I just left it alone. It was my first time doing a government bid. I figured the fix was in on it and just moved on.
Understand and it can be a confusing process. There is often a desire by the customer to retain the services it is familiar with, and they like to also avoid disruptions from transitioning to another contractor. But sometimes they may also be happy to consider a replacement. You never really know so you need to find out as much about the situation as you can and tailor your proposal to address the needs of the customer and make it clear that you’re prepared (and have a plan) to ensure a smooth, disruption free transition of services.
Most RFP’s will tell you what the evaluation factors are. Pay close attention to them and their relative weightings. Address every requirement in your proposal. Many contractors make the grave mistake of writing vague proposals. Make your proposals sharp, clear and well organized — this makes them easier to evaluate and get credit for your skills, technical approach, and capabilities. Experience is also a critical element. Highlight your relevant successes.
Be competitive in pricing. You will almost always have an opportunity down the road to modify the contract for more money. That’s another aspect of contracting that is often overlooked and underappreciated.
Best of luck in your future bids. And again, make sure you ask for a debriefing. Contracting officers expect this and it can be a good source of insights that will help you win future work. Be inquisitive, but respectful and polite. Thank the CO and they will respect your professionalism and perhaps even be impressed, which is a very good thing.