The FAA will host the Annual National Small Business Procurement Opportunities Training Conference and Trade Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma beginning from June 28, 2010 – July 1, 2010. Note – Registration fees will increase after June 18, 2010.

The Annual FAA National Small Business Procurement Opportunities Training Conference and Trade Show will be held at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel.  The forum will provide small businesses knowledge on how to contract with the FAA, marketing strategies, and give important information on procurement opportunities such as NextGen, Systems Engineering 2020, Electronic FAA Accelerated and Simplified Tasks (eFAST), Information Technologies Support Services (ITSS), EnRoute Automation Modernization System (ERAM), EnRoute Technical & Administrative Support Services (ETAS), National Airspace System (NAS) Implementation Support Contract (NISC), Mentor-Protégé Program, power systems, terminal field operational support, engineering development services, safety and operations support, communications flight service and weather engineering, technology transfer, airport and aircraft safety R&D, quality standards,  research partnerships, operational support, security guard services (Federal Protective Service contracts consolidation), construction, airport modernization,  information technology support services, management services, technical support services, engineering services, facilities infrastructure and security services, environmental services, telecommunications services, major system and subsystem manufacturing, architectural and training services etc.

Workshop sessions will address technical program requirements and business issues as well as provide detailed procurement information that will help increase small business opportunities with the FAA. Small businesses will be encouraged to market their capabilities during the forums with large primes, FAA technical and procurement subject matter experts, and by participating in the Exhibit Hall Trade Show.

For more information including registration please see: https://faaco.faa.gov/?ref=9148

Contact: Fred Dendy; Phone Number: (202) 267-7454; E-Mail: fred.dendy@faa.gov

On Friday, June 11, 2010, the Social Security Administration will host it’s 3rd. Annual Small Business Procurement Conference.  The conference will be held at the Agency headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.  Conference participants will receive information on the agency acquisition objectives during oral presentations from internal and external subject matter experts.  Large businesses seeking to achieve supplier diversity with the small business community are encouraged to participate as exhibitors.  Small business advocacy groups will be available as exhibitors to share advice and counsel.  Acquisition professionals will be available to discuss further topics presented during the conference.  To learn more about the agenda, conference presenters, exhibitors and registration information go to www.fbcinc.com/ssa or call 240-841-2227.

The NAVSEA Contracts Directorate (NAVSEA 02) on behalf of Program Executive Office Submarines (PEO-SUB), Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404), will be hosting an Industry Day to discuss the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Weapon Capability (HAAWC) Program. The HAAWC Industry Day is scheduled to be held at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport, Newport, RI on 16 June 2010 from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm (local time). To initiate registration, email your name(s) and email address by 26 May 2010 at 4:30 PM EDT to james.c.ferguson1@navy.mil. For more information see the full announcement on FBO at:

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/NAVSEAHQ/N0002410R6350/listing.html

We are frequently asked:  Why do companies outsource their proposal support? There are many possible reasons why a company will outsource proposal support; the following are just a few.

The proposal effort requires someone with experience:

·     Managing a large team or RFP. Many times an internal proposal manager will have competing demands on his/her time. An outsourced proposal manager dedicated to a particular opportunity can provide the focus required to ensure problems do not occur.

·     Managing a diverse team of companies. For example – one client hired us to manage a large RFP that required them to partner with five other companies. None of the companies had managed such a large opportunity on their own and it was the first time they had worked together. By bringing us in – they had an independent manager to keep the effort on track. (more…)

Capture and Proposal Services – We provide effective and efficient comprehensive proposal services to domestic and international commercial firms, government contractors, and non-profit organizations. Services include capture and proposal strategy, management, analysis, writing, graphics, process development, and process implementation. Clients choose the level of support required from project based support to a fully outsourced proposal team, we provide just what is needed, when it is needed.

Privia Partner – As a SpringCM partner, we offer Privia and other SpringCM products as an authorized re-seller, provide technical and implementation support.

We are often asked how to best manage a proposal process. By proposal process, this is not just the actions that take place once a RFP is issued. The proposal process begins long before that activity. For best practices in proposal management, the proposal process needs to begin before the market research phase begins. Saving the discussion of what the proposal process is for another posting, this article addresses some tools that are helpful in the full life cycle management. (more…)

Federal business is about who you know and what you know. If you are just starting to look at GSA related opportunities, the GSA website (www.gsa.gov/sbu) is a great place to start. Understanding how GSA can provide a mechanism to grow your federal contracting business is important. Getting on the GSA schedule is not the end-all; it is actually the beginning. (more…)

Preparing government proposals can be stressful. It involves numerous processes, many people in various stages of those processes, and a relatively short timeline for delivery.  With proper planning and attention to all five phases of the government procurement cycle, the proposal process can flow smoothly and have positive results.  Attentive participation in the following five phases will lead to a successful proposal process. (more…)

In  the summer of 2008, while still part of Zephyr Strategy, we announced a partnership with SpringCM. Currently, Comprehensive Proposal Services provides value-added services to the Privia product such as implementation, process development, strategy, and technical support. These services are integrated with our proposal development support services – as needed by our clients. (more…)

Strategy, planning, process and execution are the critical elements in the world of international, national and local government proposals. Whether you are a small or large company, if you plan to respond to government opportunities, your success will be enhanced by developed and proven processes. This is the first of three articles which will provide an overview of what to expect in the typical government proposal process and how your company can best position itself to respond with a compliant proposal using an effective process. (more…)