· Field notes ·

The Capture Brief

Lessons from real captures, published when we have something useful to say. 84 notes on winrove.com.

August 3, 2026 · Bid Strategy

Joint Ventures and the SBA Mentor-Protege Program: A Practical Guide for Small Contractors

Before you pursue a large federal contract alone, understand how joint ventures and SBA mentor-protege agreements can expand your competitive position.

July 30, 2026 · SAM.gov

SAM.gov Registration for First-Time Federal Contractors: UEI, CAGE Code, and Entity Validation Done Right

Before you can submit a federal proposal, your SAM.gov registration must be active and accurate. Here is how to get the UEI, CAGE code, and entity validation right.

July 30, 2026 · Bid Strategy

Building a 12-Month Pipeline from Agency Procurement Forecasts

Agency procurement forecasts are public, free, and largely ignored. Here is how capture teams turn them into a structured 12-month pursuit calendar.

July 27, 2026 · Proposals

Writing Win Themes That Map to the Customer's Hot Buttons

Win themes only work when they echo what the evaluator actually worries about. Here is how to find those hot buttons and wire them into every section.

July 26, 2026 · Compliance

Cost Realism: Surviving the Government Price Analysis

When a contracting officer flags your price as unrealistically low, the award is already at risk. Here is how to build a cost realism defense before submission.

July 24, 2026 · Proposals

The one-page proposal management plan that keeps a small team on track

Stop drowning in spreadsheets. Learn how a single-page proposal management plan aligns your capture team, simplifies compliance, and wins more federal contracts.

July 13, 2026 · Bid Strategy

Past Performance Information Retrieval: Turning CPARS Narratives into a Proposal Asset

Your CPARS record is raw material. Here is how capture teams extract, organize, and reuse those narratives before the next RFP drops.

July 1, 2026 · Bid Strategy

Reading an Incumbent CPARS Record to Find Their Weaknesses

A competitor's CPARS file is a roadmap to their vulnerabilities. Here is how capture managers extract actionable intelligence from past performance data.