Win Federal Contracts With a Complete 360-Degree View
Used the systems. Scored the proposals. Wrote the bids.
Lived the complete federal procurement lifecycle—and I know what wins.
Services - How I can help
Scalable Proposal Support for Every Need
Scalable Proposal Support for Every Need
Scalable Proposal Support for Every Need
Whether your organization needs additional writing capacity, specialized expertise in technical writing, or comprehensive proposal development, I offer the right level of support for your pursuits and contracting goals in both the private and public sectors.
technical writing & proposal content
Scalable Proposal Support for Every Need
Scalable Proposal Support for Every Need
RFP Analysis & Compliance
- Comprehensive solicitation analysis and requirement identification
- Compliance matrices and traceability documentation
- Technical writing for complex government requirements
Content Creation & Formatting
- Technical section writing aligned with proposed solutions
- Professional document formatting per RFP specifications
- Graphics, charts, and technical data presentation
- Government compliance standards and formatting requirements
Proposal Strategy & Development
Strategic Content Development
- Win theme development and competitive positioning
- Scorable Strengths and best practice adherence
- Cross-section consistency and strategic messaging
- Past performance and competitive intelligence research
Visual Content Integration
- Proposal graphics and process flow design
- Complex layout integration and style management
- Professional visual communication elements
Proposal Management - capture, strategy & advisory
End-to-End Proposal Coordination
- Complete proposal lifecycle management from analysis to submission
- Color Reviews and Compliance Monitoring
- Cross-functional team coordination and workflow management
- Document control protocols and version management
- Comprehensive quality assurance and compliance verification
Capture Strategy & Advisory
- Bid/no-bid decision analysis and capture strategy development
- Competitive positioning and market intelligence
- Red team evaluations with advanced analysis capabilities
- Executive-level strategic advisory and trusted advisor services
Organizational Process Development
- Proposal capability development and process improvement
- Enterprise collaboration
- Multi-proposal coordination and resource management
About LJ Proposal Strategies
The Complete View: How I Got Here
I did not set out to become a proposal consultant. But after 37 years in federal service, contracting, and entrepreneurship, I've seen every angle of federal procurement—and I realized this perspective is exactly what helps companies win.
Most consultants have deep expertise in one area. I have lived the entire lifecycle: as the warfighter who depended on contracted systems, the government official who evaluated proposals, and the industry professional who wrote them. This 360-degree view is not just unique—it's what makes winning proposals possible.
THE MILITARY YEARS: Understanding Mission Requirements U.S. Army Transportation Corps | 1987-2007 | Retired as Lieutenant Colonel
I spent 20 years in the Army Transportation Corps, with progressive leadership roles from squad to battalion level. My assignments included critical positions at USTRANSCOM and Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base—the heart of military logistics and strategic mobility.
As a Truck Company Commander in Germany, I was an end user—someone who depended on procured vehicles and systems to accomplish the mission. As Chief of Staff in a joint operations center and later as a Global Campaign Planner and Legislative Affairs Officer preparing senior leadership for Congressional testimony, I worked at the intersection of operations, strategy, and policy.
I learned early that there's a huge gap between what looks good in a proposal and what actually works in the field. The best contracts were not won by the flashiest presentations—they were won by companies that truly understood mission requirements and could deliver solutions that worked under pressure.
This perspective—understanding what the warfighter actually needs—became the foundation of everything I do in proposal development.
THE EVALUATOR EXPERIENCE: Inside the Source Selection Process -- Source Selection Evaluation Team | USTRANSCOM | 2006-2007
While still on active duty, I served on the Source Selection Evaluation Team for the Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative, a $1B+ DoD contract. This experience changed how I think about proposals forever.
I evaluated proposals for technical merit, risk assessment, and past performance. I participated in industry conferences and debriefings. And I spent long nights reading proposals, looking for clear strengths I could score and justify in my written findings.
Here is what I learned:
Proposals are not read—they are scored. Evaluators are looking for specific strengths they can document. When a proposal makes that job easy, it wins. When it doesn't, even excellent capabilities get lost in poor communication.
