Your first government proposal (and even your fifth) can be intimidating. Not every Request for Proposal (RFP) is the same, and it can take a while to review every section and identify what you need to work on first, especially if the proposal is several pages long. Although various agencies may use different templates, most solicitations will characteristically incorporate the following sections, so if you can get a handle on the basic outline, you’ll begin to easily make sense of each proposal. Let’s demystify the different sections of an RFP so your next response goes smoothly.

The U.S. government and its federal agencies are known to be the some of the world's largest buyers of products and services. The federal government procures almost everything they need from both big and small commercial businesses. Since going after government contracts can be competitive, many small businesses worry they could lose out on potential opportunities because they think they can't compete against big industry giants. In some regards, their worries are partially accurate, most small businesses do not have the resources allowing them to compete against these ultra-wealthy big businesses and corporations.

As GSA Schedule consultants, we sometimes see companies spend a great chunk of time and effort on getting a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and then they don’t know what to do with it, leaving the contract to gather dust and cobwebs. This is unfortunate, because getting a GSA Schedule contract is a long and often difficult process, but it can be so rewarding in the end. Why waste the time to get a contract if you aren’t going to take advantage of it? GSA Schedule contractors have access to a whole new world of customers, resources and tools to expand their business.

One of the most unique and useful parts of being a GSA Schedule contractor is access to tools and resources that allow you to conduct extensive market research, find and bid on opportunities, and sell your products directly to government customers. For example, on GSA Advantage!, you can list and sell your products to government agencies just like vendors can do on Amazon with commercial customers.

Whether your business already has experience in the government marketplace, or you are new to the process and looking to learn more about marketing your GSA Schedule, you are in the right place. When you are on the hunt for contract opportunities, the federal market can come off as vast and confusing, and it’s important you have some sort of strategy or plan in place to focus your marketing efforts. This blog will help you narrow down your target customers and help you understand how you can filter for relevant opportunities, so you can increase success with your GSA Schedule.