SBA’s E2G Program: How to Develop a Cost Proposal for Government Contracts

Learn how to develop pricing that wins—not just qualifies.

Price it right. Justify it well. Win with confidence.

Pricing your proposal correctly is as important as your technical approach—a strong cost proposal can make or break your chances of winning a government contract. This webinar will walk you through the essential components of building a transparent, compliant, competitive cost proposal that aligns with agency expectations.

Whether you’re bidding on your first contract or looking to sharpen your pricing strategy, this session will demystify how to structure your pricing, justify your rates, and ensure cost realism and accuracy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Key components of a government cost proposal
• How to develop direct and indirect costs (labor, materials, overhead, G&A, profit)
• Pricing formats (firm-fixed-price, T&M, cost-reimbursable)
• Common pricing mistakes and how to avoid them
• Tips for documenting pricing assumptions and justifications
• Understanding DCAA expectations (if applicable)
• Tools and templates to simplify your cost proposal process

Who Should Attend:

• Small business owners pursuing government contracts
• Proposal and pricing professionals
• Business development and contract managers
• New federal contractors and 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB firms