Federal Contracting Insights & GovCon Blog
Practical, expert-written articles to help government contractors write better proposals, build smarter pipelines, and win more federal contracts, written by former evaluators and capture professionals.
10 Reasons Federal Proposals Lose, And How to Fix Every One
Most federal proposal losses are preventable. Learn the exact failure patterns evaluators flag and what your team can do differently before the next submission deadline.
8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB: Which Certification Is Right for Your Business?
A practical decision framework for choosing the federal small business certifications that give you the strongest competitive position, based on your ownership, geography, and target agencies.
How to Respond to a Federal RFP on SAM.gov: Step-by-Step Guide
A complete walkthrough of the federal RFP response process, from finding the opportunity on SAM.gov to submitting a compliant, competitive proposal.
Price to Win vs. Should-Cost: When to Use Each and Why It Matters
Two of the most misunderstood tools in federal proposal pricing, and why using only one (or neither) is costing you contracts.
How to Build a Federal Capture Plan in 30 Days (With Template)
Win strategy starts 12-18 months before the RFP. Here's how to build a capture plan for a specific federal opportunity, in a month, so you walk into proposal development already ahead.
GSA MAS in 2026: What's Changed, What Contractors Get Wrong, and How to Win Task Orders
The GSA Multiple Award Schedule opens access to $45B+ in federal spending, but getting on schedule is only the beginning. Here's what you need to know in 2026.
The Federal Proposal Compliance Checklist: 47 Items Every Submission Must Satisfy
Before a single evaluator reads your proposal, a compliance review determines whether it even qualifies. Use this checklist to make sure nothing gets missed.
The Federal Business Development Lifecycle: A 7-Phase Framework for Consistent Wins
Federal contracting isn't a single-event sport. This 7-phase framework maps the full BD lifecycle, from market assessment to post-award expansion, so you can build a system that generates wins consistently.
Color Team Reviews Explained: Pink, Red, and Gold Teams and What Each One Does
Color team reviews are the quality control system of federal proposal development. Here's what each review evaluates, who should participate, and how to make them actually useful.
CMMC for Small Businesses: A Plain-Language Guide to DoD Cybersecurity Requirements
What small DoD contractors need to know about CMMC Level 1, 2, and 3, from gap assessment through remediation, without the technical jargon.
How to Build Federal Past Performance From Scratch
New to government contracting? Learn how to build credible federal past performance, from subcontracting and mentor-protégé to state/local work and SBIR awards.