Proven Proposal Consultancy In Virginia For Sale

Property Information

Location:

Organizational Communications Inc. (OCI) operates with a highly flexible and efficient business model that is perfectly suited to the modern, remote work environment. Although officially located at 11710 Plaza America Drive, Suite 200, in Reston, VA, the company conducts its operations 100% off-site. This location serves primarily as a shared office mail stop and provides access to conference rooms for in-person meetings when necessary.

This operational setup offers several key advantages. First, it significantly reduces overhead costs, allowing the company to invest more resources into delivering high-quality services to its clients. Second, the remote work model supports the company’s ability to engage top-tier talent from across the country, enabling OCI to maintain its competitive edge by offering clients access to the best proposal consultants in the industry.

For prospective buyers, this flexibility means the business is easily relocatable, providing the opportunity to integrate OCI’s operations seamlessly with an existing business or to continue operating it as a standalone entity from any location. The absence of special zoning requirements or long-term lease obligations further simplifies the transition process, making this an attractive and low-risk acquisition.

OCI’s location and operational strategy exemplify modern business practices, focusing on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to adapt to the evolving needs of both clients and the workforce.

Premises Details:

Organizational Communications Inc. (OCI) was founded in 1985 by Dr. Russell Smith, a visionary in the federal proposal consulting industry. Starting as a one-person operation, Dr. Smith built the company from the ground up, leveraging his expertise and passion for helping government contractors secure crucial contracts. By 1990, OCI had expanded to include an administrator and was already outsourcing contract work to other consultants, demonstrating early scalability and a commitment to quality service.

Throughout the 1990s, OCI continued to grow, adding its first Account Manager in 1995 and increasing its employee base to five by 2000, supported by a network of approximately 200 highly skilled 1099 consultant associates. This growth was fueled in part by Dr. Smith's leadership within the Association for Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), where he served as Program Chair and later as President of the National Capital Area (NCA) Chapter. His active involvement in APMP elevated OCI’s visibility, establishing the company as a respected name in the industry.

Today, OCI is recognized as a premier provider of proposal consulting services to large and mid-size government contractors. With two dedicated Account Managers and a vast bench of 425 vetted proposal consultant associates, the company offers an unmatched ability to match customer requirements with the perfect consultant skill set. Additionally, OCI’s proprietary network includes an extra 1,000 resumes, making it one of the most comprehensive talent pools in the industry—second only to a few much larger competitors.

Dr. Smith’s deep passion for the industry is a driving force behind the company’s success. His dedication to both sales and hands-on proposal writing has fostered a culture of excellence and client-centric service. The company’s leadership team includes COO Silvia Morales, a standout performer who has been with OCI for 23 years and is known for her unparalleled technical abilities and commitment to the company.

OCI's operational infrastructure is robust, with a customer and prospect database of approximately 30,000 contacts managed through Salesforce CRM. The company also holds a company-level SECRET security clearance, with both the owner and COO possessing Top Secret clearances. This security infrastructure not only enhances OCI’s credibility but also positions it as a valuable partner for sensitive government contracts. With a modest investment, the company is poised to transition this clearance to a Top Secret corporate clearance, further increasing its strategic value to prospective buyers.

Business Operation

Expansion Potential:

Diversification of Services:

Expanded Consulting Services: Beyond proposal development, the business can offer additional consulting services such as project management, compliance consulting, and strategic planning.
Training Programs: Develop and offer training programs for federal contracting, proposal writing, and compliance to build a steady revenue stream.

Market Expansion:

Geographical Expansion: Extend services to new regions or states, particularly those with high federal contracting activity.
Industry Diversification: Target new industries that require proposal support, such as healthcare, education, and state and local governments.

Strategic Partnerships:

Alliances with Larger Consulting Firms: Form partnerships or alliances with larger firms to offer complementary services and tap into their client base.
Technology Partnerships: Collaborate with technology providers to integrate advanced tools and software into proposal development processes.

Digital Transformation:

Enhanced Online Presence: Invest in digital marketing and improve the company’s online presence to attract more clients.
Proposal Management Software: Develop or adopt advanced proposal management software to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and deliver better results for clients.

Client Base Expansion:

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): Focus on providing affordable and scalable proposal services tailored to SMEs that are entering the federal contracting market.
Retaining Existing Clients: Implement customer loyalty programs and provide ongoing support to retain existing clients and secure repeat business.

