Start a consulting business in the federal contracting: https://govclose.com GovClose graduate Des Daniels shares how he went from running his own small government contracting business to landing high-ticket B2B clients and growing a consulting firm — while traveling the world.We talk about the challenges of selling to the government vs. selling B2B, how to win clients as a consultant, and why having a system (and community) is the key to success.Watch next:What is government contracting? https://youtu.be/NzM23bK3g8IRun a GovCon business from anywhere: https://youtu.be/9ssNjSwx8n0⏳ Chapters00:00 – Why Des joined GovClose despite already winning contracts01:00 – The cashflow struggle: loans vs. smarter revenue streams02:00 – Discovering the consulting business model in gov contracting03:00 – Verifying GovClose with past students before joining04:15 – First impressions of the program: flexibility and strategy05:30 – How the program combines federal contracting & B2B skills06:45 – Moving from training to actually closing clients09:00 – The B2B sales learning curve (and how it differs from B2G)10:15 – How Des landed his first $4k/month client11:45 – How much should you charge as a federal consulting advisor?13:15 – Learning from the War Room & GovClose community15:00 – Why the community is so powerful: diverse experts at your fingertips17:00 – Projected revenue goals: $250k+ in year one, $500k–$750k 5 years19:45 – Running a govcon consulting firm while traveling the world22:00 – The value of accountability and mentorship in growing faster25:15 – Setting up your business properly: banking, QuickBooks, VA support27:15 – How Des and his wife split responsibilities running the business28:30 – The sweet spot of what you like, what you’re good at, and what pays31:00 – Specializing in helping 8(a) and disadvantaged businesses succeed33:15 – Why most 8(a) businesses fail to leverage their certification34:15 – Where Des sees his consulting business heading next36:00 – How to contact Des and what to avoid askingJOIN the GovClose CommunityRING the bell 🔔 on my LinkedIn profile for real-world GovCon insights👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/Want to work with Des Daniels?Des's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desmond-daniels-deconsulting/Des's Website: https://www.degovcon.com/#govcon #governmentcontracts #smallbusiness #govclose #federalsales #consultingbusiness

Join me, Rick Howard (Lt Col, Ret.), as I break down everything you need to know about government contracts for small businesses, from what they are, how to find them, and the secrets to winning.

Learn how to leverage set-asides, certifications, and market research to position your business or career in this lucrative space.

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification In the GovClose Certification Program our students learn the government contracting skills to:Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.Land high-paying sales executive jobs with companies selling to the government.Chapters:00:00 What Are Small Business Government Contracts?01:00 What Does The Government Buy From Small Businesses?01:45 How Does The SBA Define a Small Business?03:00 What Are Set-Asides & How Do They Work?05:00 Types of Small Business Certifications Explained06:00 Government Goals for Small Business Contracts in FY2509:00 Why So Few Small Businesses Sell To The Government?12:00 How Much Money Do Small Businesses Really Make in Government Contracts?14:00 Why Most Businesses Fail at Government Contracting17:00 How To Find Government Contracts Before Everyone Else19:00 How To Use USAspending.gov To Research Opportunities25:00 Common Mistakes Businesses Make & How To Avoid Them29:00 How Competitive Are Small Business Contracts?33:15 Competitive Research: Analyzing Successful Small Businesses37:00 Who Are The Top Buyers of Small Business Services?44:00 Example: Waste Collection — A Surprising Opportunity49:00 The Opportunity & Decline in Competition in Gov Contracting50:45 How To Register Your Business in SAM.gov54:15 How To Find & Respond to Solicitations on SAM.gov59:00 Why You Should Engage During the Market Research Phase1:02:00 Responding to Sources Sought to Influence Contracts1:07:00 Building a Pipeline & Strategy for Long-Term Success1:08:30 Final Thoughts & How To Join GovCloseKeywords:#governmentcontracts #smallbusiness #smallbusinessgovcon #businesscertifications #set-asides #governmentcontract #samgov #governmentprocurement USAspending.gov guide, how to find government contracts, sources sought explained, SBA small business goals, winning government contracts, government contracting trainingJOIN the GovClose CommunityRING the bell 🔔 on my LinkedIn profile for real-world GovCon insights👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/#govclose #governmentcontracts #smallbusiness

In this episode, former U.S. Air Force acquisitions officer Rick Howard walks you through a powerful strategy for uncovering pre-solicitation government contract opportunities without ever using SAM.gov. If you're relying solely on SAM, you're already behind.

