Government Contracting Blog

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are a crucial part of business development as a government contractor, but they are not an easy task. There’s a lot that goes into an RFP response, from the early market research stages, to deciphering the sections, and leading an in-depth review so your team can submit a successful response. Not only do you have to read, draft, and submit a winning response, but learn all the terminology that goes along with it.

With a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), you can access a wide network of federal, state, and local agencies looking to procure products and services. One misconception contractors have, however, is they can sit back and watch the orders roll in the minute their contract is awarded. This isn't true for the commercial world, and generally isn't true for the public sector either. While you are part of a unique pool of contractors, you still have to compete with other companies for business, and be proactive about advertising your solutions to government agencies.

OASIS+, or One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services +, recently wrapped up the final Phase I contract awards and released the first batch of Phase II contract awards. Phase II began on January 12, 2026, and is still in early stages of rolling admissions. As many offerors discovered in Phase I, the contract proposal process is not easy. This article will tackle one of the most important, and often confusing, components of that proposal process: selecting a Qualifying Project (QP).

Past performance is one of the most important evaluation factors in government contracting because it gives agencies insight into how likely a contractor is to successfully perform the work being solicited. While the technical volume of a proposal response explains what your company plans to do, past performance shows what you’ve already done. The clearer you make that connection, the easier it is for reviewers to see how your experience directly connects to the government’s requirement and reduces the perceived risk of award.

While searching for a contracting opportunity, you may have glossed over opportunities that are marked as Sources Sought Notices (SSNs). Maybe it's because it's not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and may seem like it's not worth your time because it doesn't directly end in contract award, but we suggest you reconsider. Sources Sought Notices play a key role in federal procurement process and can increase your odds of winning the opportunity.

One of the most essential parts of maintaining your GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract is ensuring your pricing is up to date. GSA contracts can last for up to 20 years, so it’s likely that your commercial rates will increase during the life of your contract.