Acquisition of Complementary Businesses:

Acquiring Smaller Firms: Consider acquiring smaller consulting firms or those with complementary services to expand capabilities and market share.
Mergers: Explore mergers with other consulting firms to consolidate resources, reduce competition, and enhance service offerings.

Innovation and New Offerings:

Innovative Service Packages: Create bundled service packages that offer comprehensive support from proposal development to contract management.
Value-added Services: Introduce value-added services such as post-award contract support, performance monitoring, and grant writing.

International Expansion:

Global Market Entry: Explore opportunities to offer proposal development and consulting services to international clients seeking U.S. federal contracts.
Cross-border Collaborations: Partner with international firms to provide a global perspective and expertise in federal contracting.

Focus on Emerging Technologies:

Technology Consulting: Offer consulting services related to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and blockchain, which are of growing interest to federal agencies.
Proposal Automation: Develop or invest in automation tools that streamline the proposal process, making it faster and more efficient.

Competition / Market:

Industry Landscape:

The consulting industry, particularly in proposal development and federal contracting, is highly competitive. Numerous firms offer a range of services from proposal writing to full-spectrum consulting for government contractors. The market includes large, established firms as well as smaller niche players.

Key Competitors:

Large Consulting Firms:

Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Accenture: These firms have extensive resources, broad service offerings, and established relationships with federal agencies. They often serve large clients and complex projects.
Strengths: Strong brand recognition, extensive industry expertise, and comprehensive service portfolios.
Weaknesses: Higher service costs and less personalized attention to smaller clients.

Mid-sized and Niche Consulting Firms:

CSSI, Inc., Key Solutions, Inc., and Lohfeld Consulting Group: These firms specialize in federal proposal consulting and often have strong track records in specific sectors or types of proposals.
Strengths: Deep industry knowledge, specialized expertise, and more competitive pricing compared to large firms.
Weaknesses: Limited resources and geographic reach compared to larger competitors.

Boutique Firms and Freelancers:

Individual consultants and small firms: These entities provide highly specialized services and often cater to smaller businesses or specific sectors.
Strengths: Personalized service, flexible pricing, and niche expertise.
Weaknesses: Limited scalability and resources for larger projects.

Competitive Strengths of the Business:

Expertise and Track Record:

Over 35 years of experience in helping clients secure more than $200 billion in federal contracts.
A deep, well-vetted pool of consultants with diverse technical and functional expertise.

Client Understanding and Customization:

Strong emphasis on understanding client needs and matching consultants to technical requirements and organizational culture.
Ability to deliver tailored, high-quality services that enhance proposal success rates.

Responsiveness and Flexibility:

High responsiveness to client needs and schedules, ensuring timely and effective support.
Flexible service offerings, including whole proposal support, staff augmentation, specialized support, and training.

Reputation and Client Loyalty:

Established reputation as a trusted partner in the federal contracting space.
Strong client testimonials and repeat business from satisfied customers.

Competitive Challenges:

Financial Performance:

Recent declines in revenue and profitability may impact the business’s ability to invest in growth and innovation.
Negative cash flow and high liabilities could pose challenges in maintaining operations and expanding services.

Market Competition:

Intense competition from both large consulting firms and specialized niche players.
The need to continually adapt to changing federal contracting requirements and market conditions.

Scalability and Resource Management:

Balancing the quality of personalized service with the need to scale operations and grow the client base.
Ensuring sufficient resources to handle larger projects and expand service offerings.

Opportunities for Competitive Advantage:

Technology Integration:

Investing in advanced proposal management software and automation tools to streamline operations and enhance service delivery.

Service Diversification:

Expanding into complementary consulting areas such as project management, compliance consulting, and strategic planning.

Market and Client Base Expansion:

Targeting new industries and geographical regions to diversify the client base and reduce dependency on specific sectors.

Strategic Partnerships:

Forming alliances with larger consulting firms and technology providers to enhance capabilities and reach.

Reasons for selling:

retiring

Trading hours:

8-6 EST

Employees:

5

Years established:

1990

Other Information

Support & training:

2 weeks

Owner financing:

Owner financing is available. Please contact the seller for more information.

Financing available:

Owner Financing Amount
$10,400.00
Owner Financing Interest
5.5%
Owner Financing Terms Months
24
Owner Financing Monthly Payment
$113.00

Furniture / Fixtures value:

$2,457 - included in the asking price