Shipley Proposal Process Terms

A design approach in which a person reviews, edits, or approves AI-generated output before it is finalized or used, rather than letting the AI operate unsupervised.

Classified indefinite-delivery vehicles for cyber operations and signals intelligence support across the Intelligence Community.

The framework of policies and technology governing who can access which systems and data, and what they are permitted to do once inside.

The combined federal policies, processes, and technologies used to verify identity, issue credentials, and control access to systems, data, and facilities.

The role that manages preparation of the Integrated Master Plan and Integrated Master Schedule, ensuring a program can be completed within schedule and cost constraints.

Current holder of a contract being re-competed.

Contract vehicle providing indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period.

Government's internal projection of what a procurement should cost.

Costs not directly accountable to a contract: fringe, overhead, G&A, B&P, IR&D.

The practice of protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Task that must be performed by government personnel, not contractors.

Multiple classified IDIQ contract vehicles across CIA, NSA, NGA, DIA, and other IC agencies. Include cyber operations, SIGINT, GEOINT, and analysis support.

State Department regulations controlling the export and handling of defense articles, technical data, and defense services on the U.S. Munitions List.

Sealed bidding solicitation where award goes to the lowest priced, responsive, responsible bidder.

Two or more companies forming a unique entity to share work on an opportunity.

Critical positions with specific education and experience requirements specified in the RFP.

The meeting that launches proposal development, typically held once the bid decision is made and the solicitation is released, aligning the team on schedule, compliance approach, and roles.

The classification of positions priced and bid on a contract (e.g., Engineering Technician III).

A model trained on very large volumes of text so it can predict, generate, and manipulate human language rather than simply search or sort it.

Also called a White Hat Review: an after-action review of the capture or proposal process, conducted once the effort is complete, to improve future pursuits.

Written commitment to join the team for a specific position if the company wins.

Award goes to the lowest-priced proposal meeting minimum technical requirements.

A branch of AI in which a system improves at a task by learning patterns from data rather than following rules a person explicitly programmed.

Government research to assess whether a procurement can be performed by small businesses.

Structured pairing of established firms with developmental small businesses.

Official approving a program's progression through acquisition milestones.

A page-by-page layout of a proposal section, showing page allocations, headings, themes, and visual placement before the section is fully drafted.

The type of data or input a system can understand and process, such as text, speech, or images.

An overall graphic that summarizes the entire proposal — a visual of how your company sees the work.

A contract vehicle in which an agency pre-awards the same scope of work to multiple contractors, who then compete for individual task or delivery orders as needs arise.

An indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity vehicle under which two or more contractors are awarded the base contract and then compete against each other for individual task orders.

An IDIQ contract with more than one winner. Winning the vehicle doesn't guarantee work.

NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement — GWAC for IT products and services. SEWP V extended through Sept. 30, 2026 while SEWP VI ($60B ceiling) completes source selection amid protests. GSA is in discussions to assume management post-award.

The civilian agency responsible for the U.S. space program and aeronautics research, contracting for launch services, spacecraft development, and engineering support.

A professional association for contract management practitioners across government and industry, known for its CPCM certification and Contract Management Body of Knowledge.

A trade association representing companies, individuals, and academic institutions across the U.S. defense industrial base, connecting government and industry on defense technology and acquisition.

A Department of Commerce agency that develops measurement standards and cybersecurity frameworks, including the SP 800-171 controls that underpin many federal compliance requirements.

The HHS agency that funds and conducts biomedical and public health research through grants and contracts, and a major buyer of scientific R&D and clinical trial support.

A 13-digit number the federal government assigns to a specific, recurringly procured supply item so it can be uniquely identified and reordered across the supply chain.

An advocacy and education organization for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses pursuing federal contracts.

A subfield of AI in which a system transforms structured data or inputs into readable, human-like text.

The field of AI focused on how computers understand, interpret, and generate human language rather than structured data or code.

Navy's next-generation electronic platform for acquiring support services in 23 functional areas. Multiple award, IDIQ, rolling admissions.

A system of interconnected algorithms, loosely modeled on the brain, that identifies relationships in data and is the structure most modern AI models are built on.

A nonprofit association serving procurement professionals in state, local, and other public-sector agencies, distinct from federal contracting.

NITAAC's IT services GWAC for health IT and general IT. CIO-SP4 was cancelled in Feb. 2026 due to years of protests and EO 14240 procurement consolidation. CIO-SP3 extended through April 2027. GSA expected to absorb the program.

Numbering system classifying work for federal solicitations.

A risk-management process for identifying and protecting unclassified information that, if pieced together, could reveal sensitive plans, capabilities, or activities.

Evaluation of a potential contracting opportunity based on profitability, win probability, strategic fit, and resources.

A Shipley planning tool proposal managers use to organize an oral presentation or sales briefing so it aligns with the written proposal.