https://proposalapp.net/blog Practical guidance on finding, bidding, and winning U.S. federal contracts. en-us Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:32:23 GMT https://proposalapp.net/blog/cas-gaap-conformance-rule-35-million-threshold-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/cas-gaap-conformance-rule-35-million-threshold-2026 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT A July 2026 final rule rescinds four Cost Accounting Standards effective August 7, and a separate NDAA provision raises the CAS applicability threshold from 2.5 million dollars to 35 million dollars. Neither change touches the small business CAS exemption directly, but both reshape the runway for companies about to outgrow it. https://proposalapp.net/blog/gsa-ai-safeguarding-clause-llm-comment-deadline-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/gsa-ai-safeguarding-clause-llm-comment-deadline-2026 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT GSA posted a revised AI safeguarding clause for large language model contracts on June 17, 2026, and public comments close August 3. If you sell, resell, integrate, or operate an LLM tool on a GSA vehicle, this clause is headed for your contract whether you have been tracking it or not. https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-part-16-fixed-price-justification-thresholds-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-part-16-fixed-price-justification-thresholds-2026 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT On July 1, 2026, the FAR Council quietly set dollar thresholds requiring agency head approval before a contracting officer can use anything other than a fixed-price contract. The first deadline lands July 15, 2026, and a second one reaches back into contracts you already hold. Here is what changed and what to check before Wednesday. https://proposalapp.net/blog/cmmc-phase-2-suspended-july-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/cmmc-phase-2-suspended-july-2026 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT On July 13, 2026, the Department of War suspended the CMMC Phase II requirement that would have forced third-party cybersecurity audits starting this November. It is a pause, not a repeal, and a 60 day review is now underway. Here is what changed, what has not, and what to do before the next contract modification lands. https://proposalapp.net/blog/connect-claude-to-proposalapp https://proposalapp.net/blog/connect-claude-to-proposalapp Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT ProposalApp is now available as a connector inside Claude. You can ask, in plain language, to find matching opportunities, check which contracts are coming up for recompete, kick off a proposal draft, score proposal, run risk analysis, generate questions for contracting officer, and request market intelligence report all without opening the dashboard. Here is what it does and how to turn it on. https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-overhaul-rulemaking-comment-deadline-july-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-overhaul-rulemaking-comment-deadline-july-2026 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul just became formal rulemaking, with four proposed rules covering 20 parts of the FAR open for public comment through July 23, 2026. A second deadline the next day affects contractors with active federal contracts. Here is what is in the rules and what to do before both dates pass. https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-fy25-scorecard-small-business-contracting-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-fy25-scorecard-small-business-contracting-2026 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT The SBA released the FY25 federal procurement scorecard last week, and the top-line number is striking: small businesses captured nearly 28 percent of all prime federal contract dollars, the highest share in over a decade. But the category-by-category breakdown tells a more complicated story that every small contractor needs to understand before writing another proposal. https://proposalapp.net/blog/project-schedule-wbs-teaming-plan-before-award https://proposalapp.net/blog/project-schedule-wbs-teaming-plan-before-award Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Most small contractors pour their effort into writing the proposal and skip the two things evaluators actually score for risk: a credible execution plan and an honest teaming strategy. Here is how ProposalApp's Project Schedule and WBS tools help you plan the award before you submit. https://proposalapp.net/blog/cmmc-level-2-c3pao-compliance-guide-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/cmmc-level-2-c3pao-compliance-guide-2026 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Effective November 10, 2026, self-assessment is no longer sufficient for contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information on DoD contracts. CMMC Level 2 certification through an accredited third-party assessment organization is now a hard requirement, and major prime contractors are already enforcing it through their supply chains. Here is what you need to know and exactly what to do. https://proposalapp.net/blog/other-transaction-authority-ota-guide-small-business https://proposalapp.net/blog/other-transaction-authority-ota-guide-small-business Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Other Transaction Authority agreements let federal agencies bypass the Federal Acquisition Regulation entirely, replacing hundreds of pages of compliance requirements with streamlined, flexible response formats. For small businesses and nontraditional contractors, OTA represents one of the most accessible entry points into federal contracting. Here is how it works and how to win. https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-8a-social-disadvantage-proposed-rule-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-8a-social-disadvantage-proposed-rule-2026 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT On June 11, 2026, the Small Business Administration issued a proposed rule that rewrites the social disadvantage