Government Contracting Myths

Myth: Capture planning starts with the RFP release.
Reality: Capture Planning begins many months BEFORE the RFP is released. Learn more…

Myth: Government evaluators read your proposals.
Reality: Government evaluators SCORE your proposals. Learn more…

Myth: Submitting a proposal will help your Government customer to get to know you.
Reality: If you submit a Proposal and lose – you become known as having submitted a losing proposal. Proposals are NOT marketing tools. Learn more…

Myth: Company capability presentations will win over your Government client.
Reality: Most capability presentations end up in the TRASH.  Learn more…

Myth: Strategy doesn’t matter … your clients know you’re good.
Reality: They might know you’re good, but maybe your approach isn’t what the Government wants or needs. Learn more…

Myth: CEOs should delegate strategic plan implementation.
Reality: CEOs are ESSENTIAL to a successful strategy implementation. Learn more…

Myth: Small companies don’t need strategy.
Reality: Every journey requires a map. Think of your business strategy as a map leading to Revenue Growth. Learn more…

Myth: FedBizOps is a great resource for finding opportunities.
Reality: FedBizOps gives information about RFIs and published RFPs/RFIs/RFQs, but it is a Government Compliance Tool and not a Business Development Tool. Learn more…

Myth: The SOW is the most important part of an RFP.
Reality: Sections L and M are far more important. It won’t matter if you CAN do the work if you can’t WIN the contract. Learn more..

Myth: Quality, cost, and schedule are more important than responsiveness.
Reality: You can recover from cost, schedule, and performance issues, but never from being unresponsive. Learn more…

Myth: As CEO, I don’t need to visit my Government client.
Reality: The CEO is the Company’s most important sales person by default. Learn more…

Myth: Marketing to the Government is the same as marketing to the commercial sector.
Reality: The Government buys for entirely different reasons, and in an entirely different way, than the commercial sector. Learn more…

Myth: I’m a GSA contractor, so I’ll get work.
Reality: A GSA Schedule is like a hunting license – it’s worthless if you’re not out in the woods. Learn more…

Myth: I know what the Government wants better than they do.
Reality: This is a fatal mind-set if you want to work in the Federal arena: the Government knows exactly what it wants. Learn more…

Myth: My Client’s objectives aren’t important.
Reality: Your Client’s objectives ARE your objectives. Learn more…