I saw technically superior solutions lose because the proposal team didn't understand how to write for evaluation. I saw weaker technical approaches win because they articulated clear, defensible strengths aligned to evaluation criteria.
This insider view of how government evaluators actually work—what they look for, how they score, what makes them choose one contractor over another—is rare in industry. And it's invaluable for writing winning proposals.
THE CONSULTING YEARS: Building Strategic Solutions Senior Consultant, LMI | 2007-2021 | Supporting USTRANSCOM at Scott AFB
After retiring from the Army, I joined LMI where I spent 14 years as a Senior Consultant supporting USTRANSCOM at Scott Air Force Base. This kept me deeply connected to the defense logistics and strategic mobility mission while transitioning to the contractor side.
During this time, I led strategic planning initiatives, including the Future Deployment and Distribution Assessment (FDDA) to determine future gaps and needs. I developed deep expertise in DoD acquisition processes, program management, and the complex systems that enable global military operations.
I also began leading and contributing to federal proposals—dozens of them over the years. I learned proposal strategy, capture planning, technical writing, and all the disciplines required to win competitive federal contracts. But I learned them with the advantage of my military and evaluation background. I could think like the customer and write for the evaluator.
This combination proved powerful.
THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHAPTER: Building From Scratch Co-Founder & CEO, Gate Way Solutions | 2021-2025
In 2021, I co-founded Gate Way Solutions, a SDVOSB and WOSB focused on AI-powered software solutions for federal clients. This was a completely different education.
As CEO, I wore every hat: business development, capture, proposal management, financial planning, team leadership, and strategic planning. We built an impressive $600M opportunity pipeline and developed innovative AI tools including RFP/solicitation generation and proposal evaluation tools.
We pursued major opportunities, including serving as a teaming partner on a large prime's $1.6B USTRANSCOM Joint Transportation Management System (JTMS) proposal, where we advanced to the final three. I led proposal efforts, managed volumes, wrote technical content, and learned firsthand the challenges small businesses face competing in an increasingly consolidated federal market.
After four years, I made the difficult decision to close Gate Way Solutions. The market dynamics—particularly the shift toward large contract vehicles and LPTA contracts—made it harder for small businesses to break through, despite strong capabilities and customer relationships.
But here's what I gained:
I learned what it is like to compete as a small business. I understand the resource constraints, the struggle to differentiate against large primes, the challenge of building past performance. I have lived the frustrations of proposal teams working impossible deadlines with limited support.
This experience made me a better consultant. I don't just understand proposal theory—I understand the real-world constraints companies face and how to win despite them.
WHY PROPOSAL CONSULTING
People ask me why I chose proposal development as my focus. Here's the truth: Proposal development is the perfect intersection of everything I love. It's not just writing—it's psychology (understanding evaluator decision-making), strategy (competitive positioning and win themes), competition (outmaneuvering rivals), and teamwork (coordinating SMEs, writers, and leadership under pressure).
Great proposals require understanding both what the customer needs and what evaluators will score. They demand balancing mission requirements with competitive realities. They need someone who can see the complete picture—from end user needs to evaluation criteria to competitive positioning.
That's the 360-degree view. And it's what I bring to every engagement.
TODAY: Helping Companies Win LJ Proposal Strategies | 2025-Present
Today, I help federal contractors win competitive procurements by bringing that complete perspective to their proposals.
Whether you are a small business pursuing your first major contract, a mid-size prime competing on Best Value, or a large contractor needing specialized expertise, I can help you:
- Understand what the customer truly values (not just what the RFP says)
- Develop solutions that resonate with end users and score well with evaluators
- Write proposals that make it easy for evaluators to identify and justify your strengths
- Position yourself competitively against rivals
- Navigate the complete proposal lifecycle from capture through color reviews to submission
I am also active in the federal contracting community as VP of the Small Business Committee for AFCEA St. Louis Scott Chapter, where I work to connect small businesses with prime contractors and help them navigate the federal marketplace.
Let's talk
Contact Info
I am happy to discuss my services and availability anytime!
LJ Proposal Strategies