Rick dives into how to use Acquisition Forecasts, navigate agency procurement portals, and leverage industry days, attendee lists, and contracting office contacts to build a government sales pipeline that extends 3+ years into the future.

🔍 Learn how to:

• Access acquisition forecasts from DoD, DOE, VA, NASA, Army Corps of Engineers, and more

• Find and filter long-range procurement forecasts that few competitors are looking at

• Use attendee lists from industry events for teaming and subcontracting leads

• Identify Sole Source and 8(a) contract opportunities hidden in agency forecasts

• Understand how to reverse engineer an agency’s buying behavior

• Avoid mistakes like submitting blind proposals with no confirmation

Whether you're a consultant, small business, veteran entrepreneur, or federal sales executive, this training will show you where the real leads are hidden—long before RFPs drop.

Resources Mentioned:

• https://govclose.com

• Follow Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose

  
  

  #GovernmentContracting #GovCon #SAMgov #FederalSales #SmallBusinessGovCon #PublicSectorSales #ContractOpportunities #GovClose #AcquisitionForecasts #8aContracts #OTAs #DoDContracts #HowToSellToTheGovernment #GovContractingTraining #RickHoward #GovCloseCertification

We're answering all the questions people are asking about GSA.

We cover: GSA Advantage, GSA rates and GSA labor rates, e-library GSA, what is GSA?

We give you the history, talk about GSA schedules, and how to apply for the schedules.

Learn from GSA government officials that I have interviewed and what the GSA catalog looks like.

Learn how to shape deals, work directly with federal agencies, and master category-driven acquisition.👉 https://www.govclose.com

But GSA is often misunderstood.Is it a federal agency, or is it a series of contracts that companies need to sell to the government?

In this live session, we'll be covering what a GSA contract is.

Who is going to need one, and how this messy process works, especially in light of recent presidential executive orders.

Want more federal government contracting tips, news, and live sessions? Follow me on LinkedIn and hit the notification bell. https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose

#gsa #governmentcontracting #gsaadvantage #gsarate

Start a consulting business in the federal contracting: https://govclose.com GovClose graduate Des Daniels shares how he went from running his own small government contracting business to landing high-ticket B2B clients and growing a consulting firm — while traveling the world.We talk about the challenges of selling to the government vs. selling B2B, how to win clients as a consultant, and why having a system (and community) is the key to success.Watch next:What is government contracting? https://youtu.be/NzM23bK3g8IRun a GovCon business from anywhere: https://youtu.be/9ssNjSwx8n0⏳ Chapters00:00 – Why Des joined GovClose despite already winning contracts01:00 – The cashflow struggle: loans vs. smarter revenue streams02:00 – Discovering the consulting business model in gov contracting03:00 – Verifying GovClose with past students before joining04:15 – First impressions of the program: flexibility and strategy05:30 – How the program combines federal contracting & B2B skills06:45 – Moving from training to actually closing clients09:00 – The B2B sales learning curve (and how it differs from B2G)10:15 – How Des landed his first $4k/month client11:45 – How much should you charge as a federal consulting advisor?13:15 – Learning from the War Room & GovClose community15:00 – Why the community is so powerful: diverse experts at your fingertips17:00 – Projected revenue goals: $250k+ in year one, $500k–$750k 5 years19:45 – Running a govcon consulting firm while traveling the world22:00 – The value of accountability and mentorship in growing faster25:15 – Setting up your business properly: banking, QuickBooks, VA support27:15 – How Des and his wife split responsibilities running the business28:30 – The sweet spot of what you like, what you’re good at, and what pays31:00 – Specializing in helping 8(a) and disadvantaged businesses succeed33:15 – Why most 8(a) businesses fail to leverage their certification34:15 – Where Des sees his consulting business heading next36:00 – How to contact Des and what to avoid askingJOIN the GovClose CommunityRING the bell 🔔 on my LinkedIn profile for real-world GovCon insights👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/Want to work with Des Daniels?Des's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desmond-daniels-deconsulting/Des's Website: https://www.degovcon.com/#govcon #governmentcontracts #smallbusiness #govclose #federalsales #consultingbusiness

