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Firm-Fixed-Price Becomes the Default: What the New Executive Order Means for Your Pricing Strategy
On April 30, 2026, the White House issued a sweeping new directive—Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting—that is poised to significantly reshape how federal contractors approach pricing, risk, and delivery. At its core, the Executive Order (EO) establishes firm-fixed-price (FFP) contracting as the government’s preferred default, signaling a decisive shift away from cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials structures. This is not just a
May 5
The Color Review Reality Check: Are You Helping—or Hurting Your Proposal?
Have you ever tried to scrub out a stain so aggressively that you ended up making a hole? That’s exactly what can happen to your proposal when color reviews are overused or misused. What is meant to strengthen your submission can ultimately weaken it, reducing quality, slowing progress, and frustrating your team. Color reviews are powerful but only when done right. Common Color Review Faux Pas Even experienced proposal teams fall into these traps: 1. Too Many Reviews, Not Eno
Apr 16
Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs: Teaching Proposal Management at VIP AEROSPACE 2026
Last week, Marina Goren, President/CEO of Smart BD Consulting, had the privilege of serving as an instructor for the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) AEROSPACE 2026 program—an intensive three-day training designed to help veteran-owned small businesses grow and succeed in the federal marketplace. The VIP AEROSPACE program brings together veteran entrepreneurs from across the country for hands-on training and expert-led sessions focused on critical areas of business gr
Mar 11
Missed Our OASIS+ Phase II Webinar? Watch the Recording On Demand
GSA has finally released the long awaited final Phase II RFP amendments for OASIS+, formally adding 5 new contract domains and opening on ramp for all of the Phase I domains . To help firms understand what this means, and how to take advantage of it, Marina Goren, Pesident/CEO of Smart BD Consulting, partnered with GrowthLab in hosting a free, live webinar on Friday, January 16, focused specifically on what OASIS+ looks like for marketing communications agencies. A follow on
Jan 16
100% Win Rate: Our Clients Secure MDA SHIELD Contract Awards
We are proud to announce that every client we supported in the MDA SHIELD procurement successfully secured a spot on the contract. Our tailored approach, attention to detail, emphasis on compliance, and hands-on proposal support once again translated into measurable results for our clients. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) is a major, multi-billion dollar contract vehicle for the MDA to rapidly acquire technologies
Jan 1
Blog
Scribble Talk Episode 22, Featuring Marina Goren
Tune in to Ashley Kayes and Baskar Sundaram as they rapid fire questions at Marina Goren on the topics of capture, proposals, entrepreneurship and … Disney characters. Listening to this episode, you can find out the story behind the name “Smart BD Consulting” and Ms. Goren’s 5-year strategic plan (or the lack thereof). During the podcast, Ms. Goren describes her journey with the Association Of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) and how it got started. She reveals thr
May 8, 2020
A Glass-Half-Full Reflection During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We are all living today’s new norm and having a tough time with it. Doing so, we have a choice – seeing the glass half full or half empty. I choose to see it half full. For every “Feature” of today’s world… I developed a “Benefit”. As a result, here are my personal Features and Benefits of living through a COVID-19 pandemic. What are yours? Let’s focus on the good things that are happening and this too shall pass, we will emerge stronger, healthier, tougher and better as hu
Apr 7, 2020
One Large Win for Smart BD and Our Client Axiom Space, One Giant Leap for Space Exploration!
Smart BD Consulting has never been more excited to announce another major client win! Congratulations to Axiom Space for winning access to a docking port on the International Space Station (ISS) for the purposes of building first US commercial space station module. This is truly a history-making victory and Smart BD is very proud to have been a part of the proposal team! https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-axiom-space-to-build-commercial-space-station-module/ “I truly apprecia
Jan 29, 2020
The Future of Proposal Development – Building the Next Generation of Proposal Writers
The need for higher quality proposals has never been more urgent. Federal Contractors are now realizing that to survive in tomorrow’s procurement environment, full of changes, complexities and ambiguities, they need different proposal approaches and techniques from those that helped them succeed in the past. But more importantly, they need new solutions, new proposal ideas, infused by new talent. Our experience has shown that the best proposals are developed by combining prop
Jan 24, 2020
Smart BD Consulting Assists ASRC Federal in Securing a Follow On $354M NASA PAAC V contract
Not too many contracts are won three times in a row, but PAAC is one of them. This is a true testament to the superb contract execution and performance, coupled with an exceptional proposal. Smart BD was honored and fortunate to be a part of this superb capture and proposal team! https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-program-analysis-and-control-v-contract “On behalf of the entire ASRC Federal team I would like to congratulate everyone on an outstanding PAAC re-compe
Dec 16, 2019
Marina Goren, President/CEO of Smart BD Consulting, to Speak at the 2019 APMP Mid-Atlantic Conference and Expo
Please consider joining us at the APMP-NCA Chapter’s annual flagship event—the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Conference and Expo (MAC). The annual MAC attracts hundreds of proposal and capture professionals from the National Capital Region and beyond. The event will take place at the Sheraton Tysons Hotel on October 17. If you have not done so yet, please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-apmp-nca-mid-atlantic-conference-and-expo-mac-tickets-65784993687 If you are coming to
Oct 17, 2019
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