307: After 32 Years as a CONTRACTING OFFICER, Here’s Why Most Small Businesses LOSE with Shelley Hall
Release Date: 12/24/2025
Why YOUR Proposal LOST! (And It Wasn’t the Price)
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Zach Golden breaks down one of the most painful losses contractors can experience—a technical loss. Using a real $29M janitorial proposal as a case study, Zach explains how proposals fail not because of price, but because they miss small, easily overlooked requirements buried in the scope. He walks through how a single missing detail—documentation of staff training—prevented pricing from even being evaluated, despite weeks of preparation. This episode dives deep into the difference between checklist-style responses and truly tailored...
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309: The BRUTAL TRUTH About Teaming, Lawsuits, and Survival in GovCon with RJ Blake
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode, Eric Coffie sits down with RJ Blake, Founder & CEO of Blake Wilson Group, for a real conversation about what it actually takes to build a GovCon business—from the first dollar of revenue to growing into prime contracts. RJ shares how his early “arena mindset” (trying, failing, refining) shaped his entrepreneurial journey, why most founders get stuck in analysis paralysis, and how he built revenue early by solving a painful problem for large primes: hard-to-fill talent with clearances and deep domain expertise. They also get honest about the realities nobody...
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Why GENERIC Proposals Quietly Kill Your CHANCES
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Eric Coffie breaks down why technically correct proposals still lose when they ignore mission context and agency culture. He explains how over-engineering proposals, relying on generic buzzwords, or treating mission-driven environments like standard corporate facilities can quietly disqualify otherwise strong bids. Using real examples, Eric shows how understanding dignity, sequencing, staffing continuity, and unspoken expectations—especially around high-visibility moments like Memorial Day—creates powerful differentiators that evaluators...
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INSIDE the Federal Help Center: How Members Actually WIN Contracts
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Eric Coffie breaks down how contractors can leverage the Federal Help Center community to access opportunities, education, and strategic connections—without relying heavily on cold outreach. He explains the difference between Starter and Pro memberships, how webinars and trainings are structured, and why many successful contractors grow through referrals, partnerships, and relationship-based deal flow. The conversation also highlights how to reverse-engineer opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels by identifying incumbents,...
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The FASTEST Way to LOSE a Government Contract After You Win It
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Eric Coffie breaks down one of the most dangerous mistakes contractors make when bidding on government work: overpromising what they can’t realistically deliver. From unrealistic response times and staffing promises to inflated delivery schedules and “state-of-the-art” claims that don’t yet exist, Eric explains how desperation to win can quietly sabotage performance after award. He also unpacks how this behavior raises red flags for evaluators—especially in Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements—where honesty and...
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This ONE Proposal Habit Is QUIETLY DISQUALIFYING You!
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Eric Coffie breaks down one of the most common—and costly—mistakes contractors make in proposals: restating requirements instead of demonstrating understanding. Eric explains why copy-and-paste language fails evaluators and how winning proposals clearly show why requirements matter, how work will be executed, and what impact it has on the agency’s mission. Using real examples from a winning proposal, Eric walks through how to turn a PWS into operational reality—showing evaluators that you understand sequencing, mission sensitivity,...
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308: From 90% Revenue LOSS to 2 Prime WINS: The Relationship Strategy That Worked For Christine Hopkins
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode, Eric Coffie sits down with Christine Hopkins, the CEO behind ASCII Federal Services, a 4PL (fourth-party logistics) company that manages end-to-end supply chain—from procurement and tracking to warehousing, inventory optimization, deliveries, and disposal. Christine shares how an existential crisis during COVID wiped out nearly 90% of revenue, forcing a bold pivot into federal contracting through restructuring ownership, becoming a Woman-Owned Small Business, and leveraging commercial past performance to compete. She walks through her methodical approach: getting...
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The Quiet Tools Smart Contractors Use to Uncover Locked Doors
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Randie Ward pulls back the curtain on one of the most frustrating barriers in GovCon: finding the right person to talk to. From leveraging tools like ZoomInfo and federal data sources to dissecting agency budgets and understanding why program managers are intentionally harder to find, this episode shows how winning contractors turn research into access. Eric also explains why relationship-building isn’t about one email or one call—it’s about consistent, informed follow-ups that position you as prepared, professional, and serious long...
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Why Program Managers Don’t Respond—And What to Do Anyway
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Randie Ward breaks down one of the most overlooked but powerful strategies in government contracting: using industry day materials to identify and connect with real decision-makers before opportunities hit the street. Randie explains how experienced contractors mine industry day PDFs for program managers, division chiefs, and project leads—and how those early relationships create warm introductions, credibility, and access that most small businesses never get. This episode reinforces a critical mindset shift: relationships are built...
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Why “Just Submitting the Bid” Is a Losing Government Contracting Strategy
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Randie Ward walks newer contractors through the unsexy but critical research process most small businesses skip—how to identify the real decision makers behind a federal requirement. From tracking solicitation numbers and awards in SAM.gov to using LinkedIn, forecast lists, and small business offices, Randie shows how winning contractors play investigator long before submitting a bid. The episode reinforces a hard truth in GovCon: if you don’t know who the customer is, you’re not competing—you’re guessing. Key Takeaways The...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Govcon Giants Podcast, Eric Coffie sits down with Shelley Hall, a former warranted contracting officer with 32 years inside the federal government and now VP of Client Services at Skyway Acquisition Solutions. Shelly shares a rare behind-the-desk perspective—from her time supporting Air Force and Space Force missions to helping contractors navigate today’s chaotic procurement landscape. She explains why not all agencies shut down, where opportunities still exist, and why contractors who stay flexible and informed continue to win—even when others panic.
The conversation goes deep into real contractor mistakes that quietly kill opportunities: overestimating capabilities, chasing everything instead of focusing, abusing NAICS codes, and misunderstanding how FAR rules actually apply across agencies. Shelly also breaks down how small businesses can influence outcomes before the RFP drops—through market research, RFIs, and smart engagement with small business liaisons. Her message is clear: success in GovCon isn’t about bidding harder—it’s about showing up earlier, sharper, and more strategically.
Key Takeaways
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Stay in your lane: Overstretching capabilities is one of the fastest ways to lose credibility with contracting officers.
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NAICS overload is a red flag: Too many NAICS codes signals confusion, not versatility.
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Market research wins contracts: RFIs and early engagement shape requirements long before proposals are due.
If you want to learn more about the community and to join the webinars go to: https://federalhelpcenter.com/
Website: https://govcongiants.org/
Connect with Encore Funding: https://www.encore-funding.com/
Shelley's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/