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  1. Training & Education

    Training & Education

    What We Do

    We provide modern learning and professional development that is both compelling and engaging, focusing on the most relevant and practical information federal and industry professionals need to perform their jobs effectively.

    We have built a trusted reputation for facilitating unique, comprehensive, federally-focused training programs, forums, and strategies for all stakeholders in the federal market, including congressional leadership, federal buyers, federal market suppliers, and advocacy groups.

    We have supported over 40 organizations, including federal agencies and Fortune 100 companies, in achieving their missions and objectives. Our services include customized training programs tailored for clients such as the GSA, NVSBC, Open Contracting Partnership, and the U.S. House Small Business Committee.

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    BD 360° ® Intensive Workshops

    Our in-person workshops feature instruction, discussions, and practical exercises across four key modules.

     

    Team Skills Development

    We design and develop customized training programs, including hands-on facilitation, workshops, and scenario-based exercises to reinforce learning and improve team performance.

     

    Strategic Corporate Offsite Facilitation

    We work with leadership teams to align organizational vision, strategy, and execution with structured discussions, actionable takeaways, and transparent decision-making.

     

    Coaching and Mentorship

    We provide personalized and dedicated support to help professionals succeed in the federal marketplace.

    How We Work

     

     

     

    Our team of experts is eager to share valuable insights, best practices, and lessons learned through engaging 30-minute micro-learning sessions or immersive multi-day corporate workshops.

    Beyond our standard offerings, we create, develop, and deliver customized training programs, packages, and curricula specifically designed to meet your organization’s unique needs.

    Federal stakeholders—including government and industry leaders—can request bespoke curricula that align perfectly with their strategic objectives, missions, and initiatives. These tailored sessions empower participants to gain in-depth expertise on specialized topics critical to their success and relevance in their roles.

     

     

     

     

    • Ongoing Engagement
    • Flexible Scope
    • Best For: Long-term support, advisory services, and strategy development.

    • Defined Scope and Outcome
    • Fixed Payment Structure
    • Best For: One-time projects, product development, and specific assessments.

     

     

     

     

    Watch Our Trainings

    Tech Forward Tactics in Federal Contracting

    Elevate your organization's presence and offerings in the federal contracting market with tech-forward strategies. Join us in this informative webisode as we unveil the power of forging strategic alliances with top-tier tech vendors.

    “As a student at VIP Start, I thank you wholeheartedly! You did a great job delivering the contracting content, the context, and maintaining our interest throughout the classes with your wit and experience . ”

    Joel Soelberg

    Managing Director at Duncan Stuart Todd, Ltd.

    “Thanks for sharing so much value; you really helped clear up the procurement process. Hope to see you present again.”

    Garret Biss

    Trainer NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals

    “Thank you for coming out and sharing your knowledge with such enthusiasm—I loved your energy! Your presentations are truly unforgettable, and your graphics were incredibly helpful. .”

    Peter Anderson

    Founder & CEO, Creative conquest LLC

  2. Federal Market Discovery

    Federal Market Discovery

    What We Do

    We empower clients to capitalize on opportunities in the federal marketplace while sharpening their go-to-market strategies.

    Using our BD 360° methodology, our team delivers actionable insights that help prioritize efforts, minimize blind spots, and position them for success.

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    Market Assessment

    We assess the total addressable market related to our client’s existing capabilities, capacities, and footprint.

     

    Horizon Scan Evaluation

    We identify emerging trends, potential threats, and valuable opportunities that could affect our client’s position in the federal marketplace.

     

    White Space Discovery

    We offer detailed insights on how our clients can grow or innovate their products, services, and business models.

     

    M&A Prospect Identification

    We evaluate potential targets to ensure they align with our client’s strategic goals and provide opportunities for synergy.

    How We Work

     

     

     

    Our team of experts is eager to share valuable insights, best practices, and lessons learned through engaging 30-minute micro-learning sessions or immersive multi-day corporate workshops.

    Beyond our standard offerings, we create, develop, and deliver customized training programs, packages, and curricula specifically designed to meet your organization’s unique needs.

    Federal stakeholders—including government and industry leaders—can request bespoke curricula that align perfectly with their strategic objectives, missions, and initiatives. These tailored sessions empower participants to gain in-depth expertise on specialized topics critical to their success and relevance in their roles.

     

     

     

     

    • Ongoing Engagement
    • Flexible Scope
    • Best For: Long-term support, advisory services, and strategy development.

    • Defined Scope and Outcome
    • Fixed Payment Structure
    • Best For: One-time projects, product development, and specific assessments.

     

     

     

     

    What We Think

  3. Business Development & Capture

    Business Development & Capture

    What We Do

    We assist our clients in identifying, pursuing, and winning federal contracts.

    By utilizing our BD 360° methodology, we apply intelligence-driven decision-making to enhance the effectiveness of bid and proposal personnel, processes, and tools.

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    Market Intelligence

    We offer our clients actionable insights into federal procurement trends, agency priorities, competitor positioning, and future opportunities.

     

    Opportunity Identification

    We provide targeted support to help our clients identify, track, and prioritize potential federal opportunities.

     

    Pipeline Development

    We collaborate with our clients to create a customized federal sales pipeline tailored to their capabilities, capacities, and infrastructure.

     

    Strategic Capture Assistance

    We partner with clients to craft and execute feasible strategies for pursuing federal contracts.

     

    Proposal Readiness Assessment

    We evaluate our client’s readiness to develop and submit a competitive federal proposal.

     

    Opportunity Capture Guidance and Plan Creation

    We provide a structured and actionable approach to pursuing a federal contract opportunity.

