LIVE WEBINAR
Inside the Agency
What Government Buyers Want Suppliers to Know
NOV
12
12:00 PM Eastern · 9:00 AM Pacific
What actually happens inside a government agency before an RFP reaches the market, and what separates suppliers who are well positioned from those who are simply responding to another bid? Hear it from two former government procurement leaders who have sat on the other side of the table.
Save Your Seat
SPEAKERS
Derrick Koenig
Valerie Bollinger
Director, SOVRA
Former Chief Procurement Officer, State of Idaho (Boise)
Trevor Day
Director, SOVRA
Former Procurement Commissioner, City of Philadelphia
WHY ATTEND
See the process from the buyer’s side of the table
Many suppliers first encounter an opportunity only when the RFP is published. This session brings the supplier and buyer perspectives together in a candid conversation with two former government procurement professionals, so you can understand what happens before that point.
We’ll explore how agencies identify needs, how internal departments and procurement teams work together, how suppliers are evaluated, and the common mistakes that weaken an otherwise strong proposal.
MISCONCEPTIONS WE’LL TACKLE
“The process isn’t fair.”
Is the playing field really level? We’ll pull back the curtain on how procurement decisions are made, what safeguards exist, and what suppliers can do to compete more effectively.
“Incumbents always win.”
Does the current vendor really have an advantage? Hear directly from former government procurement professionals about how agencies evaluate proposals, what matters most in their decisions, and how new suppliers can stand out.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Become more informed about the agencies you want to work with
The goal isn’t simply to respond to more RFPs. It’s to help you feel more confident about the opportunities you choose to pursue.
01
The process is fairer than you think
Why procurement is fairer than many suppliers believe, and the safeguards that keep it that way.
02
Before the solicitation
What happens inside an agency before a solicitation is published.
03
Who does what
The difference between the internal department with the need and the procurement team that runs the process.
04
What buyers wish you knew
What government buyers wish every supplier knew before submitting a bid.
05
Mistakes that cost bids
Common mistakes that lead to non-compliant or uncompetitive bids.
06
Prepare before the RFP
How suppliers can prepare appropriately before an RFP reaches the market.
Know the agency before you bid
Thursday, November 12, 2026 · 12:00 PM Eastern · 9:00 AM Pacific
