A lot of teams treated 2025 like a warm-up lap. Policies were “final,” but awards didn’t consistently test readiness.
This is your guide to unlocking a wider range of opportunities and increasing your cash flow from federal contracting.
After reading this, you’ll have everything you need to write a winning capabilities statement.
Let’s go.
Featured.png)
8(a) status can open doors. It can also create delays if your documents and planning aren’t solid.
You watched War Dogs. Or maybe Lord of War. Or you caught The Pentagon Wars on a late-night streaming binge. Now you think you understand federal contracting.
Here's the problem: Hollywood has been telling stories about government contracts, arms deals, and defense procurement for decades. Some of it is surprisingly accurate. Most of it will get you arrested, bankrupt, or both if you try to replicate it.
Federal contracting isn't about finding loopholes, bribing officials, or stumbling into million-dollar deals through dumb luck. It's about systematic capability building, compliance infrastructure, and strategic positioning. But you wouldn't know that from watching movies.
Let me walk you through what Hollywood gets right, what it gets catastrophically wrong, and what federal contracting actually looks like in 2025.
.jpg)
Many prime contractors begin identifying teaming partners in July. This timing aligns with Q4 contract deadlines, which peak before the federal fiscal year ends on September 30. August is when capability statements are reviewed, teaming discussions happen, and decisions get made.
The month of May highlights Military Appreciation Month, which plays a crucial role in fostering an awareness and understanding of the challenges service members, veterans, and their families face. [1] Military Appreciation Month celebrates a few of the following observance days:
The federal government is raising the bar again. Starting in 2025, all manufactured products and construction materials used in federally funded projects must meet a 65 percent domestic content requirement under the Buy American Act. This rule runs through 2028 and rises to 75 percent in 2029. If you're not auditing your supply chain now, you're risking more than a missed bid; you could be disqualified before you even get started.
