If you are a construction company that is interested in pursuing the Comprehensive Construction & Engineering (C2E) contract, the largest and most lucrative construction and engineering opportunity in the federal government, you need to be aware of the unique and challenging nature of this proposal. This is not a conventional proposal that you can handle with your in-house proposal writers or your usual proposal writing methods. This is a nonconventional proposal that requires a different approach and a different level of expertise. This is a proposal that involves a partially self-scoring method, a new beast in town that can make or break your chances of winning the C2E contract.

This means that if you rely on your conventional construction proposal writers to handle the C2E proposal, you are taking a huge risk. You are entrusting your proposal to people who do not have the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with the self-scoring method. You are testing your intelligence and luck if this is your first self-scoring try. You are likely to make mistakes and lose points that could cost you the C2E contract.

What is the self-scoring method and why is it so important for the C2E proposal?

The partially self-scoring method is a way of evaluating proposals that the U.S. Air Force will use for the C2E contract. It means that offerors will have to submit a self-scoring worksheet along with their technical and price proposals. The self-scoring worksheet will contain a list of criteria and points that the offerors can claim based on their past performance, experience, capabilities, and certifications. The Air Force will then verify the accuracy and validity of the self-scoring worksheet and assign a final score to each offeror.

The partially self-scoring method is important for the C2E proposal because it will determine the ranking and selection of the offerors. The Air Force intends to award only 27 contracts, divided into two pools: one for small businesses and one for full and open/unrestricted competition. The offerors who score the highest on the self-scoring worksheet will have the best chance of winning the C2E contract.

What are the challenges and risks of self-scoring method?

The self-scoring method is not a conventional proposal writing because it requires a different set of skills and knowledge than the traditional proposal writing. It requires the offerors to:

  • Understand the requirements and expectations of the Air Force and the C2E program
  • Identify and document their strengths and differentiators in the construction and engineering industry
  • Provide sufficient and credible evidence to support their self-scoring claims
  • Comply with the format and instructions of the self-scoring worksheet
  • Review and verify the accuracy and validity of the self-scoring worksheet
  • Underestimating or overestimating the difficulty and complexity of the self-scoring method
  • Missing or misunderstanding some of the criteria or points on the self-scoring worksheet
  • Providing inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent information on the self-scoring worksheet
  • Failing to provide adequate and relevant evidence to substantiate the self-scoring claims
  • Making false or exaggerated claims that can be easily detected and disqualified by the Air Force
  • Not following the format and instructions of the self-scoring worksheet
  • Not reviewing and verifying the self-scoring worksheet before submission

However, doing all these tasks by yourself or with your in-house proposal writers may not be enough if this is your first try. You may need to hire a professional proposal writing company that has extensive experience and knowledge in the construction and engineering industry, as well as in the self-scoring method.

GDI Consulting team has been recognized as the thought leader in the self-scoring method by various industry publications and associations including Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), which is the global association for professionals working in a bid and proposal environment. GDI Consulting has published several articles and webinars on the best practices and strategies for self-scoring proposals. They have also helped numerous clients win federal contracts using the self-scoring method, such as the SEWP V, OASIS, and CIO-SP3 contracts, you can increase your chances of winning the C2E contract and grow your business in the construction and engineering industry.

You can learn more about GDI Consulting and their services by visiting their website or contacting them at [email protected]