GovClose | Start Winning Government Contracts

Richard C. Howard
  • 5.0 (94)
  • BUSINESS
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The single biggest purchaser of goods and services in the world is the US government. Learn the step by step process of winning government contracts from former procurement officer Lt Col (ret) Richard C. Howard. We cover: sam.gov, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), GSA, government contracting leads, small business, subcontracts, GWACS, sole source contracts, federal certifications including: 8(a), SDVOSB The GovClose Training Program: https://www.govclose.com Get the Government Contract Planner Free at: https://www.dodcontract.com Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/

  1. 1D AGO

    The Hobby That Earns $200M in Government Contracts

    Have you ever wondered if you could get paid for something you already enjoy doing?In this video, I break down real examples of hobbies that the U.S. federal government is actively spending millions of dollars on every year. Most people think government contracting is only about defense systems, IT, or construction. The reality is very different. The federal government is the single largest buyer of goods and services in the world, and that includes areas most people would never expect.We’re talking about government contracts tied to yoga instruction and wellness programs, ATV and off-road vehicle training, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, foreign language translation and interpretation, and even professional dog training services. These are not edge cases. These are recurring federal spending categories that create real opportunities for small businesses, consultants, and professionals who understand how federal procurement works.00:00 Can You Get Paid for Your Hobby? Government Contract Reality00:45 Yoga Government Contracts 02:05 ATV and Off-Road Vehicle Government Contracts 03:15 3D Printing | Additive Manufacturing 04:30 Foreign Language 06:30 Dog Training Government Contracts 09:00 How to Research Government Contracts on SAM.gov 09:30 How Government Contracting Actually Works 10:00 Three Ways to Make Money Using Government Contracting Expertise

    11 min

  2. FEB 3

    No One Says 'I Want to be a Government Contractor'

    GovClose Certification Overview: https://www.govclose.comFormer banker Micah Dixon reveals how he helped an 8(a)Afirm win $9 million in federal contracts within 12-18 months using mentor-protégé agreements and joint ventures. In this interview, Micah breaks down advanced government contracting strategies that most small businesses miss—including why less than 0.25% of U.S. small businesses sell to the government and how to avoid the revenue cliff that kills most eight-A companies after graduation.Micah shares insider knowledge on joint ventures, mentor-protégé programs, affiliation rules, and the strategic approach that separates winning contractors from those who struggle.CHAPTERS:0:00 Introduction - Why Government Rules Actually Help Small Business3:15 The Joint Venture Strategy 8:30 Real Results: $9 Million in Contracts Using Mentor-Protégé15:30 Why Micah Joined GovClose and What Makes It Different21:30 The Strategic Side of Government Contracting (Not Cold Calling)29:15 Helping Real People: Why Government Contracts Matter33:00 Who Should Use Mentor-Protégé and Joint VenturesCONNECT WITH MICAH DIXON:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahdickson/ABOUT GOVCLOSE:GovClose is the leading government contracting certification program for small businesses, consultants, and business development professionals. Learn the proven system to win federal contracts without paid advertising.🔗 Learn more: https://www.govclose.com#GovernmentContracting #EightA #SmallBusiness #FederalContracts #MentorProtege

    35 min

  3. JAN 27

    How Much Is Your Brain Worth?

    👉 Start your consulting business the right way with GovClose:https://govclose.com Learn how to sell high-value services, win government contracts, or land elite federal sales roles with a proven certification framework. Most people think starting a consulting business is about packaging your expertise and selling it to companies. That’s wrong. In this video, former U.S. Air Force acquisitions officer Rick Howard breaks down the 3-part consulting framework that separates consultants who struggle from consultants who charge premium fees—sometimes six figures or more. You’ll learn: Why most consultants fail to sell their services The exact framework companies use to decide what they’ll pay for How to price consulting based on revenue impact Why rare expertise is the key to premium consulting rates Real-world examples from GovClose graduates closing high-value deals If you want to monetize your knowledge, start a consulting business, or pivot your career into high-income consulting, this video gives you the exact blueprint. 0:00 – What consulting really is (and how people get paid for what they know)0:45 – The common consulting mistake veterans and professionals make1:15 – Rick Howard’s background and GovClose framework overview2:00 – Step 1: Identify your real expertise (experience deep dive)3:00 – Why combining skills creates premium consulting offers3:45 – Case study: Why team-building consulting didn’t sell5:00 – Framework Part 1: Does your service directly make money?6:00 – Framework Part 2: How much revenue can you generate?7:00 – Framework Part 3: How rare is your expertise?7:45 – Real GovClose graduate example: Proposal writing consulting11:15 – How to reposition your experience into a high-value offer How to Get Paid for What You Know (Consulting Framework That Actually Works)⏱ Chapters