eligibility standard for the 8(a) Business Development Program. The change is the most significant shift to the program in decades, and comments are due July 13. If you have a pending application or plan to apply, the clock is running. https://proposalapp.net/blog/work-breakdown-structure-guide-government-proposals https://proposalapp.net/blog/work-breakdown-structure-guide-government-proposals Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT A well-constructed Work Breakdown Structure is one of the most powerful tools in a government proposal. It demonstrates that your team understands the full scope of the contract, has a credible plan to deliver it, and knows how to track cost and schedule at every level. Here is everything small businesses need to know to build one that wins. https://proposalapp.net/blog/project-schedule-guide-government-proposals https://proposalapp.net/blog/project-schedule-guide-government-proposals Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT A credible project schedule is one of the most evaluated sections of a government proposal. Agencies use it to judge whether your team can realistically deliver the contract on time and within scope. Most small businesses underinvest in this section and pay for it in their evaluation scores. Here is how to build one that wins. https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-overhaul-fixed-price-eo-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/far-overhaul-fixed-price-eo-2026 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Federal Acquisition Regulation, the rulebook governing every federal purchase, is undergoing its most sweeping rewrite in over 40 years. Layered on top: a new executive order making fixed-price contracts the government-wide default. Both are in effect right now. Here is what changed and what you need to do. https://proposalapp.net/blog/gsa-schedule-guide-small-business https://proposalapp.net/blog/gsa-schedule-guide-small-business Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT The GSA Multiple Award Schedule is the federal government's premier contracting vehicle, with over $33 billion flowing through it annually. For small businesses, getting on Schedule is one of the highest-return investments in government contracting. Here is everything you need to know. https://proposalapp.net/blog/smart-moves-small-contractors https://proposalapp.net/blog/smart-moves-small-contractors Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Here are five habits that set winning small contractors apart. Not theory. Things small businesses do that put them ahead of companies twice their size. https://proposalapp.net/blog/no-past-performance-first-government-contract https://proposalapp.net/blog/no-past-performance-first-government-contract Sun, 03 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT No past performance, no contract. No contract, no past performance. It is the loop that stalls most new government contractors right after they get their UEI and CAGE code. Here is how to break through it and how asking the right questions before you bid changes everything. https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-gsa-govcon-news-april-2026 https://proposalapp.net/blog/sba-gsa-govcon-news-april-2026 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT SBA rolled out two new loan programs at the end of March that most contractors still have not heard about, and GSA opened the door for industry to shape one of the biggest payment programs in federal contracting. Here is the breakdown. https://proposalapp.net/blog/rfi-vs-rfp-government-contractors-guide https://proposalapp.net/blog/rfi-vs-rfp-government-contractors-guide Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, and Sources Sought Notices all show up in the same SAM.gov feed, but confusing them is one of the most common and costly mistakes in government contracting. Here is exactly what each document is, how the government uses it, and how to respond to each one well. https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-register-on-sam-gov https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-register-on-sam-gov Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT SAM.gov registration is the mandatory first step for any company that wants to do business with the U.S. federal government. This guide walks you through every field you will need to complete, including the common mistakes that delay approval. https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-write-a-government-proposal https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-write-a-government-proposal Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT Writing a government proposal that wins requires more than good writing. It demands structured compliance, strategic alignment with evaluation criteria, and a clear understanding of what government evaluators are looking for. https://proposalapp.net/blog/8a-certification-guide https://proposalapp.net/blog/8a-certification-guide Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program is one of the most powerful tools available to small, disadvantaged businesses in government contracting. A nine year term with access to sole source contracts and set aside pools can transform your company's revenue trajectory. https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-find-government-contracts https://proposalapp.net/blog/how-to-find-government-contracts Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT Finding government contracts is both an art and a science. SAM.gov is the official starting point, but the contractors who build the strongest pipelines use a combination of tools, relationships, and proactive market intelligence. https://proposalapp.net/blog/what-is-a-capability-statement https://proposalapp.net/blog/what-is-a-capability-statement Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT A capability statement is the business card of government contracting. In one to two pages, it communicates who you are, what you do, who you have done it for, and why the government should work with you. Here is how to write one that actually opens doors.