Understanding the Service

Q: What exactly is Total Optim Bid?

A: Total Optim Bid is a curated government contracting opportunity service for small businesses. Instead of spending hours searching hundreds of bid portals, we do the searching for you. Our team monitors federal, state, and local RFP sources nationwide and delivers only the opportunities that match your business size, services, certifications, and capacity directly to your inbox with plain-language summaries and strategic guidance.

Q: How is this different from other bid search websites?

A: Most bid sites are search portals where YOU do all the work. Total Optim Bid is a done-for-you service. We actively search for you, curate opportunities based on your specific profile, provide bid readiness scores, and include coaching to help you win. Think of us as your outsourced bid research department, not just another database to log into.

Q: Do I need to be registered in SAM.gov to use your service?

A: No, you don't need to be registered to start using Total Optim Bid. We'll help you find opportunities and prepare proposals while you're working on your SAM registration. However, you WILL need SAM registration before you can actually be awarded a federal contract. We can guide you through that process during your onboarding.

Q: What types of businesses do you work with?

A: We work with small and growing businesses across all industries, including professional services, IT, construction, facilities management, consulting, manufacturing, and more. If government agencies buy what you offer, we can help you find those opportunities. Our sweet spot is Small Businesses looking to add government contracting to their revenue mix.

Q: Will you find opportunities in my local area or just federal contracts?

A: Both! We search federal (SAM.gov), state, and local (city, county, municipal) sources nationwide. During onboarding, you tell us your geographic preferences, and we tailor our search accordingly. Whether you only want contracts within 50 miles or you can work nationally, we'll match opportunities to your reach.

How It Works

Q: How do you know what opportunities to send me?

A: During your 1-hour onboarding session, we create a detailed business profile that includes your services, certifications, geographic reach, past performance, capacity, and target contract sizes. Our team uses this profile to manually review and curate opportunities that fit. As we work together, we continuously refine what we send you based on your feedback.

Q: What's included in the Bid Digest?

A: Each Bid Digest includes: curated opportunities matched to your business, plain-language summary of each RFP (no government jargon), bid readiness score (our assessment of how good a fit it is), key deadlines and submission requirements, our recommendation on whether and how to pursue it, and direct links to full solicitation documents.

Q: How often will I receive opportunities?

A: It depends on your subscription tier: Basic receives monthly digest, Enhanced receives bi-weekly (every 2 weeks), and Premium receives weekly digest. The frequency you choose should match how actively you want to pursue government contracts.

Q: Can I change my subscription tier after I start?

A: Absolutely! You can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Many customers start with Premium to maximize their trial and to test the waters, but you always have the option to change to an Enhanced or Basic based on your needs

Q: What if you send me opportunities I'm not interested in?

A: That's valuable feedback! We use your input to refine your profile continuously. Just let us know what didn't fit and why, and we'll adjust. It typically takes 1-2 digests to dial in your preferences perfectly. Your monthly coaching time is a great opportunity to discuss fit and make adjustments.

Pricing & Plans

Q: What's the difference between Basic, Enhanced, and Premium?

A: The main differences are frequency and coaching time. Basic ($29/month) offers monthly digest and 30 min/month coaching, perfect for beginners exploring government contracting. Enhanced offers bi-weekly digest and 60 min/month coaching, best for businesses actively pursuing 2-4 bids per quarter. Premium offers weekly digest, 90 min/month coaching, PLUS discounted proposal writing services, ideal for businesses treating government contracting as a core revenue strategy. All tiers include curated opportunities, bid readiness scoring, templates, webinars, and Learning Center access.

Q: Is there a free trial?

A: Yes! We offer a 14-day free trial so you can see the quality of opportunities we find and experience our service before committing.

Q: Can I cancel anytime?

A: Yes. cancel anytime. We're confident you'll see the value, but we don't believe in trapping customers.

Q: What payment methods do you accept?

A: We accept all major credit cards. Payment is processed automatically each month on your subscription anniversary date.

Q: Do you offer discounts for annual subscriptions?

A: Yes! Contact us about annual pricing. Paying annually typically saves 15-20% compared to monthly billing.

Results & Expectations

Q: How many opportunities will I receive per month?

A: It varies significantly based on your industry, services, location, and certifications. During your qualification call, we'll give you an honest assessment of typical opportunity volume for businesses like yours. Some clients see 10+ opportunities per month, others see 2-3. We believe in setting realistic expectations upfront. There are also fluctuations in available opportunities. For example, during the recent “government shutdown” there were no active opportunities posted. Also, RFP activities typically slow down toward the end of the year.

Q: Can you guarantee I'll win contracts?

A: No one can guarantee you'll win. Winning government contracts depends on many factors including your pricing, past performance, technical approach, and competition. What we CAN guarantee is that we'll find opportunities you're qualified for, help you understand what's required, and provide coaching to strengthen your proposals. Our job is to maximize your chances of winning.

Q: How long does it typically take to win your first contract?