    15 min

  4. JAN 19

    3 Habits That Win Government Contracts (And Build Wealth)

    The GovClose Certification Program is a one-year, implementation-driven system for people who want to win contracts, consult, or become elite federal sales professionals.https://www.govclose.comMost businesses don’t lose government contracts because they lack experience.They lose because they don’t build the daily habits required to win.In this video, former U.S. Air Force acquisitions officer Rick Howard breaks down the 3 habits that consistently separate companies that win federal contracts from those that stall, chase RFPs too late, or burn out.Rick managed $82B+ in government contracts and now trains business owners, consultants, and sales executives on how to build predictable federal pipelines.This video shows exactly what top performers do every single day.If you sell to the government—or want to—this is mandatory.What You’ll Learn1. Why sales—not tech—determines GovCon success2. How to find government opportunities before RFPs are released3. Why Sources Sought matter more than proposals4. The CRM discipline most GovCon teams ignore (and pay for)5. The silent habit that kills otherwise successful contractors6. How to avoid costly mistakes caused by partial knowledge7. Where smart contractors look to stay ahead of funding shiftsChapters00:00 – Why most government contractors fail01:00 – Rick Howard’s background in federal acquisitions01:30 – Why sales must come before delivery02:15 – Habit #1: Daily GovCon lead generation02:45 – Finding Sources Sought early03:45 – Going beyond SAM.gov04:45 – The most dangerous GovCon bad habit06:15 – Habit #2: Working your pipeline daily07:30 – Pipeline size vs. close rate08:45 – How opportunities should actually be tracked10:30 – Habit #3: Avoiding ignorance in GovCon11:30 – Using federal news to uncover opportunities14:15 – How people monetize GovCon expertise15:00 – GovClose overview & next stepsWatch These Instructional Videos on YouTube Next (Highly Recommended) ▶️ From Shark Tank to SAM.gov – Interview with Greg Colemanhttps://youtu.be/oIdPtgCq4PY ▶️ The Highest Paying Certification You’ve Never Heard Ofhttps://youtu.be/hPI72mtfmds ▶️ From a Job That Pays Crazy… to Government Contractinghttps://youtu.be/1SuQ215qOY0

    18 min
  5. Do Government Contracts Move Stock Prices?

    JAN 12

    Do Government Contracts Move Stock Prices?

    The Fed Two Hundred Stock Index — Inaugural Edition Federal spending is not random. It follows rules, incentives, and long-term patterns that repeat year after year. But while government contracting is one of the largest and most structured parts of the United States economy, it is rarely examined through the lens of public markets. In this inaugural episode of Federalytics, the team at GovClose introduces the Fed Two Hundred Stock Index, a new analytical framework designed to track how sustained federal contracting activity may — or may not — show up in publicly traded companies over time. The Fed Two Hundred tracks two hundred and seven public companies with meaningful federal exposure, grouped into four tiers by market capitalization. Each week, the index examines historical federal contracting data from fiscal year two thousand twenty-two through fiscal year two thousand twenty-six, newly reported contract actions, daily stock prices, and index-level performance compared to the Standard and Poor’s Five Hundred. This episode establishes the baseline. Listeners are walked through how the index is constructed, what it measures, and—just as importantly—what it does not attempt to claim. This is not investment advice. It does not assert causation. Instead, it is a transparency tool built to observe patterns, test assumptions, and document what the data shows over time. The episode then reviews the first week of results, covering January second through January ninth, two thousand twenty-six. During that period, the Fed Two Hundred Composite Index outperformed the Standard and Poor’s Five Hundred, with notable variation across tiers. Tier Two companies led weekly performance, while Tier Four companies led quarterly performance, reinforcing why segmentation matters. The report also highlights weekly winners and losers across each tier, illustrating how performance diverges even among companies operating in similar federal markets. Two company spotlights—L Three Harris Technologies and C A C I International—demonstrate how stock performance and federal contracting activity can coexist without simple explanations. Rather than drawing conclusions, this episode frames the questions that matter next. Do federal contracts influence stock performance with time delays? Do certain tiers behave differently as trends persist? Does consistency matter more than growth? If patterns exist, they will be surfaced. If they do not, that outcome is equally valuable. Federalytics is produced by the team at GovClose, a government contracting education and training organization founded by a former federal acquisitions officer who managed more than eighty-two billion dollars in government contracts. GovClose helps professionals learn how to sell to the United States government—whether by winning contracts for their own business, advising companies as consultants, or securing high-paying account executive roles in the public sector. To learn more, visit govclose dot com. This episode marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to bring clarity—not hype—to one of the most important and misunderstood markets in the economy.

    9 min

  6. JAN 5

    Which Government Contract is Right For You?

