Your First Government Contract introduces the small business entrepreneur or new public sector account executive to the world of government contracting. Scott introduces the reader to what to expect with their first opportunity, the government procurement cycle, industry terminology used, and winning strategies for proposal writing. Starting the book with basic vendor registration, Scott quickly transitions to why some companies succeed in government contracting while others do not, marketing to public agencies, types of government customers, contracting vehicles, how offers are evaluated, and how to beat the competition. Scott's method for crafting a simple winning proposal is described in detail, with applicability for any level of government, and designed for maximum collaboration within your company. Over his 15-year government contracting career, Scott has led sales and proposal writing efforts to secure over $125 million of government contracts, specializing in new and developing government contracting business units.

This is a one of a kind writing that teaches the reader the basics of how Federal Government contracts are won through corporate vision, marketing, and the proposal development process. It is simple to read and prepares you to become a valued member of your firm's proposal development team. For the reader to gain an understanding of what is included in my book, I have inserted the Table of Contents below: TABLE OF CONTENTS SectionTitlePage 1.HOW IT ALL BEGINS 1.1Marketing 1.1.1Marketing Plan 1.1.1.1Working Outside of the Box 1.1.2BASIC EVENTS LEADING TO PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT 1.1.3The Bid/No-Bid Decision Procedure 1.1.3.1Overview 1.1.3.2The Desire to Bid and the Discipline Not to Bid 1.2THE BID/NO-BID DECISION 2 THE BID DECISION IS REACHED 2.1Readiness to Respond 3.GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS - THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 3.1The ABC's of the Request for Proposal 3.2An Approach to Reading the Document 4.PROPOSAL KICK-OFF 4.1Let's Get Started 4.2The Team 4.2.1Business Development Manager 4.2.2Capture Manager 4.2.3Proposal Manager 4.2.4Proposal Coordinator 4.2.5Volume Leaders 4.2.6Proposal Writers 4.2.7Proposal Review Teams 5.THE PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 5.1THE PROPOSAL SCHEDULE 5.1.1Pre-RFP--Bid/No Bid Decision 5.1.2Proposal Kickoff 5.1.3Proposal Development 5.1.4The Internal Review & Modification Process 5.1.5Gold Team Executive Review 5.1.6Proposal Submittal 6.RFP DISTRIBUTION 7.PROPOSAL OUTLINE AND CROSS- REFERENCE MATRIX 8.STORYBOARDS 9.THEMES 10.DISCRIMINATORS AND OTHER ZINGERS 10.1DISCRIMINATORS 10.2AHA!s 10.3GHOST STORIES (or just GHOSTS) 11.THE PROPOSAL - GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS 11.1Executive Summary 12.TECHNICAL SECTION OR VOLUME 12.1Writing Guidelines 12.2Writing Samples 12.3WIN THEMES AND DISCRIMINATORS 12.3.1Example 1 12.3.2Example 2 13.SAMPLE PROPOSAL SECTIONS 13.1Past Performance 13.2TRANSITION PLAN - Fictitious Sample Proposal Section 13.3On-Going Recruiting and Staffing 14.A MANAGEMENT SECTION OR VOLUME 14.1Program and Task Order Management 14.1.1Program Management 15.TASK ORDER PLANNING 16.RESUMES 16.1Personalize the Resumes 17.REVIEWS 17.1The Yellow Team 17.2The Blue Team 17.3The Pink Team 17.4The Red Team 17.5The Gold Team Review 18.THE COST PROPOSAL 18.1Element Structure 18.1.1Direct Labor 18.1.2Overhead 18.1.3Other Direct Costs 18.1.4General & Administrative 18.1.5Fee 18.2Types of Government Contracts 18.2.1Fixed Price Contracts 18.2.2Cost-Plus Contracts 18.2.3Labor Hour Contracts 18.3The Cost Proposal 19.CONTRACT SET-ASIDES 19.1Small Business Act 19.1.1The 8(a) Business Development Program 9.1.2Small Disadvantaged Business 19.1.3Woman-Owned Small Business 19.1.4Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses 19.1.5HUBZone Procurements 19.2Determining Business Size 19.3Mandatory Registrations 19.3.1DUNS Number 19.3.2The System for Award Management 19.3.3Tax I.D. 19.3.4Cage Code 19.3.5Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) 19.4Helpful Government Contracting Sites 20.THE COVER LETTER 21.COVER ART BINDERS As can be seen from the outline above, my writings cover the entire range of business identification, cultivation and decision to pursue. These elements are explained to the reader because they are vital to the understanding of the entire business acquisition process. The heaviest concentration in my document is the actual development of the proposal. These writings are also of great value to independent consultants and small businesses contractors intent on winning government contracts.

Corbett shares what he learned in his 35 years of experience in the competitive proposal field. Starting with the strategic Bid-No Bid decision, all the way through to the post submittal activities, the process of organizing and writing proposals is laid out in clear steps.

He who knows and knows that he knows is wise; follow him. -ANCIENT PROVERB During a long career of public service as a government procurement and contracting official, I am still surprised to find big, successful corporations making the same mistakes that neophytes in government contracting mak~. And this is particularly true in the matter of writing proposals, which are the crucial element in most major procurement awards. It's true enough, as many suspect, that the big, well-known company has something of an edge over the smaller, lesser-known company com peting for any given government contract-psychologically, at least: The typical government executives, whether contracting officials or program managers, tend to have a bit more faith in the ability of the large company to carry out the program successfully. All things being equal, then, the big company is more likely to get the nod. However, because the large companies are well aware of that, many tend to become "fat, dumb, and happy"-they try to coast or rest on their laurels. That is, they get careless about making a strong enough case for themselves in writing their proposals. And when they lose, often to smaller companies, they are both puzzled and outraged. They have for gotten that all government procurement is a competition-usually both technical and cost competition-and that the "little guy" can win against the "big guy," if he tries hard enough. And especially if the bigger guy is a bit careless and does not put out his best effort.

Jablonski introduces readers to a realistic, achievable process for writing winning, competitive proposals to secure contracts with any agency of the federal government and national laboratories.

Use the latest technology and techniques to craft winning proposals.

This book is an essential weapon for anyone looking for funding in the extremely competitive grantseeking world. It explains how and why to approach both public and private sponsors with not just information, but persuasion, for the best chance for success. How do you present the right balance of logic, emotion, and relationship-awareness to make a persuasive proposal? What is THE most important thing to do before submitting a proposal to increase your odds for funding success? What portion of the proposal must be stressed even when it has a low point value assigned to it in the reviewer's evaluation form? How can a site visit make or break the fate of a meticulously prepared application? Models of Proposal Planning & Writing: Second Edition answers all these critical questions and more for grantseekers, documenting how to write a proposal that will persuade a sponsor to invest in your projects and organization—and just as importantly, explaining why a properly persuasive application puts forth a seamless argument that stands the test of reason, addresses psychological concerns, and connects your project to the values of the sponsor. The book's comprehensive annotations provide practical information that walks readers step-by-step through a logical, integrated process of planning and writing persuasive proposals.