What is the first rule of contracting?
Don't chase random opportunities—chase the right opportunities with a clear plan to win.
The first rule of contracting is: do not chase random opportunities—chase the right opportunities with a clear plan to win. Many new contractors burn out writing proposals for deals they never shaped, at agencies that do not know them, for work that stretches beyond their capabilities.
Instead, start with focus: target a few agencies, understand their missions, learn how they buy, and build relationships before the RFP drops. From there, every capture step and bid decision becomes intentional.
GovCon in a Box can help
Our tools help you target the right opportunities, understand buyer behavior, and build a capture pipeline that turns government contracting from confusing to repeatable.