tightrope walking

by invitation, i was asked to sit and evaluate a proposal advised by an old colleague a few years my senior.  the last time we worked together was in 1999 or 2000; she was showing me the ropes.  we haven't worked together since, having parted ways.  moving on with our professional lives in one company or institution to another.  and so, when i reviewed the proposal prior to the presentation, i worried.  how to say the proposal, poorly done, was, simply, wrong?

i didn't.  i couldn't.  circumnavigated instead using constructive phrases.  unless absolutely necessary, there is no need to be aggressive or punitive.  as much as possible, cushion the blow.