My recent interactive Zoom session focused on how to maximize your position at the year-end of the federal fiscal year. Helping attendees think specifically about how to update their customer message by putting themselves in the customer’s shoes.
Inexecutable Budget Decisions
Contracting officials and program offices are awaiting decisions and approvals required to move funding from the previously planned activity to a new place in the budget more prepared for the funding to be spent. Simply stated, budget decisions made years ago are proving to be “inexecutable” and DoD needs permission to spend it elsewhere.
Billions of dollars await obligation as we approach the end of the fiscal year. Congress is evaluating the annual omnibus mid-year reprogramming request, in production since April, and only recently delivered by the OSD Comptroller via the Office of Management and Budget.
While Congress will approve many of the requests in the omnibus reprogramming, they will also deny many. This creates an opportunity for companies to capture those otherwise unspent funds. Some refer to these funds as “sweep up” dollars.
Here are three things you can do right now that might accelerate an outcome for your company:
- Put yourself in the shoes of your government buyer and help them obligate their funds by thinking like the buyer and presenting yourself and your offering as READY NOW.
- Tweak your message to satisfy this very specific spending need by your buyer. Don’t go back in with the same message you used when you introduced yourself. Demonstrate that you appreciate the buyer may be facing a unique challenge you can help with.
- Tighten your numbers to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can deliver the desired good or service on time and on or below budget, removing any risk in the eyes of the buyer.
Seize the Second or Third Bite
This is your proverbial second or third bite at the apple. Don’t miss it. Take charge of the dialogue with your buyer and demonstrate your mastery of this unique place in time in the budgeting world.
You might just create a year-end win for yourself and the customer. This is a no-lose window. Demonstrating your budgeting prowess only improves the buyer’s view of you and your company.
Make Your Move is a navigational guide for those transitioning out of the military and considering the next steps— or anybody facing a major career change. My story is both an example and practical guide to dream big and achieve big things.
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Freedom Fighter Outdoors started as an awareness of the physical, mental and emotional suffering of the men and women who served our country in the military.
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