Business Development Proposal Writer

Professional Summary

Proposal writer with more than 20 years experience in federal contracting as writer, business development leader, capture manager, and chief proposal strategist. Competitive bid experience with Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, State, USAID, Army, Navy and Marines including bidding for GWACs overall awards as well as task orders. Extensive experience writing technical proposal sections in program management, and a range of IT topics including cybersecurity, IT operations, software development, and human capital. Extensive experience in BD, capture and writing for international development. Deputy project manager experience. Proven track record of contributing to scores of effective proposals for federal contracts. P-win driven; adept at recognizing and analyzing problems to deliver innovative solutions and impact the bottom line. Shipley certified in Business Development. Spanish language.

Professional Experience Arlington, VA

Independent Contractor, Arlington, VA 2025

Proposal Writer, TripleCyber, Tysons, VA 2024-25

Led writing of RFIs and proposals in cybersecurity and human capital.

Senior Proposal Writer, Focused Management Inc., Alexandria, VA 2023

Led writing of technical and management sections for IT operations and asset management proposals to USDA, FCC, IRS and SBA.

Proposal Writer, MITRE, McLean, VA 2022

Contributed to shaping of proposal response of large upcoming federal solicitation in the computer industry. Wrote draft sections and comments on mockups and draft presentations. Assisted in planning for the competitive bid.

Proposal Writer, TAPE LLC, Alexandria, VA 2020-2022

Writer for government contractor focusing on program and project management, acquisition support, Agile development, cybersecurity, risk management, and training systems support.

Independent Consultant, Arlington, VA 2020

Provided services in business development and proposal development. Assignments included writing on staffing and management sections for large DoD proposal to provide counseling services to military personnel and their families in the U.S. and overseas locations, and on staffing and management for proposal to National Guard for military funeral honors and survivor outreach services.

Senior Staff, Lumark Technologies, Washington, D.C. 2019-20

Lead writer for Lumark proposals in program management, cybersecurity, and FAA-related topics including UAS. Participated in teaming on business development opportunities.

Independent Consultant, Arlington,VA 2018 – 19

Provided services in business development, capture and proposal writing for federal contractors. Assignments include writing of concept paper for Veterans Affair project to improve management information for disabled veterans, 2019, and suggested improvements to website of VA contractor.

OBXtek, Tysons Corner, VA 2017-18

Responsible for capture and proposal writing. Led capture efforts for USAID solicitations in global health and participant training in Pakistan. Hired initially as “proposal manager,” but never worked in that capacity, instead did capture and proposal writing. For the health project, assessed competitive landscape, identified and contacted teaming partners, developed supporting corporate material, participated in negotiation of teaming terms; technical proposal achieved a rating of “outstanding” from the customer. For a second USAID solicitation, assessed the competitive landscape, identified and contacted teaming partners, and organized intelligence on solicitation from sources in the host country. Conducted other capture efforts with civilian agencies for pre-solicitations and agency business forecasts. Responsible for writing technical and management sections of numerous proposals for defense and civilian agencies including the Army, Navy, and DHS. Participated in responses for task orders under OASIS Small Business Pool 1, Alliance Small Business and IT 70.

Independent Consultant, Arlington, VA 2002-17

Business development, proposal development and capture specialist for organizations pursuing contracts with USAID, other federal agencies, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank. Provided consultancy services in market entry, market growth and business development for international development for organizations, including non-profits new to USAID. Select client assignments 2002-17 include:

IT, Telecom, Health Contractors. Temporarily led business development over several months 2014-15 for small IT contractor in Ashburn, VA, and initiating contact with federal agencies for contract opportunities. Wrote storyboards on healthcare management for major health company for large VA pre-proposal. Supported proposals for major computer and IT provider for national security project; for major cyber contractor on civilian cybersecurity in 2015, and telecom to GSA for major telecom company.

International contractors. Assist in capture, teaming, writing and proposal staffing; carried out capture field trips to Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Ghana to prepare for large USAID proposals. Other clients include RTI, IRG, IRD, Weidemann Associates, the Pragma Corporation, Bankworld, Creative Associates, Segura Consulting, IOS Partners, and Deloitte. Long-term assignments as an independent include:

KPMG International Development Advisory Services (IDAS); Vienna, VA, 2009-11. Capture and teaming for major USAID proposals as subcontractor ranging from quarter to half time. Managed, conceptualized and wrote unsolicited proposals for USAID financial management of emergency relief project in Haiti. Assist in building the international development practice through strategy and planning, and setup for competitive bids focusing on teaming. Assist in execution of expressions of interest (EOIs) and responses to solicitations. Prepare business development strategy presentations for viewing by the international development group and cooperating units within KPMG.

Crown Agents USA, Washington, D.C. 2009. Full time for nine months in interim BD capacity. Proposal development work with capture, teaming, writing and staffing of USAID tax administration project in Jamaica; and with MCC project in procurement for Lesotho. Led capture for conceptualized and drafted unsolicited proposal drafts for USAID/Pakistan about displaced persons. Served as interim full-time business development specialist, contributing to proposals in tax reform and health supply chain. Other assignments as independent consultant include field assignment in Pakistan to explore upcoming USAID economic growth projects..

Grant Thornton Global Public Sector Division,Alexandria, VA, 2003-07. Full time for four years as outside consultant. Capture, writing and proposal development work for bids to African Development Bank in Mozambique and Ghana, and for Asian Development Bank in Laos, Pacific region, and Bhutan. In nearly full-time consultancy, led business development activities for USAID, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and African Development Bank. Led teaming arrangements for the group’s international proposals. Prepared PowerPoint presentations for internal corporate use on international business development. Also responsible for conceptualization and research on good governance products for utilization by international donor agencies. Participated in the development of public sector change management and administrative capacity building methodology aimed at developing countries, utilizing U.S.-oriented models and adapting principal recommendations to problems of developing countries. Organized company experience and capability in competitiveness. Led proposal development for anti-money laundering in Mozambique, anti-money laundering in Vietnam, strengthening the social security system in Mozambique, harmonizing the capital markets of Nigeria and Ghana, and strengthening public sector auditing in the Pacific Islands. Strengthened connections with numerous local offices, and generated the group’s principal qualifications database.

Director of Business Development; DevTech Systems, Inc.,Washington, DC 2000 – 2002

Led capture and business development efforts for international consulting firm specializing in economics, education, environment and trade. Managed numerous proposals to USAID and the Asian Development Bank. Advised on strategic direction of company in terms of fields and clients. Responsible for establishing the Asian Development Bank as new client. Carried out capture trips to Central Asia, the Middle East and East Asia. Responsible for leading capture and key teaming on major USAID contract (Development Information Services) in which DevTech and the Academy for Educational Development (AED) were incumbents, but that AED was almost certain to win; negotiated 19% DevTech participation in the contract, which brought significant revenue to DevTech. Also led capture efforts with the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

Manager of Business Development; Int’l Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI),

Vienna, VA 1998 – 1999

Proposal development, management and writing for USAID solicitations.

Manager; KPMG/Barents Group, Washington, D.C. 1993 – 1998

Business development, proposal development and project management for USAID. Led or contributed to proposal wins; served as deputy to manager for Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP).

Skills and Core Competencies

Business Development Proposal Writing Marketing Economics Project Management MS Word MS Excel

Education

B.A., Journalism; University of Minnesota

Graduate coursework in International Studies; University of Denver; 3 papers short of MA

Ph.D. program in Economics two years, University of Maryland; passed comprehensive exams at master’s level

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