1 Quick Tip to Add to Your Competitive Toolbox

In the world of government contracting, the most informed bidders usually win. You probably already knew that.

But did you know that a company’s information becomes part of the federal record as soon as it wins a government contract? And thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), anyone has the right to request access to federal agency records.

That’s good news for you.

By submitting an FOIA request, you can see competitors’ old RFP responses, past contracts (including SOWs), technical and cost proposals, and more. That’s a goldmine of information to use when crafting your own proposals.

All you need to do is find out which federal agency has the records you’re seeking – look up the agency’s FOIA office on FOIA.gov – then check its website for instructions on submitting a request.

Once your request is submitted, the agency has 20 days to decide whether or not it will release the information to you. Depending on the type and amount of data you’re requesting, the agency could take months to deliver, so follow up if you don’t want to wait!

If you’re having trouble putting together your FOIA request, or just want to talk about how to improve your competitive analysis, feel free to reach out.