In This Week’s Newsletter:
- Proposal Perspectives: Drew Jaehnig – Sr. Capture Manager at Forrester Public Sector
- Culture Corner: APMP-NCA’s Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC)
- Opportunity Spotlight of the Week: Department of the Air Force Strategic Transformation Support II (DAFSTS II)
- AI Corner: Generative AI & Small Business Innovation
- Four To Follow: Get the lowdown on four interesting pursuits!
A Journey Of Success With Drew Jaehnig
In the intricate landscape of government acquisition, few have navigated the terrain as successfully as Drew Jaehnig, a senior Capture Manager at Forrester Research. He’s a seasoned leader with an extensive career spanning over 30 years across both public and private sectors.
From Navy to GovCon
He started out studying audio engineering in Toronto and then joined the US Navy where he put his good ear to use for sound modeling work in the Minesweeper community. During his tenure, he transitioned to the Joint Staff Support Center at the Pentagon where he provided secure communications and essential IT services to the Joint Staff members. He then spent 19 years at DISA, earned his master’s degree from the National War College, became a government acquisition expert, and retired as a GS-15. Drew now works on this side of the fence helping contractors win important work.
He believes success in our industry depends on “giving the government the best solution possible to use taxpayer’s money to solve the biggest problems of the world.” He sees GovCon as a kind of social program that’s “designed for the economic development of the community.” As a Navy man, he is still very much mission-focused.
A Leader’s Perspective
Perhaps due to his many years in government acquisition, he believes in having empathy for the other side. He urges contractors to keep in mind that training is uneven across the agencies and there is a new generation of Contracting Officers. He says that “on the other side of the fence are lots of labor gaps.”
Drew is also a servant leader and sees his role as an opportunity to give. He emphasizes that “You manage things, but you lead people.” and encourages more military service members to join the contracting industry. After all, they are the end users of the federal government customers, and describes them as “a gold mine of information.”
Interested in being a contributor to Proposal Perspectives? Contact us!
APMP-NCA’s Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC)
Be sure to save the date for the Mid-Atlantic Conference hosted by the National Capital Area (NCA) Chapter of APMP! Volunteers and speakers are working hard behind the scenes to pull off this awesome event. If you’d like to help with this year’s conference, send an email to kevin@apmpnca.org for more information. We can’t wait to see you there!
Department of the Air Force Strategic Transformation Support II (DAFSTS II)
Contact Len: len.miller@hinzconsulting.com
The final form of the estimated $5B US Air Force recompete is yet to be unveiled. The draft RFP documents, which were released for public comment in early June, have already sparked industry-wide discussions. A productive question and answer session was held on June 14th, providing a platform for industry experts to review and contribute to the final acquisition approach.
The deadline for submitting final comments and questions was June 17th, and the industry has been buzzing with speculation ever since. The countdown has begun, and it’s predicted that the final RFP could be launched as early as mid to late August 2024.
This is a golden opportunity to compete for this massive $5B Agency MA/IDIQ vehicle recompete. Don’t miss out! Reach out to Hinz Consulting today for expert proposal support and give your business the competitive edge it deserves!
Generative AI & Small Business Innovation
Contact Josh: josh.thiel@hinzconsulting.com
Generative AI can be quite useful for writing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals. Here are some ways it can help:
- Brainstorming and Idea Generation: Generative AI can assist in brainstorming innovative ideas and refining them to align with SBIR requirements.
- Drafting and Structuring: It can help draft sections of the proposal, ensuring that the content is well-organized and coherent.
- Editing and Proofreading: AI tools can assist in editing and proofreading to enhance clarity, grammar, and overall quality.
- Research Assistance: Generative AI can quickly gather and summarize relevant research, saving time and effort.
- Compliance Checks: It can help ensure that the proposal meets all necessary guidelines and requirements.
However, it’s important to use these tools ethically and maintain your authentic voice in the proposal. Would you like to know more about any specific aspect of using Generative AI for SBIRs? If so, contact us below.
Four to Follow:
- GSA ALLIANT 3: An amendment was issued on 10 July to correct some issues with a few of the Attachments. Remember, questions are due NLT 4 pm ET on 26 July. GSA intends to issue a pre-recorded Pre-Proposal Conference after the questions have all been received, but they have not yet committed to a specific date. Q&A is expected to be released on/about 23 August. Proposals are currently due NLT 28 October via the Symphony proposal submission portal.
- Administrative Support Services for the Army Research Lab (ARL):The Army has a continuing requirement for support services at the ARL for this recompete of the current 5 contracts on this estimated $49.9M 8(a) Set-aside, IDIQ vehicle. This acquisition is expected to have a solicitation released later this summer, possibly mid/late August or early September.
- Advisory and Assistance Services Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office Operations Support Directorate (CWMD A&AS OSD):This single award Task/Delivery Order contract currently held by Logistics Management Institute is in its 4th/final option period which is scheduled to expire on 25 September 2025. The RFP for this estimated $70M recompete is expected to be released in the spring of 2025, possibly March 2025.
- DHS OCIO Architecture, Development, and Platform Technical Services (ADaPTS 2.0):The last Sources Sought Notice was released on 18 June stating that future modifications would be posted on GSA eBuy. The RFP was estimated to be released by 1 October for this $250M BPA. Watch your eBuy accounts/postings closely!
About Hinz Consulting
Hinz Consulting provides services across the full business development cycle:
- Proposal Consulting
- AI Services
- Strategic Pricing
- Training
- Capture
- Competitive Intelligence
- BD Transformation Consulting
- Process/Methodology Consulting
- Tools and Templates
- Production Services
- Small Business