A: Most businesses win their first contract within 6-12 months of actively pursuing opportunities. However, this varies widely. Some win in their first month, others take longer to build past performance and refine their approach. Government contracting is a marathon, not a sprint. Your first win opens doors to many more.

Q: What if there aren't many opportunities for my type of business?

A: We'll tell you honestly during your qualification call. We'd rather have that conversation upfront than take your money for a service that won't deliver value. For businesses in low-opportunity niches, we may recommend alternatives like our proposal writing service (pay only when you need it) or help you identify ways to expand your service offerings or geographic reach.

Q: Do you help with past performance if I've never had a government contract?

A: Yes! During coaching sessions, we help you translate your commercial experience into relevant past performance narratives. We also guide you toward smaller 'foot in the door' contracts that help you build government past performance. Every contractor started with zero government experience.

Getting Started

Q: What information do I need to provide to get started?

A: During onboarding, we'll collect your services and capabilities, geographic service area, certifications (WOSB, VOSB, SDB, HUBZone, etc.), past performance examples (government or commercial), target contract size range, current capacity, and key personnel and qualifications. Don't worry if you don't have all this ready. We'll guide you through it during the onboarding session.

Q: How long does onboarding take?

A: Your onboarding session is 1 hour, typically scheduled within 2-3 business days of signing up. After that session, you'll receive your first Bid Digest according to your tier schedule. The entire process from sign-up to first digest is typically 3-7 days.

Q: Do I need any special software or tools?

A: No! Everything is delivered via email and accessible through your subscriber portal. You'll need standard tools to create proposals (Microsoft Word or similar), but we provide templates to make that easier.

Q: Can multiple people from my company access the service?

A: Yes! Your subscription includes access for your entire team. We can send digests to multiple email addresses and multiple team members can join coaching calls.

Support & Resources

Q: What happens during coaching sessions?

A: Coaching sessions are your time to review opportunities and get bid/no-bid guidance, get feedback on draft proposals, discuss strategy for specific contracts, ask questions about RFP requirements, refine your profile and opportunity targeting, and learn best practices for government contracting. You can schedule coaching calls as needed throughout the month, up to your tier's monthly limit.

Q: What templates do you provide?

A: We provide templates for capability statements, past performance narratives, technical approach frameworks, staffing and organizational charts, quality control plans, and standard proposal sections. Templates are available immediately upon subscription in the Learning Center.

Q: Are the educational webinars live or recorded?

A: Both! We host monthly live webinars on topics like proposal writing, bid strategy, certifications, and more. All webinars are recorded and available in the Learning Center, so you can watch on your schedule.

Q: What if I need help outside of my coaching hours?

A: You can always reach us via email for quick questions. For more extensive support beyond your included coaching hours, additional coaching time is available at $75/hour. Premium subscribers also have access to our discounted proposal writing services.

Proposal Writing Services

Q: What's the difference between coaching and proposal writing?

A: Coaching helps YOU write better proposals through guidance, feedback, and strategy. Proposal writing means WE write the proposal for you. Coaching is included in your subscription. Proposal writing is a separate service starting at $300 for simple proposals.

Q: Do I have to use your proposal writing service?

A: Not at all! Many subscribers successfully write their own proposals using our coaching, templates, and guidance. Proposal writing is an optional add-on service for when you want professional writing support for high-value or complex opportunities.

Q: Can I try the service before committing to proposal writing?

A: Yes! Start with a subscription to receive opportunities and coaching. When you find an opportunity you want to pursue with professional writing support, you can add proposal writing services then. No upfront commitment required.

Technical Questions

Q: What if I'm already using other bid notification services?

A: That's fine! Many customers start with other services and add Total Optim Bid for the curation, coaching, and strategic guidance we provide. You might find you can cancel those other subscriptions once you see how we eliminate the noise and save you time.

Q: Do you integrate with SAM.gov or other platforms?

A: We monitor SAM.gov and hundreds of other sources on your behalf, but we don't require integration with your systems. Everything is delivered via email and accessible through your portal. If you want to sync opportunities to your CRM or project management tools, that's up to you.

Q: Is my business information kept confidential?

A: Absolutely. We take confidentiality seriously. Your business information, strategies, and proprietary data are never shared with anyone. We use your information solely to curate opportunities and support your success.

Q: What happens to my data if I cancel?

A: Your business profile remains in our system (in case you return), but we stop sending digests and accessing coaching. If you want your data completely removed, just let us know and we'll delete everything within 30 days. You keep all templates and resources you downloaded during your subscription.

Specific Situations

Q: I'm a startup with no past performance. Can you still help me?

A: Yes! We help you find opportunities appropriate for businesses with limited past performance, such as micro-purchases, small set-asides, and contracts where commercial experience counts. We also coach you on how to position your commercial work as relevant past performance.

Q: I'm a subcontractor, not a prime contractor. Is this service for me?

A: Total Optim Bid focuses on prime contract opportunities. However, we can help you identify primes to partner with and coach you on subcontracting strategies during your coaching sessions. If you're purely focused on subcontracting, this might not be the best fit.

