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Three Keys for the Day of Your Oral Presentation

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The Federal Government continues to explore ways to garner bidder information beyond from the traditional written proposal. A popular approach is to have the offerors provide an oral presentation to Government evaluators. These can take many different forms, from a traditional presentation to a rapid response scenario to a question and answer session. No matter what form the oral presentation takes, your team should spend weeks (preferably months) with an orals coach preparing and polishing the presentation. In addition, there are three tips your team needs to keep in mind when they step into the room on the day.

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Four Ways to Survive Remote Proposal Management

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The spread and concern over COVID-19 has dramatically altered every aspect of our lives. From the global cancellation of major sporting events to runs on meat and paper goods at the supermarket, there is no part of our daily lives that has been untouched by this pandemic. For many companies, the requirement for social distancing has introduced or increased the need for telework and remote collaboration across the organization.

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Four Keys to a Successful Proposal Kickoff

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A good proposal kickoff provides your team with the information and motivation to begin a winning effort. It sets up your team for success throughout the development cycle. A poor kickoff, on the other hand, delays content creation and results in more work later in the process. So how can you make sure your proposals start smoothly? Here are my four keys to ensuring your kickoff works.

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Three Tips to a Successful Stand-up

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There are several small components that are important for proposal success. To me, one of the most critical is the proposal stand-up. To have a successful bid, proposal leadership must have insight into how the bid is progressing and how the team is doing. Stand-ups are the best way to avoid being surprised during the bid process, inform executive leadership of progress, and build team morale. What do we need to have a successful standup? Here are my three key tips.

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Is There a Place for the War Room Any More?

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We live in an interconnected world. When I have to travel to support my clients, I take some small comfort in being able to FaceTime to say good night to my children. I regularly use text messaging and WhatsApp to communicate with consultants and clients across the country and around the world. I recently led a proposal effort where the team was able to collaboratively develop strategies and content from two different US time zones, the UK, central Europe, and the Middle East.

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Kevin Switaj to Speak at Two APMP Regional Events

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Kevin Switaj Speaking at Bid and Proposal Con 2017
Kevin Switaj delivering his Ignite! talk at the Bid and Proposal Conference 2017.

BZ Opportunity Management President and CEO, Kevin Switaj, has been picked to speak at two upcoming APMP regional conferences. Both presentations will build on Kevin’s “Lessons from the Mouse: Adding Creativity to the Proposal Lifecycle” presentation at the 2019 APMP Bid and Proposal Conference in Orlando, FL. These presentations provide additional tips and guidance on adding empathy to our proposals throughout the opportunity lifecycle. The conferences are listed below, with links for registration included:

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Preparing for STARS III: Five DOs and DON’Ts

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STARS III is a critical bid opportunity for any 8(a) certified small business. Missing out on a spot on this GSA vehicle can make the difference between explosive growth and struggling for opportunities. So, what do 8(a) firms need to do, and avoid, to successfully win a slot on the vehicle?

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Three Keys for a Successful USPTO BOSS RFI Submission

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The acquisition cycle for the next iteration of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) IT contract feels like it has gone on nearly as long as the 130-year construction of Antonio Gaudi’s Sagrada Família cathedral in Barcelona. Called the Business Oriented Software Solutions (BOSS) contract, its release has been impacted by a new administration and various internal staffing changes. However, BOSS is finally on the street. How can you best position yourself for this massive opportunity? This article articulates three key steps to submitting a successful RFI response.

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Adapt to Survive: Keeping Ahead of an Ever-Changing World

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It’s an age old business adage – if you don’t change with the times, you get left behind. In today’s interconnected global economy, it happens faster than ever. While in graduate school, I worked at Borders Books and Music, which fell victim to an inability to sense the trend of internet sales. Kodak initially developed digital photography but did not see it as viable and continued to be blinded by the profit of its traditional film business until it was too late.

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Be Confident: Three Tips to Project Strength in Your Oral Presentations

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It happens all too often to those on business reality television. It might be the bright lights, the star power across from them, or the gravity of the moment. But no matter the cause, the loss of confidence during a pitch has doomed many people on Dragons’ Den or Shark Tank.

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