Proposal Writing
The California DBE Reapplication Window Is Open
What Previously Certified DBE Firms Need to Know (March 2026 Update) To recap, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) effective October 3, 2025, that changed how Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) eligibility is evaluated nationwide. The most significant change: Race‑ and sex‑based presumptions of disadvantage have…
Read MoreWhy Teaming Will Matter More Than Certifications in FY 2026
What the Federal Market Is Signaling to Small Businesses FY 2026 is forcing small businesses to rethink how they pursue work—because role selection now matters as much as eligibility. Small business success in contracting is being shaped less by eligibility and more by positioning. Agencies are awarding fewer contracts, consolidating work into larger vehicles, and…
Read MoreStop Selling “What You Do.” Start Selling What Public Agencies Buy.
This is not to imply you don’t sell what you offer, but that you define your offer to fit the agency’s needs. Public agencies don’t award contracts to the most ambitious businesses—they award contracts to the most clearly positioned ones. If your offer isn’t framed in procurement language, tied to agency needs, and easy for…
Read MoreBreaking Down the DOT’s New DBE FAQ (October 2025 Update)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released its official FAQ on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) Interim Final Rule. This guidance gives long-awaited answers — and softens some of the tough or unclear parts of the rule that took effect on October 3, 2025. Quick Recap of the IFR The new rule…
Read MoreHow to Make a Quick Bid/No Bid Decision
Public Agencies post Request for Proposals (RFP), Invitations to Bid (IFB) and the like daily. Although you may find your company is capable, a deeper review may prove the opportunity is still not a fit. A relatively quick review of the solicitation using the following tips should help you decide if you should proceed. This…
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