Q: My business partner and I disagree on whether to pursue government contracts. Can you help?

A: Absolutely. Schedule a consultation call before signing up. We can discuss the realistic time investment, expected ROI, and what government contracting really looks like for businesses like yours. This helps you make an informed decision together.

Q: I tried government contracting before and it didn't work out. Should I try again?

A: Maybe! Let's talk about what didn't work before. Often businesses fail at government contracting because they pursued the wrong opportunities, didn't understand evaluation criteria, had weak proposals, or gave up too soon. If those were your issues, Total Optim Bid addresses all of them. Schedule a call with us to discuss whether now is the right time to re-engage.

Q: I only want federal contracts, not state or local. Can you do that?

A: Yes. During onboarding, specify your preferences. We can focus exclusively on federal opportunities if that's your strategy. Many businesses find state and local contracts easier to win as a starting point, but it's your choice.

Q: What if I want to pursue contracts outside my usual geographic area?

A: Great! We can help you expand strategically. During coaching, we'll discuss how to position your business for distant contracts, whether teaming or subcontracting makes sense, and how to address the 'local presence' evaluation factor that some contracts include.

Comparisons

Q: How is this different from hiring a business development person?

A: A full-time BD person costs $50K-$80K+ per year plus benefits. Total Optim Bid costs $348-$800  per year (depending on tier) and provides specialized government contracting expertise that most BD generalists don't have. Think of us as fractional government BD support.

Q: Should I hire a GovCon consultant or use Total Optim Bid?

A: It depends on your situation. GovCon Consultants ($3K-$10K+/month) are best when you're pursuing large contracts ($1M+) and need intensive capture support, teaming coordination, and strategic planning. Total Optim Bid is best when you need opportunity sourcing, proposal guidance, and strategic coaching for small to mid-size contracts. Many businesses start with us and add consultant support for specific large opportunities.

Q: Can I just search SAM.gov myself for free?

A: Yes, but SAM.gov is only federal contracts. You'd miss state and local opportunities. Plus, SAM.gov listings are dense, technical, and time-consuming to review. Our value is curating hundreds of sources, filtering for fit, translating government language, and coaching you on strategy. The question isn't 'can I search myself?' but 'is my time worth more than the subscription cost?'

Trust & Credibility

Q: How long has Total Optim been in business?

A: Total Optim Solutions is a fairly new business (established in early 2024) but was founded by procurement contracting professionals with over 20 years of experience managing the RFP process for Fortune 500 companies, government funded organizations and small businesses. We saw small businesses struggling to access opportunities. We've helped numerous clients find  government contracts.

Q: Who are your typical customers?

A: Our customers range from solo entrepreneurs testing government contracting waters to established businesses looking to scale their government practice. Industries include IT services, professional consulting, facilities management, construction, engineering, and more. What they have in common: they're too busy running their business to spend hours searching for opportunities.

Q: Can you provide customer references or testimonials?

A: Yes! We're happy to connect you with current customers who've agreed to serve as references. Just ask during your consultation call.

Q: What if I'm not satisfied with the service?

A: Cancel anytime, no questions asked. We've built our reputation on transparency and delivering real value. If we're not helping you find opportunities and win contracts, we don't deserve your business. That said, give it at least 2-3 months to see results, as government contracting is not an overnight success game.

Getting Started

Q: How do I get started?

A: Three easy steps: (1) Start your 14-day free trial using the form on our website, (2) Complete your Business Profile (3) Schedule your 1-hour onboarding session, (3) Receive your first curated Bid Digest. We offer a free trial. No commitment. See if we're the right fit.

Q: What happens after I submit the interest form?

A: You'll receive an email to start your 14-day free trial. If you need more information or have questions, we will be happy to reach out with a few quick questions to make sure we're a good fit for your business. We believe in being upfront about whether we can deliver value.

Q: I still have questions. Can I talk to someone?

A: Absolutely! Email us at bids@totaloptim.com/bid or call 657-225-9394. We're happy to answer questions, discuss your specific situation, and help you determine if Total Optim Bid is right for your business. No pressure, just honest conversation.

Not Sure If This Is For You?

Q: How do I know if Total Optim Bid is right for my business?

A: Total Optim Bid is a GREAT fit if you: want government revenue but don't have time to search for opportunities, are pursuing 1-8+ government contracts per quarter, need guidance on which opportunities to pursue, want to improve your proposal quality and win rate, and are willing to invest time in proposal development when we find good fits.

Total Optim Bid may NOT be the right fit if you:

Want passive income with no effort (government contracting requires work), can only work in a very small geographic area with few government entities, provide services that government rarely procures, expect guaranteed wins or unrealistic results, or aren't willing to invest time in learning and proposal development.

Still not sure? Schedule a free consultation call. We'll give you an honest assessment of whether we can help your specific business.

Contact Us

Email: contact@totaloptim.com/bid

Phone: 832-639-4458

Website: www.totaloptim.com/bid