Greetings! 

The Real Package
It may or may not improve the economy, but the $831 billion stimulus bill will definitely make the Federal Government bigger and more influential.  In doing so, the stimulus package provides a changing perspective of Government's role that may be more controversial than the price tag.

Infrastructure, Defined
Governments used to build roads to promote commerce and accessibility. The stimulus package today sells road repair as a means of job creation. Mayors used to get elected for fixing potholes. Today, highways and bridges are left crumbling while mayors address socio-economic issues such as high school drop-out prevention, job readiness, access to health care and global warming.
 
But don't point fingers at the Democrats. While Government shifts its focus to capitalizing banks, securing deposits, rescuing homeowners from foreclosure and providing universal health care, private contractors are increasingly being hired to provide military support, secure US borders, operate schools, interrogate prisoners and provide power generation - traditional Government roles that were outsourced under a Republican administration.

21st Century Shape Shifting
The Los Angeles Times ("Outsourcing Government," 10/20/07) found that in 2003, the US Government awarded 3,512 contracts "to companies to perform domestic security functions, from bomb detection to data mining. In the 22-month period ending in August 2006, the Homeland Security Department had issued more than 115,000 security-related contracts." Clearly the 21st Century Government is shape-shifting before our eyes.

Uncle Sam, Uber-Consumer
A new urgency has been created by the recession's effect on consumer spending. In 2006, the Hoover Institution estimated that consumer consumption was 70% of our country's Gross Domestic Product, or more than two-thirds of what kept our economy growing. By contrast, Government spending was less than 20%.

Now that consumers can't or won't spend, the Government sees the need to spend on our behalf. In 2009, with an $831 billion stimulus package over an $800 billion bank bailout, the Government portion of the GDP is likely to double. At question is what, if anything, will drive the economy forward in the long term.

Adapting to the Times
Now is not the time to panic - rather, now is the time to assess where the emerging opportunities are and how best to approach them. Proposal Pro, Inc. follows Government trends and helps our clients to position themselves right where the funding is most likely to be. We help to shape your response, demonstrate how your offer presents the best value to the agency, and to walk you around the obstacles that stand between you and a multi-year Government contract. Despite the economy, Proposal Pro, Inc. helps organizations to write proposals that ensure their growth and profitability while creating value for the Government - a win for all parties.

Are You Ready to Win in 2009?
Proposal Pro's Write to Win™ training materials provide the inside information that savvy proposers use to win large-scale contract awards. Our audio CD reveals what to read an RFP for, what the evaluators want to see, and what mistakes to avoid. In addition to providing a step-by-step review of a Government RFP, each disk includes the worksheets and forms that we use to create proposals that evaluators respond to - with contract awards!  And remember, the purchase of training materials is a tax-deductible business expense.
 
To purchase, contact us at 914-633-3352 or visit our website at www.proposalpro.com/products.html.