GSA just changed the game. On May 28th, a letter went out to major value-added resellers—and it wasn’t good news for the middlemen.

The government is moving toward direct deals with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and that means major changes are coming for federal sales.Train with UsLearn how to shape deals, work directly with federal agencies, and master category-driven acquisition.👉 https://www.govclose.comIn this video, I break down:⏱ Timestamps00:00 – GSA’s New Strategy: Middlemen Under Fire01:00 – What is a VAR (Value-Added Reseller) vs. a Pretender?02:30 – GSA’s Push for Direct OEM Relationships04:00 – The Irony: Is GSA the Biggest Middleman?05:00 – What GSA Is (and Isn’t) Doing with Centralized Procurement06:30 – Implications for Sales Executives, Consultants, and OEMs08:00 – What You Should Be Doing Right NowKey Takeaways:GSA wants to cap markups and increase pricing transparency.Resellers must redefine their value—or risk becoming obsolete.Pretenders and matchmaking models? They don’t belong here.Mission-critical buys? Likely still handled by DoD internally.Consultants who know how to shape deals early are in high demand.Subscribe to the GovCon Newsletter!I unpack these shifts and more every week in my GovClose newsletter on LinkedIn.🔗 Follow me and subscribe: www.linkedin.com/in/govcloseWatch NextInterview with GSA’s Kevin Kivlin – What GSA Is Really Planning: https://youtu.be/033sUCzGgq8#GSA #governmentcontracting2025

Want to know how real small businesses actually win government contracts?
In this live session, I’ll reverse engineer the exact moves one federal contractor made to break into the market—and how you can apply the same strategy.
We’re not just talking theory. You’ll see:
How to find and study real contract award data
The key actions that led to their first wins
What they did differently that made all the difference
If you’re serious about building a GovCon strategy that works, this is the blueprint you’ve been looking for.

Get My Free Training On How to start a GovCon Consulting Business: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification JOIN the GovClose Community RING the bell 🔔 on my LinkedIn profile for real-world GovCon insights 👉(https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/)WATCH NEXT:• How David Built a $4K/Month Gov Consulting Business in 60 Days https://youtu.be/VnHTXcb01Qw

• Federal Workers Sinning In Government Contracting: https://youtu.be/6ISSp26IyWs

• How to write a proposal: https://youtu.be/GbFFYPXKnm4#secdef#governmentcontracts

Establishing a #linkedin profile that builds credibility and trust in the government contracting community os essential!!

Former DoD Program Manager Rick Howard reveals his 3-step LinkedIn system used by 175+ GovClose students to build trust, attract federal buyers, and grow revenue—without spamming anyone.Learn more at: https://www.govclose.comFree Training & Certification Info:

https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification

Free Book: https://www.dodcontract.com/

⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Why Most LinkedIn Strategies Fail in GovCon

01:00 – 3 Revenue Paths: Contracting, Jobs, Consulting

02:00 – The Most Important Thing Government & Companies Check First

03:00 – The "Credibility Layer" – Fix This Before Outreach

06:00 – Your Banner, Profile Photo & 500+ Rule

08:00 – The Fatal Mistake That Kills Trust Instantly

10:00 – Your About Section: It’s Not About You

13:00 – Certifications, Education & Social Proof

14:00 – LinkedIn Recommendations That Actually Convert

18:00 – Influence: How to Make People Want to Respond

21:00 – The Most Important Line on Your Profile

24:00 – Positioning Yourself as an Expert (Even Without Past Performance

28:00 – Government Buyers Will Search You – Are You Discoverable?

