Nearly all federal proposal groups face a critical training problem:  Providing instruction that will increase win skills at an affordable cost . . . There are two primary issues:

  1. Getting proposal staff trained
  2. Getting the engineers, program managers, and subject matter experts (SMEs) trained

Following below are 9 ways to provide training that will help improve your bottom line:

  1. Have a proposal manager provide bite-size training sessions to help improve the win insight of subordinates and technical personnel.
  2. Let proposal management consultants coming onsite provide 3-hour just-in-time (JIT) training sessions to orient inexperienced personnel including engineers, program managers, and SMEs in the process.
  3. Send personnel for APMP certification training.
  4. Structure your career development path so that personnel are receiving on-the-job training (OJT) for the next higher position.
  5. Let your personnel attend classes available through consultant companies.
  6. Use “blended training,” reinforcing OJT with online classes and webinars.
  7. Send your personnel to classes offered at a university where there are many options available, at least in the national capital area.
  8. Require your personnel to read articles and books that address industry techniques.
  9. Invest in trade association dinners / lunches where the presenter will be speaking on topics that are educational for your personnel.

If you are in a position where your bonus or promotion is contingent on winning, the techniques mentioned above can pay golden dividends.