    Learn how to sell to the U.S. government: https://www.govclose.comThe US government spends $700+ billion annually with small businesses, but less than 0.25% of small businesses ever win a contract - and it's because they're doing it wrong. In this video, I break down the exact subcontracting strategy that flips the script: instead of cold-emailing prime contractors begging for work, you bring them opportunities they can't ignore. As a former Air Force acquisitions officer who managed over $82 billion in contracts, I'll show you how to find early opportunities, identify the right primes, and position yourself as the subcontractor they need. Stop begging and start winning government contracts the right way.Want to join our exclusive community? See if the GovCon Certification Program is right for you. Schedule a Enrollment Consultation: https://www.govclose.com/enrollment-interviewConnect with Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/

    31 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    How to Actually Grow Your Business With Government Contracts in 2026 | GovClose Q&A

    GovClose Certification Overview: https://www.govclose.com/govclose-certification-programThe "Jab Jab Right Hook" Strategy for Government Contracting SuccessStop chasing contracts with proposals. Start building relationships that WIN contracts. In this coaching call, I break down how relationship-based selling works in government contracting using Gary Vaynerchuk's "Jab, Jab, Right Hook" framework.Most contractors think they need to write better proposals. Wrong. The most successful government contractors I know rarely write competitive proposals—they win through relationships. Here's how to apply the Jab-Jab-Right Hook method to build genuine connections with contracting officers and decision-makers.**Who This Is For:**→ Government contractors tired of losing competitive bids→ Small businesses building their first relationships with agencies→ Consultants helping clients navigate federal sales→ Anyone pursuing DOD, DOE, DHS, or civilian agency contracts→ Companies with existing contracts looking to expand within an agency**CHAPTERS:**00:00 - Introduction: Why Relationships Beat Proposals00:45 - Always Take the Networking Call (Real Story)01:15 - Negotiating Between Big Companies & Egos02:00 - The Lawyer Problem: CYA vs. Making Deals Happen03:15 - Community Support & Learning from Each Other04:30 - Teaming Agreement Templates (Use & Reuse)04:45 - Product vs. Problem: Focus on THEIR Need07:00 - Market Intelligence Tools: Who Needs What14:30 - Using GovWin IQ to Track Pipeline & History18:15 - Subcontracting Strategy: Stay Focused or Diversify?21:00 - Timeline Expectations: 12 Months Is Normal22:00 - On-Site Networking: Fort Bragg Example22:30 - The Jab-Jab-Right Hook Method Explained23:00 - Every 3rd or 4th Time: When to Ask for Business23:15 - Why COs Want to Help Good Companies**Key Timestamps:**• 00:45 - How one networking call turned into a job offer• 02:30 - Why lawyers' CYA mentality kills deals• 05:15 - "Be passionate about your client's problem, not your product"• 06:00 - You're setting yourself up for failure if you don't match requirements• 22:30 - "Every single sale was never writing a proposal again"• 22:45 - "I would go there with engineers and fix it, wouldn't charge them"• 23:00 - "Every fourth or fifth time I'd ask for more business"• 23:15 - "I wanted to help companies that were honestly trying to do good work"**Related Videos You Should Watch:**• How to Use GovWin IQ for Pipeline Building• DOE National Labs Contracting Strategy• When to Give Up on an Agency (And Move On)• Teaming Agreements: How to Negotiate Between Big PlayersNeed a consultant? Connect with Jonathan Haines from this video. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbhaynes/**Disclaimer:** This content is for educational purposes. While I draw on my experience as a former USAF acquisitions officer, all advice should be adapted to your specific situation and reviewed with your legal/compliance team as appropriate.**Connect with me:**🌐 Website: https://www.govclose.comConnect with Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/© 2024 GovClose. All rights reserved.

    24 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    What is GSA & Should it even exist?

    If you've ever wondered what GSA does or if you were confused because GSA is a federal agency but also referred to as a "contract vehicle", then you're in the right place. Whether you're a business selling to the government, or an account executive working for a company, or a consultant, you need to understand GSA's role in federal procurement. I have my own biased opinion, but in this episode I'm going to present the facts in the history of government contracting ands how GSA ties in. Start your government contracting career: https://www.govclose.comWatch on YouTube A Contracting Officer's Advice on Proposal Writing:https://youtu.be/bcHPij1WnFsFREE Federal Sales Training: https://www.govclose.com#rfp #rfq #compliancematrix

    39 min
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The single biggest purchaser of goods and services in the world is the US government. Learn the step by step process of winning government contracts from former procurement officer Lt Col (ret) Richard C. Howard. We cover: sam.gov, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), GSA, government contracting leads, small business, subcontracts, GWACS, sole source contracts, federal certifications including: 8(a), SDVOSB The GovClose Training Program: https://www.govclose.com Get the Government Contract Planner Free at: https://www.dodcontract.com Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govclose/

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