."

When you're working in a specific worksheet or have cells selected, GovEagle focuses on that context.

Inserting Content into Your Workbook

After GovEagle generates a response with table or structured data:

Spreadsheet displaying compliance matrix with highlighted insert button and requirement details.

Excel Add-In

  1. Review the AI-generated content in the chat panel

  2. Click the Insert button below the response

  3. The content appears in your workbook at the active cell location

Formatting Preservation: When inserting tables or structured data, GovEagle attempts to match your workbook's existing formatting, including cell styles, borders, and column widths.

Working with Excel Templates

If you have established Excel templates for compliance matrices, gap analyses, or other proposal deliverables, GovEagle can read those templates and populate them intelligently.

Example workflow:

  1. Open your compliance matrix template

  2. Position your cursor where data should be inserted

  3. Ask GovEagle: "Read this template and populate it with all Section L requirements from the solicitation"

  4. Review and insert the generated data

  5. Refine with follow-up requests if needed

See Working with Templates for more guidance on template integration.

Creating Structured Data

Excel is ideal for structured, tabular data. When requesting content from GovEagle, be specific about the structure you need.

Example structured request: "Create a table with these columns: Requirement ID, Requirement Text, Compliance Status, Proposal Section Reference, and Notes. Include all requirements from PWS Section 3."

Example for multiple worksheets: "Create separate worksheets for each evaluation factor from Section M, with compliance matrices showing how we address each subfactor."

Iterating and Refining

Excel data often requires iteration to get the structure and content exactly right.

Example iteration:

  • First request: "Create a compliance matrix for Section L requirements"

  • Follow-up: "Add a column for page number references"

  • Refinement: "Group requirements by subsection"

  • Final adjustment: "Add compliance status indicators (Full/Partial/Non-Compliant)"

Best Practices for Excel Add-In

Be Specific About Structure Clearly describe the columns, rows, and organization you need. Excel has many possible structures, so specificity helps the AI create exactly what you want.

Reference Solicitation Sections Always cite specific sections, requirements, or evaluation criteria to ensure accurate, compliant data.

Use Templates When Available If your organization has standard templates, use them. Ask GovEagle to fill them out rather than creating new structures from scratch.

Start Simple, Then Expand Begin with basic structure and data, then add complexity through follow-up requests (additional columns, calculations, conditional formatting, etc.).

Review Before Inserting Excel data forms the foundation of compliance and pricing. Always review AI-generated content carefully before inserting it into your workbook.

Combine with Manual Data Entry Use GovEagle for structure and requirements extraction, then add proposal-specific details, pricing data, and proprietary information manually.

Reference the Prompting Guide See the Prompting Guide for strategies on crafting effective prompts for structured data.

Tips for Common Scenarios

For Compliance Matrices: "Create a compliance matrix with columns for Requirement ID, Full Requirement Text, Compliance Approach, and Proposal Section. Include all requirements from [Section/Document] organized by subsection."

For Gap Analysis: "Read this workbook template and create a gap analysis comparing our capabilities from the content library to the requirements in PWS Section [X]. Rate each as Strong/Adequate/Gap."

For Staffing Plans: "Create a staffing plan showing labor categories, FTE count by year, and required qualifications for each task in the SOW."

For Pricing Tables: "Build a pricing structure with CLINs, descriptions, quantities, unit prices, and extended costs based on Section B of the solicitation."

Troubleshooting

AI doesn't understand the template structure: Explicitly describe the template layout in your prompt, or select the relevant cells before making your request so GovEagle has clear context.

Generated table doesn't fit the template: Ask GovEagle to "match the exact format of the existing table" or describe the specific column structure you need.

Missing requirements or incomplete data: Verify that solicitation documents are uploaded and properly processed. Make your prompt more specific about which sections to analyze.

Formatting doesn't match workbook style: After inserting, manually apply your preferred Excel formatting, or describe the desired formatting in your prompt.

Related articles