02 Jan Be typed, double spaced

Strayer BUS505 Week 1 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 1 Discussion 1
“Winning New Business”Please respond to the following:

Analyze the list of common proposal mistakes discussed in Chapter 1 and determine which types of mistakes are probably the most commonly made. Explain your rationale. Then, discuss how you as a manager would work to ensure those who work with you are mindful of the common mistakes.
Review the 10 characteristics of winning bids listed in Figure 1-1 and propose at least one more that would further describe a winning bid. Explain your rationale.

Week 1 Discussion 2
“Anatomy of a Government RFP”Please respond to the following:

Analyze the elements of a RFP and determine which section is the most difficult to correctly complete. Explain your rationale. Recommend at least two tips or practices that can be employed to simplify the process.
Assume you have been hired by the federal government to redesign the RFP format that is referenced in Figure 2.1 in Chapter 2 of the textbook. Explain what changes you would make and why.
Strayer BUS505 Week 2 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 2 Discussion 1
“Federal Government Source Selection”Please respond to the following:

Assume you own a small company that makes widgets. Carefully review the federal government acquisition process and determine how you would best position yourself long before you place your first government bid. Discuss the benefits of your preparations.
Analyze the elements of both the technical evaluation and the past performance evaluation. Next, determine which is the most difficult to evaluate from the federal government perspective and how you (as a business owner) could make the evaluation process easier. Then, directly respond to the assessment of a fellow learner and evaluate his or her post (on-ground students will discuss the positions).

Week 2 Discussion 2
“Strategic Business Planning”Please respond to the following:

Assume you own a company that manufactures a specific product of your choice. Create a one-paragraph mission statement that addresses the what, who, how, and why of your company. Then, discuss how each component is addressed in your mission statement.
Based on the same company you described above, create a strategic business model that incorporates the four major elements of strategic business modeling discussed in Chapter 4 of the textbook.
Strayer BUS505 Week 3 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 3 Discussion 1
“Long Term Positioning”Please respond to the following:

Analyze the elements of collecting market information and determine which would provide the most valuable information to a company seeking business with the federal government. Explain your rationale.
Review the eight types of information the author recommends go into a bid proposal library, as discussed in Osborne’s “Long Term Positioning,” and recommend at least one additional type of information that could / should be included. Provide your rationale.
Review the various improper practices and conflicts discussed in Chapter 5, and make at least one recommendation for preventing them or stopping them before they become a significant issue. Explain your rationale.

Week 3 Discussion 2
“Sealed Bidding”Please respond to the following:

Describe the purpose, general requirements, and awarding of the contract in a sealed- bidding process. From the e-Activity, provide at least two examples where sealed bidding had a positive effect on the contract selection process.
Discuss two of the problems that might be encountered by an agency in producing a sealed bid, and how apparent and obvious mistakes can be addressed. From the e-Activity, provide at least two examples to support your response.
Strayer BUS505 Week 4 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 4 Discussion 1
“Pre-Proposal Phase Activities”Please respond to the following:

Evaluate the overall phase of pre-proposal activities based on the best practices identified in Chapter 7 and make at least one recommendation for improving the phase. Provide specific examples that illustrate how your recommendation would help.
Determine and discuss the worst possible mistake a proposal team could make during the pre-proposal phase. Explain your rationale. Identify a strategy that prevents this mistake.

Week 4 Discussion 2
“Bid Strategy”Please respond to the following:

Analyze customer assessments, program requirements, and competitive assessments, and determine which of the three would be the most difficult to collect information for and why. From the e-Activity, make at least one recommendation to address the difficulty you have identified.
Analyze the specific bid strategies section of the text and compare what the author says to what you discovered in the e-Activity.
Strayer BUS505 Week 5 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 5 Discussion 1
“Building and Organizing the Capture Team”Please respond to the following:

Analyze the roles and responsibilities of capture team members and determine which two roles could be combined into a single role. Explain your rationale.
Analyze the required qualifications of capture team leaders and determine which leadership role best suits you (where you would be the most successful). Explain your rationale.

Week 5 Discussion 2
“Contractor Qualifications”Please respond to the following:

Assume you were preparing to be a contractor. Identify what you would begin to work on first to sure up your qualifications. As part of this process, analyze the three types of materials used to assess contractor qualifications and determine which types would yield the most viable information. Explain your rationale.
Develop a one-paragraph scenario that exemplifies behavior discerning debarment or suspension. Provide specific examples to support your reasoning. Discuss the necessity of such communications.
Strayer BUS505 Week 6 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 6 Discussion 1
“Analyzing Customer Requirements”Please respond to the following:

Based on the e-Activity, describe how you could leverage the ambiguous language you found in the RFP. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Analyze each of the key proposal preparation documents discussed in Osborne’s “Developing a Proposal Preparation Plan” and recommend at least one additional document that would help you analyze customer requirements.
Week 6 Discussion 2
“Developing a Proposal Plan”Please respond to the following:

