· Field notes ·

The Capture Brief

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

June 13, 2026 · Proposals

Section M Evaluation Factors: Writing to the Score, Not the Page Count

Most proposal teams fill pages. Winning teams map every paragraph to a Section M adjectival rating. Here is how to close that gap.

June 11, 2026 · Proposals

Writing a Past-Performance Volume That Actually Scores Well

Most past-performance volumes fail before the evaluator reads page two. Here is how to build one that holds up under SSEB scrutiny.

June 9, 2026 · Proposals

Running Color Team Reviews When Your Proposal Team Is Two People

Pink, red, and gold reviews exist for a reason. Here is how a two-person shop runs them without pretending you have a 12-person war room.

June 8, 2026 · SAM.gov

SAM.gov Registration Renewals: The UEI, Banking, and POC Updates That Quietly Expire and Block an Award

Your SAM registration can lapse mid-solicitation and kill an award. Here are the specific fields that expire silently and how to fix them before CO calls.

June 4, 2026 · Bid Strategy

Turning CPARS Narratives into Proposal Assets: A Practical Guide for Federal Bidders

Learn how to mine CPARS narratives for win themes, mitigate negative ratings, and build a compliant past performance section that wins evaluations.

June 4, 2026 · Proposals

Reading a 200-Page Federal Solicitation in Under an Hour: What to Skim and What to Read

Practitioner’s guide to dissecting 200-page federal solicitations. Prioritize FAR clauses, past performance, and compliance matrices. Skip boilerplate.

June 4, 2026 · Compliance

NAICS Code Selection and Recertification: Avoiding the Small-Business Size-Standard Trap

A single NAICS code error can disqualify your bid or trigger SBA recertification audits. Learn how to navigate size standards, set-asides, and recertification pitfalls.

May 20, 2026 · Comparisons

Winrove vs. RFPMart: Why Volume Is Not a Strategy for Set-Aside Contractors

RFPMart is a raw RFP aggregator: it finds volume, not fit. Winrove is built for the contractor who needs filtered opportunities matched to their set-aside designation, plus proposal drafting once they find the right bid. I cancelled RFPMart after 12 months of near-zero use. Here is what I learned.