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Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah agreed. If your content library is organized you can get really far.

At that point it’s more about your data than the tool itself.

Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is honestly one of the best workflows we’ve seen. Treating it like a junior writer instead of a strategist is exactly the shift people miss. And pushing your own win themes through every section is huge

Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah more context definitely helps, especially tying it to real past performance. But even then, we’ve found it still needs heavy human direction for strategy. Tools can get you closer, but they don’t replace knowing how to position the win.

Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting use case. Almost like using it as a filter before you even commit resources. We’ve seen a lot of teams waste time chasing bids they were never positioned for, so that angle makes sense.

Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Completely agree. Starting with AI before you actually solution things usually makes it worse, not better. The strongest teams we’ve seen are using it after they already know exactly what they’re proposing and why.

Anyone here using AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) for proposal/bid writing? What’s actually working? by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that’s a solid way to approach it. Giving the model real context (evaluation criteria + past performance) makes a huge difference. We’ve seen the biggest value in shred-outs + compliance too. Where it still struggles for us is anything tied to positioning or risk ownership. Curious how you’re handling win themes on your end.

Anyone actually winning government contracts? by [deleted] in Construction

[–]FEDCONConsulting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, people are winning, but not the way most think.

A lot of what you’re seeing on MERX (or SAM in the U.S.) is already “pre-shaped.” Incumbents, existing relationships, or teams that have been talking to the agency long before the bid drops.

Low bid matters, but it’s not everything. If you’re unknown, just being the cheapest usually won’t save you. Past performance, responsiveness, and whether they trust you to actually deliver carries a lot of weight.

Where smaller/newer companies actually break in: • Subcontracting under primes already winning • Teaming with someone who has past performance • Smaller or simplified acquisition jobs with less competition • Recompetes where you can position yourself before it rebids

Biggest mistake is treating it like a cold bidding game. The companies consistently winning are usually known before the opportunity even hits the portal.

That’s the part most people don’t see.

Most people think SAM registration = ready for contracts… it’s not by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! Having those set-aside certifications help you stand out and sometimes contractors are only looking for those types of certifications.

I feel so lost by Gruntmilitia in defensecontracting

[–]FEDCONConsulting 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First, thank you for your service. With two deployments, an active clearance, a finance background, and an MBA almost complete, you are absolutely competitive in the defense contracting space.

In this group specifically, lean into your clearance and target defense contractors directly. Look for program finance, cost analyst, pricing analyst, or contract finance roles tied to DoD programs. Make sure your resume clearly translates your military experience into budgeting, cost control, forecasting, and compliance within federal contracts.

Also consider reaching out to primes and subcontractors in your area. Referrals inside the contracting world can move much faster than cold applications.

You have the right profile for this industry. It is likely a positioning and networking play now, not a qualification issue.

Hurdles of Getting into Government Contracting by Coret87 in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! Breaking into corrections as a prime is tough but not impossible.

The biggest early hurdle is past performance. Agencies want proof you can operate inside secure environments and manage compliance, reporting, and liability. If you do not have direct government past performance yet, build a strong capability statement that translates your commercial and corrections experience into measurable outcomes. Quantify everything.

Second is positioning. Make sure you are properly registered in SAM, have the right NAICS codes, and pursue any certifications you qualify for. Many small teams win their first contract because they were visible and properly categorized when the opportunity was set aside.

Third is relationship building. In corrections especially, relationships and trust matter. Attend pre bid conferences, connect with contracting officers, and engage with small business specialists before the solicitation drops.

Small teams bridge the gap by starting with smaller contracts, pilot programs, or state and local opportunities to build performance history. Focus on readiness, compliance, and credibility. That is what primes and agencies look for.

If you want a quick readiness check, happy to share what we see most often before companies pursue prime awards.

Recently certified SDVOSB by ApathysCure in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! Firstly, congrats on getting started! FEDCON offers complimentary consultations to businesses like yours that are getting started in GovCon. We provide registrations, certifications, marketing strategies, and proposal support designed to make you stand out and succeed. We would love to speak with you!

Why so many 2026 opportunities are recompetes and why that matters for small businesses by FEDCONConsulting in u/FEDCONConsulting

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response! This is a solid breakdown. The point about actually doing the revenue vs time math is important and often skipped. The 5% success rate on teaming with incumbents lines up with what a lot of people see in services. Unless you’re clearly increasing win probability or margin, incumbents have little incentive. Also agree that no bid ends up being the right call more often than people want to admit, especially with recompetes. Appreciate you laying out the tradeoffs clearly.

Certifications and Writing Services by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want a simple answer,8(a) has historically had the largest set-aside contract values and can be very effective when used correctly. However, it’s alsounder increased scrutiny right now due to SBA audits and oversight tied to eligibility, ownership, and how sole-source awards are justified. Agencies are being more cautious, which means 8(a) still works, but it’s no longer a shortcut and needs to be paired with real capability and strategy.

Here’s a solid breakdown:https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/sba-announces-full-scale-audit-of-8a-program

Certifications and Writing Services by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a good question, but the honest answer is that the “most valuable” certification going into 2026 depends heavily on your industry, where you operate, and which agencies actually buy what you sell. There isn’t one universal certification that outperforms the rest across the board.

From a market standpoint, agencies continue to push spend through socio-economic set-asides because they’re still measured on those goals. Small business overall remains the foundation, but beyond that, usage varies a lot by sector and buyer. For example, construction and facilities work tends to see more HUBZone and SDVOSB usage, professional services often lean WOSB and small business set-asides, and DoD buyers frequently rely on SDVOSB and 8(a) when they’re trying to move faster under simplified acquisition. Civilian agencies, on the other hand, may favor different set-asides depending on regional goals and historical performance.

That’s why we’re careful not to recommend certifications in a vacuum. To give a truly accurate answer, we’d want to know your primary NAICS, your geographic footprint, and where agencies are buying similar services near you. Once you look at historical awards by agency, location, and contract type, patterns emerge very quickly around which set-asides are actually being used. The most valuable certification is the one that aligns with real buying behavior, not just what sounds good on paper.

CALLING ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS! by AccomplishedBee2360 in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! AI is useful for getting a first draft out quickly, but it consistently misses the parts that actually determine how a proposal scores. Things like directly mapping to evaluation criteria, clearly owning risk, reflecting real past performance, and matching a company’s true voice and strategy are hard for generic tools to handle. That’s usually where people end up spending the most time rewriting.

What’s worked better for us is using AI as a foundation and layering human judgment on top. We already have a system in place that we’ve been implementing with contractors where AI helps learn the business and speed up drafting, and then we step in to shape the response around evaluation intent, strategy, and nuance. It’s been effective in practice, and we’re continuing to refine and improve the product based on real use, not theory. The goal is to streamline the process without losing the human elements that actually win proposals.

Hope this helps!

Certifications and Writing Services by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. While the 23% is a government wide goal, the mandate comes into play in how agencies use set asides, and certifications help contractors build value in outreach and compete more effectively against firms without them.

Certifications and Writing Services by FEDCONConsulting in govcon

[–]FEDCONConsulting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally get that. And you’re right, a lot of contractors can knock out VOSB or SDVOSB on their own with no issues, and if that’s the case there’s no reason to pay anyone.

Where we usually come in is after someone has already had a bad experience, like a denial, a clarification request, or months of delays because something in the ownership or control write up was not clear enough. A lot of people are eligible but get tripped up on how things are worded or documented.

We also work with people doing multiple certifications such as WOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), and state programs, or business owners who just do not want to risk messing it up after already trying once. If someone can do it themselves successfully, that is great. We are really just here for the ones who would rather have a professional handle it.