The author states that a proposal outline that deviates from the order of instructions in Section L will almost guarantee a losing proposal. Discuss possible strategies for not following the instructions in Section L that might still result in winning the proposal.
Analyze the contents and intent of the author guide outlined in Chapter 10 of the textbook. Determine the section with which you believe most proposal teams would have the most difficulty. Explain your rationale.
Strayer BUS505 Week 7 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 7 Discussion 1
“Preparing the Winning Cost Volume”Please respond to the following:

Evaluate the list of common cost proposal mistakes described in Chapter 14 of the textbook. Select three from the list and determine the most likely cause of each mistake. Suggest a recommended action that either the federal government or the offerer could take to avoid the mistake in the future.
Determine which of the following would be more difficult to execute correctly across the greatest number of projects: preparing cost estimates or preparing the cost volume. Explain your rationale.

Week 7 Discussion 2
“Types of Contracts”Please respond to the following:

From the e-Activity, identify a contract offering that you believe is beneficial to the government. Describe the type of contract based on what is described in Chapter 16 of the textbook and explain why you believe the government has benefitted from the contract.
From the e-Activity, identify a contract offering that you believe is beneficial to the offerer. Describe the type of contract based on what is described in Chapter 16 of the textbook and explain why you believe the offerer has benefitted from the contract.
Strayer BUS505 Week 8 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 8 Discussion 1
“Writing the Winning Proposal”Please respond to the following:

Drawing upon your experience writing papers for this class, discuss three additional tips for writing the first draft of a proposal. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Evaluate all the elements of writing the proposal outlined in Chapter 12 of the textbook and determine the three most critical elements that are more important than all the others. Explain your rationale.
Week 8 Discussion 2
“Tips for Effective Proposal Writing”Please respond to the following:

Discuss the degree to which the proposals you found in the e-Activity followed the tips for effective proposal writing found in Chapter 13 of Osborne. Cite where you obtained the proposals. Then, discuss the main area where deviation was present and speculate as to why.
Using the criteria presented in Chapter 13 of the textbook for writing effective proposals, rewrite at least one section of a proposal that you identified through the e-Activity and explain why you made those changes.
Strayer BUS505 Week 9 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 9 Discussion 1
“Proposal Reviews”Please respond to the following:

Evaluate the list of common cost proposal mistakes based on the recommendations in Chapter 15 of the textbook. Select three from the list, and determine the most likely cause of each. Then, recommend a strategy that either the federal government or offerer could take to avoid the mistake in the future.
Determine which proposal review would be the most effective in gaining a competitive advantage based on the reviews in Chapter 15 and explain why. Create a new review that’s not part of the review process listed in Chapter 15 and describe how the review adds value to the process.

Week 9 Discussion 2
“Proposal Production and Improper Business Practice”Please respond to the following:

Analyze the different types of revisions discussed in Osborne’s “Proposal Reviews” and recommend a completely different review process that would be just as effective or better. Explain your rationale.
Analyze the statutes (laws) designed to curtail improper practices and conflicts and make at least one recommendation to improve the current system. Explain your rationale.
Strayer BUS505 Week 10 Discussion 1 & 2

Week 10 Discussion 1
“Post-Proposal Submittal Phase”Please respond to the following:

Review the steps involved in the final proposal production phase that are described in Chapter 18 of the textbook and make at least one recommendation for improving the process. Explain your rationale. Then, evaluate the recommendation of one fellow learner (on-ground students will discuss the recommendations in class).
Discuss how a successful debriefing could benefit a company in future proposals. Include the areas of importance to discover in debriefing and what information is available to those who were not awarded the contract.
Week 10 Discussion 2
“Contract Award and Performance”Please respond to the following:

Review the procuring agency, Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims forums presented in Chapter 33. Then, describe an actual case where a protestor is arguing using one of the forums.
Devise a strategy for significantly limiting the number of post-proposal inquiries you might receive. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Strayer BUS505 Week 11 Discussion 1 & 2

dq 1

Week 11 Discussion 1

“Looking Back”Please respond to the following:

Thinking back on everything you have learned in this course, what single lesson learned was the most surprising or interesting. Explain what made it so.
Describe the most difficult concept or process addressed in this course. Create an analogy that would help someone encountering that concept or process for the first time to better understand what it is about.
dq 2

Week 11 Discussion 2

“Looking Ahead”Please respond to the following:

Discuss how you can effectively apply what you have learned in this class even if you wind up in a position that has absolutely nothing to do with contracting with the federal government.
Imagine yourself five years from now working for a firm (or perhaps head of your own firm) that gets 100% of its business from the federal government. Discuss what you would like the most and what you would like the least of being in such a position.
Strayer BUS505 Week 3 Assignment 1

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center.