30:00 – Outreach: How to Build Relationships BEFORE the RFP

36:00 – How to Post & Get Found for What You Actually Sell

37:00 – How to Get Hired, Get Clients, or Get Contracts With This Strategy

JOIN the GovClose Community RING the bell 🔔 on my LinkedIn profile for real-world GovCon insights 👉(https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/)

How to Win Government Contracts: Federal Sales Blueprint That Even a 10-Year-Old Can Master (My Kid Did!)"This is the blueprint for winning government contracts" - Former Air Force Lt Col Richard Howard breaks down the exact 4-step federal sales process he used to manage $82 BILLION in contracts. So simple, he taught his own 10-year-old (and his 6-year-old knows the secret too).Stop responding to RFPs blind. Learn to reverse engineer the process, influence opportunities BEFORE they go public, and build relationships that put you first in line when contracts drop.💰 $82B in managed contracts | 700+ CEOs trained | Former government procurement officer🔥 GET STARTED NOW:→ Free "Become A Government Contract Consultant" training : https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification→ Free Government Contracting Book: https://www.dodcontract.com/→ Subscribe for weekly GovCon strategies: https://www.youtube.com/@govclose/?sub_confirmation=1In the GovClose Certification Program our students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.2. Land high paying sales executive jobs with companies in the public sector.3. Increase government contracting revenue for companies selling to the US government.Schedule Your Onboarding Call Here: https://www.govclose.com/watch-sales-certification👇 COMMENT BELOW: Are you responding to RFPs blind or do you have a roadmap?🔄 SHARE this with someone still chasing "middleman money" (spoiler: it doesn't exist)💡 Which step surprised you most? Pipeline building or the "real work starts after winning"?Chapters:0:00 Government Contracting Explained to a 10-Year-Old0:33 What Is a Government Contract? (Basics)1:00 Prime vs Subcontractor Explained (Middleman Myth Busted)1:20 Why Listen: $82B in Federal Contracts & Real Credentials2:00 Federal Sales Roadmap (Step 1)2:35 Government Contract Research: Does Government Buy Your Product?3:05 Finding Government Buyers & Procurement Methods3:30 Using Competition Data for Competitive Advantage4:00 Building Your Government Contract Pipeline (Step 2)4:40 Why Companies Fail: Reactive vs Strategic Planning5:20 Tracking Federal Sales Process (8-20 Steps)5:45 Meeting Government Buyers Early (Step 3)6:20 Influencing Opportunities Before Public Release6:50 Execute Like a Pro: Don't Quit Midway (Step 4)7:30 Why You Win Government Contracts (Others Don't)8:00 Winning Is Just the Beginning8:30 Profit From Performance, Not Just Contract Awards8:50 Fast-Track Government Contracts (Secret World)9:10 Building Scalable Government Contracting BusinessWatch Next:How To Maximize Profit on Government Contracts: https://youtu.be/-TXxGKkQG6UMiddleman Money Exposed (Don't Make This Expensive Mistake): https://youtu.be/Nhtl0G0Pwbo📱 Connect With Me:LinkedIn: @GOVCLOSEYouTube: Hit that notification bell 🔔 for weekly GovCon strategies🏆 Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Winning?Join 700+ CEOs who've mastered this exact process

Before you spend another dollar on third-party GovCon tools, watch this.

SAM.gov has powerful built-in features that most people ignore—but they can completely change how you find and win federal contracts.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through 3 hidden features in SAM.gov that will:

• Automate your market research• Save your searches

• Send you real-time alerts

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification

Free Book Download: https://www.dodcontract.com/

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certification Free Book Download: https://www.dodcontract.com/