How Your Feedback Shapes Your Favorite Contracts

At the beginning of nearly every major contract is a familiar trio: market research, an acquisition plan, and a dream. A dream to build the next great governmentwide contract vehicle — something that will revolutionize how the Government buys services or technology.

A dream to build the next great governmentwide contract vehicle. One that will be smooth, agile, and universally adored by contracting officers and industry alike. It'll solve problems no one even knew they had. There will be dashboards, scorecards, webinars, and a myriad of other "great ideas."

I could spend hours diving into the complexities of building large-scale acquisition programs, but let's skip the textbook. Instead, I want to focus on one area that you can control — industry feedback.

Why Feedback Matters in Federal Acquisition

If you've ever pursued a major IDIQ or GWAC — OASIS+, SEWP, SHIELD, SeaPort-NxG, Polaris, Alliant — you know these programs come with massive ambitions and equally massive documentation.

Some aim to cultivate a tight-knit group of highly specialized teams (cue the flood of JV logos on LinkedIn). Others strive to lower the barrier of entry so that independent businesses can compete on their own merits.

But regardless of the goals, one truth holds:

These contracts are shaped by your feedback.

Yep. The government may not always move fast, but it does listen — especially when hundreds of companies point out the same confusing section or suggest a better way to structure evaluation criteria.

How the Government Gathers Industry Insight

Federal agencies have several tools to solicit feedback, including (but not limited to):

• Requests for Information (RFIs)
• Draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
• Industry Days
• Public comment forums

These tools are not just procedural checkboxes — they're how the Government tests its assumptions. They're used to gauge if:

• The qualifications they're asking for are realistic
• Their requirements make sense in the real world (not just on paper)
• They've interpreted new regulations correctly (spoiler: sometimes they haven't)
• Their small business goals are achievable — and not just "aspirational"

Real Impact: SEWP and OASIS+

You don't have to look far to see the influence of industry engagement. Take NASA SEWP VI — the program office answered over 4,600 questions in response to its Draft RFP. Similarly, GSA's OASIS+ received more than 4,500 questions before the final solicitation was released.

The result? Major shifts in structure, evaluation methodology, and proposal requirements between the draft and final RFPs — directly shaped by contractor feedback.

These back-and-forths are checks and balances that ensure the Government is on the right path before locking in requirements that will govern billion-dollar programs for years.

Where to Focus Your Feedback

We get it — Draft RFPs are long. Hundreds of pages. Multiple attachments. Appendices that reference other appendices.

But if you're short on time, start with the following core sections:

• Section C – Description/Specifications/Statement of Work
• Section L – Instructions to Offerors
• Section M – Evaluation Factors for Award
• Scorecard or Evaluation Attachments
• Performance Work Statement (PWS)

These are the sections that dictate what you'll propose, how you'll be scored, and whether you even stand a chance.

What's Happening Now?

If you've been following recent federal procurements, you may have noticed a few high-profile opportunities requesting feedback right now:

• GSA's OASIS+ issued an RFI on June 17th about potential new Domains
• The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently released a Draft RFP for SHIELD on July 25th

While the response dates for these have closed, if you plan to submit a proposal — or even if you're just exploring — don't sit on the sidelines. Read, digest, and respond.

Your questions don't need to be elaborate. Even basic feedback can raise red flags or spark adjustments that benefit the entire industry.

Final Thoughts: Speak Now or Suffer Later

Industry engagement isn't a formality. It's one of the most powerful tools you have to shape future contracts before the terms are set in stone.

If you wait until the final RFP drops, your chance to influence the outcome may be much more limited. But if you weigh in early — ask thoughtful questions, suggest better approaches, flag inconsistencies — you're not just helping yourself. You're helping shape a more fair, accessible, and successful acquisition for everyone involved.

So next time you see a draft RFP or an RFI that affects your space, don't stay quiet. Your feedback matters.

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