Assignment 1: Firm Research
Due Week 3 and worth 80 points

Imagine you are a small-business owner seeking a federal business opportunity that falls in one of the following categories: competitive 8a, woman-owned, HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, or veteran-owned.

Write a two to four (2-4) page paper in which you:

1. Describe the small-business line of business (LOB).

2. Determine which federal government procurement opportunity is aligned with the LOB using the Federal Business Opportunities Website:https://www.fbo.gov

3. Provide the firm’s current strategies and then assess the strategic success using financial figures or “soft” indicators as the background.

4. Develop a SWOT analysis (use a table) for the business to determine the internal and external factors in servicing the federal government and then provide a gap analysis (using the weaknesses and threats) in satisfying the expected requirements.

5. Using the federal procurement process, create an action plan to fulfill the expected requirements based off the gap analysis.

6. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Analyze the operations and functions of the key participants in the federal procurement process and assess a firm’s ability to satisfy expected requirements.
Research and locate federal government procurement opportunities.
Determine the required actions to enable a firm to be able to participate in the federal government contracting actions.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in business strategies and proposals.
Write clearly and concisely about business strategies and proposals using proper writing mechanics.
Strayer BUS505 Week 4 Assignment 2

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center.

Assignment 2: Bid Strategy
Due Week 4 and worth 150 points

Provide a bid strategy using the same firm and scenario from the first assignment.

Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:

1. Review the action plan from the first assignment and create a future plan that is consistent with federal procurement opportunity’s mission or strategic plan.

2. Create a bid decision evaluation form, select a total of five (5) criteria of the firm’s current marketing position, and then score against the requested opportunity using the example on Figure 7.1 described in Chapter 7 of the textbook.

3. Develop a bid strategy that provides a competitive edge over the peer federal acquisition market using five (5) customer key evaluation requirements (CKERs).

4. Identify three (3) risks of the bid strategy and then develop three (3) opportunities to mitigate each risk.

5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Determine the required actions to enable a firm to be able to participate in the federal government contracting actions.
Formulate strategies for business development to be competitive in the federal acquisition market.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in business strategies and proposals.
Write clearly and concisely about business strategies and proposals using proper writing mechanics.
Strayer BUS505 Week 7 Assignment 3

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center.

Assignment 3: RFP Response
Due Week 7 and worth 150 points

Respond to a RFP using the same firm and scenario from the first and second assignments.

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:

1. Review the firm’s organizational structure and then develop a matrix of five (5) roles, responsibilities, and authority for the key members of the captured team to execute the proposal.

2. Read the RFP and then provide the method the company will use to respond to the RFP ambiguity by using a competitive advantage approach.

3. Create a proposal requirement document using Figure 9.1 as an example.

4. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Analyze government RFPs and plan the development of the firm’s proposals to effectively compete for contract award.
Develop the elements of proposals to respond to RFPs.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in business strategies and proposals.
Write clearly and concisely about business strategies and proposals using proper writing mechanics.
Strayer BUS505 Week 8 Assignment 4

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center.

Assignment 4: Proposal Preparation Plan
Due Week 8 and worth 150 points

Provide a Proposal Preparation Plan using the same firm and scenario from the previous assignments.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Discuss and prepare a work breakdown structure (WBS) showing a condensed version of cost estimates, using the price to win (PTW) cost approach. Use the example shown in Chapter 14 of the textbook as a guide.

2. Describe the strategies that could be implemented to prevent unethical practices and promote compliance with federal guidelines in the selected contract type’s performance risk and profit incentive.

3. Develop three (3) ground rules and three (3) assumptions that are conditional to the cost estimate.

4. Use at least five (5) quality resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Analyze government RFPs and plan the development of the firm’s proposals to effectively compete for contract award.
Develop the elements of proposals to respond to RFPs.
Generate effective ethical guidelines to prevent unethical contracting practices and ensure compliance with federal guidelines.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in business strategies and proposals.
Write clearly and concisely about business strategies and proposals using proper writing mechanics.
Strayer BUS505 Week 10 Assignment 5

Assignment 5: Proposal Presentation
Due Week 10 and worth 250 points

The procuring agency requires an oral presentation as part of the proposal response.

Create a presentation in a common format (PowerPoint or a similar program) with a minimum of twenty (20) slides and corresponding speaker notes in which you:

1. Create an Executive Summary that supports your firm’s proposal projection to successfully enter the contract.

2. Discuss the support that the agency is proposing the firm to acquire in entering the contract.

3. Provide the reliability plan for the firm’s capability in entering the contract.

4. Prepare a conclusion based on the firm’s projected performance in entering the contract’s projected time frame.

5. Provide an action plan using the cost estimate and selected contract type as a finalization of the firm’s conclusion in the solicitation process.

6. Use at least five (5) quality resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Create presentations to effectively communicate the firm’s proposal and complete the solicitation process.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in business strategies and proposals.
Write clearly and concisely about business strategies and proposals using proper writing mechanics.