     

    Federal Buyer Identification and Engagement 

    We assist our clients in identifying the right government buyers, decision-makers, and influencers for their offerings.

     

    Competitive Intelligence, Research and Analysis

    We offer data-driven insights on federal vendor competition to help our clients develop stronger capture strategies, mitigate risks, and enhance their competitive advantage.

     

    Sales and Marketing Asset Critique

    We evaluate and analyze our clients’ sales, market strategies, and assets to strengthen their position in the competitive federal marketplace.

    How We Work

     

     

     

    Our team of experts is eager to share valuable insights, best practices, and lessons learned through engaging 30-minute micro-learning sessions or immersive multi-day corporate workshops.

    Beyond our standard offerings, we create, develop, and deliver customized training programs, packages, and curricula specifically designed to meet your organization’s unique needs.

    Federal stakeholders—including government and industry leaders—can request bespoke curricula that align perfectly with their strategic objectives, missions, and initiatives. These tailored sessions empower participants to gain in-depth expertise on specialized topics critical to their success and relevance in their roles.

     

     

     

     

    • Ongoing Engagement
    • Flexible Scope
    • Best For: Long-term support, advisory services, and strategy development.

    • Defined Scope and Outcome
    • Fixed Payment Structure
    • Best For: One-time projects, product development, and specific assessments.

     

     

     

     

    OCI Policy

    Our OCI Policy is straightforward: one solicitation number corresponds to one client.

    We adhere to strict OCI guidelines when supporting each federal proposal. This means we commit solely to that specific effort once we have an active agreement with a client for federal proposal management or development support in response to an active federal requirement associated with a solicitation number.

    What We Think

  4. Advisory & Assistance

    Advisory & Assistance

    What We Do

    We provide dedicated consultation and support for federal contracting businesses. Our team works directly with our clients to develop and implement strategies to strengthen their position in the federal contracting market.

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    Pipeline Management and Sustainment

    We assist our clients in managing and optimizing the entire federal pipeline sales process, from lead generation and qualification to capture and pursuit.

     

     

    Growth Strategy Evaluation

    We evaluate, refine, and align our client’s federal growth plans with changing trends and capabilities.

     

     

    Bid and Proposal Optimization

    We enhance the quality and competitiveness of our client’s bid and proposal processes, including infrastructure, procedures, personnel, and proposals.

     

     

    Order Response Preparedness Strategy

    We provide structured support to enhance our clients’ capacity and capability when preparing for and responding to rapid order requests, including streamlining decision-making processes and developing workflows.

     

     

    Product Development Advisement

    We assess workflow, software, and UI/UX design to ensure our clients’ products are optimized for strong performance in the federal market. Our extensive federal contracting experience helps us identify improvements aimed at enhancing usability and functionality.

     

     

    Market Positioning and Readiness Refinement

    We evaluate our clients’ positions, enhance their value propositions, and align their capabilities with market demand to boost visibility and credibility in the federal sector.

    What We Think

  5. Bid & Proposal Response

    Bid & Proposal Response

    What We Do

    We provide our clients comprehensive proposal support that spans from strategy development to desktop publishing.

    As a federal-compliant and agency-agnostic firm, our team leverages our deep industry insights and proven methodologies to drive impactful results from products and equipment to supply chain, disaster response, and emergency logistics to emerging technology and workforce transformation.

    Our team has worked on 300+ federal proposal efforts over the last decade in response to our 45+ federal agencies, offices, and departments, including Combatant Commands (CCMDs) and U.S. Military Forces. We partner closely with our clients to thrive in this highly disruptive market, enhancing their resilience and effectiveness in bid and proposal operations. Together, we transform challenges into opportunities for success.

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    Proposal Management

    We assist with every stage of the federal proposal process, from interpreting the solicitation to delivering the final submission.

     

    Technical Writing and Copy Edit Support

    We develop, construct, and enhance content that is clear, compliant, and responsive to solicitation instructions.

     

    Color Team Facilitation and Participation

    We assist organizations in refining and enhancing their federal proposal drafts through structured and collaborative review processes.

     

    Compliance Coordination and Management

    We offer services to ensure that federal proposals comply with all necessary requirements. This process includes reviewing and coordinating essential documentation, tracking compliance throughout the proposal lifecycle, and ensuring adherence to specific federal guidelines.

     

    Orals Coaching and Production Advisement

    We offer comprehensive support for oral presentations, including material development, presenter preparation, and logistics coordination.

     

    Graphics and Desktop Publishing Support

    We utilize graphic designers and conceptual artists skilled in creating graphics for federal proposals, translating concepts into engaging and compliant visuals.

     

    Win/Loss Assessment and Evaluation

    We examine past federal proposals to identify patterns, understand the reasons for their outcomes, and gain insights into federal customer preferences and competitive positioning.

    How We Work

     

     

     

    We provide a la carte proposal support and comprehensive assistance throughout the federal proposal lifecycle, including general oversight and proposal management. A la carte support is ideal for clients who seek intermittent additional help with an overall proposal effort. Examples of a la carte support include, but are not limited to:

    • Template development
    • Annotated outlines
    • Color team review and participation
    • Copyediting
    • Compliance review
    • Desktop publishing

     

     

     

    We have established a trusted reputation for supporting federal proposals across various federal acquisition pathways, including non-FAR-based contracts such as SBIRs, STTRs, OTs, R&D agreements, and grants.

     

    OCI Policy

    Our OCI Policy is straightforward: one solicitation number corresponds to one client.

    We adhere to strict OCI guidelines when supporting each federal proposal. This means we commit solely to that specific effort once we have an active agreement with a client for federal proposal management or development support in response to an active federal requirement associated with a solicitation number.

    What We Think