How Not To Win A Government Contract

Imagine that we inhabit an opposite universe.

One where left is right, up is down, in is out, and good is bad.

Now suppose we wanted to

win a government contract in this strange

world.

To win a government contract there, we would have to lose.

How would you go about it?

Try these suggestions.

Perform no advance marketing or positioning whatsoever.

Demonstrate that you have absolutely no understanding of the mission.

In so many words, tell the Government that its requirements are all wrong.

Bid a program manager that is unknown to the

customer.

Use every inch of

white space on a page.

Submit your proposal late,

the government won’t care.

Why is it we so often seem hell-bent on doing what we know we should not do in this universe?

Do any of these strategies resonate with you?

Fortunately, we live in a universe where we don’t

have to lose to win.

The government contracting

world is your oyster.

Go get ‘em!

Special thanks to these photographers!

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Typewriter - http://www.flickr.com/photos/53332339@N00/15503065423 Information Overload - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7363465@N08/3925513417 Indecision Dice - http://www.flickr.com/photos/58598613@N00/1747917718 Valve - http://www.flickr.com/photos/58502617@N00/2246915060 Camouflage - http://www.flickr.com/photos/33342562@N02/5267332523 Organizational Chart - http://www.flickr.com/photos/49268158@N00/74151193 Low Prices - http://www.flickr.com/photos/87533340@N00/41916187 Caution - http://www.flickr.com/photos/90248652@N04/15686572212 On Strike - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7545991@N02/8141789116 Cookie Cutter - http://www.flickr.com/photos/118895729@N03/13210290693 Diversity - http://www.flickr.com/photos/49487266@N07/7585722018 Blame - http://www.flickr.com/photos/70405662@N00/1205496024 Wall Clock - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34067077@N00/481184609 Dollar General - http://www.flickr.com/photos/39160147@N03/15818434544 Files - http://www.flickr.com/photos/21093323@N02/8643961221 Hello My Name Is - http://www.flickr.com/photos/60141638@N06/8715304693 Do Not Enter - http://www.flickr.com/photos/58972032@N00/2398568451 Value City - http://www.flickr.com/photos/71978807@N03/11698293884 Jargon - http://www.flickr.com/photos/35034346962@N01/116377877 Hourglass - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7595174@N06/8541529818 Universe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/46221849@N06/4257993725 Question Mark - http://www.flickr.com/photos/76969036@N02/15297945882 Oysters - http://www.flickr.com/photos/44080391@N07/5778358466 Pearls - http://www.flickr.com/photos/21524179@N08/4883171998