Government Contracts and RFP Manager
Full job description
JOB DESCRIPTION
COMPANY: Sicangu Co/REDCO
POSITION: Government Contracts and RFP Manager
REPORT: Chief Operations Officer
CLASSIFICATION: Salary/Exempt
JOB SUMMARY:
The Government Contracts and RFP Manager is responsible for building and leading the Sicangu Co ecosystem's capacity to compete for and win government contracting opportunities on behalf of REDCO's for-profit subsidiaries, including Rosebud Office Solutions, Rosebud Facilities Management, Rosebud Propane, and Rosebud Construction Inc. This role identifies relevant federal, tribal, and local contracting and RFP opportunities, manages the certification and vendor registration processes that make subsidiaries eligible to compete for set-aside work, and leads or supports the preparation and submission of proposals. The position also serves as the ecosystem's point of institutional knowledge on government contracting, an area of significant untapped opportunity given the ecosystem's Native-owned business status, and works to establish the systems, relationships, and track record needed to grow this function over time.
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Opportunity Identification and Pipeline Management:
Monitor federal, tribal, state, and local government solicitation sources for contracting and RFP opportunities relevant to REDCO subsidiaries.
Subscribe to and manage agency-specific and industry-specific procurement notification services to ensure timely awareness of new opportunities.
Maintain an active opportunity pipeline across subsidiaries, prioritizing based on fit, capacity, and likelihood of award.
Certification and Vendor List Management:
Lead subsidiaries through 8(a) certification and other relevant federal and tribal certification processes, and manage renewal and compliance requirements.
Ensure subsidiaries are registered and active on relevant federal and state vendor lists, including SAM.gov and GSA schedules where applicable.
Build and maintain relationships with SBA regional staff, tribal liaison and Indian desk contacts across relevant federal agencies, and other entities that support Native-owned business certification and procurement access.
Proposal Development and Submission:
Lead or directly support the preparation, writing, and submission of RFP, RFQ, and bid responses on behalf of subsidiaries, ensuring full compliance with solicitation requirements and deadlines.
Coordinate with subsidiary general managers and relevant technical staff to gather the information, past performance documentation, and pricing needed for competitive proposals.
Track proposal outcomes and maintain a record of wins, losses, and lessons learned to improve future submissions.
Subsidiary Support and Capacity Building:
Work with subsidiary leadership to build past performance documentation and qualifications needed to compete for larger or more complex contracts over time.
Advise subsidiaries on which certifications, partnerships, or capacity investments would meaningfully improve their competitiveness for government work.
Identify staffing, training, or resource gaps that limit the ecosystem's ability to pursue and deliver on government contracts, and bring recommendations to leadership.
Relationship Management:
Represent the Sicangu Co ecosystem in relationships with federal agencies, the SBA Sioux Falls district office, tribal contracting offices, and other Native-owned business networks and corporations pursuing similar work.
Build relationships with prime contractors and other tribal enterprises for potential subcontracting or teaming opportunities.
Represent REDCO at relevant government contracting trainings, conferences, and matchmaking events.
Assessment and Strategy:
In the first year, complete an assessment of the ecosystem's current government contracting readiness across subsidiaries, including existing certifications, staffing, and infrastructure, and use it to inform a roadmap for growing this function.
Provide periodic updates to executive leadership on pipeline status, wins, and recommendations for further investment in this capability.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in government contracting or procurement.
Demonstrated experience with federal government contracting processes, including familiarity with 8(a) certification, SBA set-aside programs, and GSA vendor schedules.
Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate solicitations and assess fit against subsidiary capabilities.
Excellent written communication skills, with experience preparing competitive proposals, bids, or grant applications.
Experience or familiarity with Buy Indian Act requirements and other set-aside programs relevant to tribally owned businesses is strongly preferred.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with federal, tribal, and private sector stakeholders.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple proposal timelines and subsidiary relationships simultaneously.
Self-directed and comfortable operating with significant autonomy, given the specialized and largely independent nature of this function.
Willingness to travel as needed; this position may be considered for a remote or hybrid arrangement given the national scope of relevant federal relationships and opportunities.
Knowledge of the Sicangu Co ecosystem, the Rosebud Reservation, or tribal economic development generally is a plus.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k)
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
Salary: D.O.E.
Work Location: In person
Questions Related to the RFP
1. Subsidiary population and prioritization
The RFP references several operating subsidiaries and requests a subsidiary-by-subsidiary readiness assessment. Can REDCO confirm the total number of legal entities/subsidiaries expected to be included in the assessment and identify any entities that should receive priority based on near-term government-contracting objectives?
REDCO currently has five legal entities/subsidiaries: Rosebud Office Solutions (ROS), Rosebud Facilities Management (RFM), Peji Co, Sicangu Propane, and Farm Co. REDCO is also developing a sixth entity focused on property management. The initial priority will be entities with the strongest near-term government-contracting potential. REDCO expects the selected consultant to confirm and recommend prioritization early in the engagement.
2. Existing 8(a) participation
Can REDCO identify which subsidiaries currently participate in, have previously participated in, or are presently pursuing admission to the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program, and whether REDCO anticipates that the selected consultant will evaluate potential 8(a) eligibility for additional subsidiaries?
REDCO currently has one subsidiary with 8(a) status: Rosebud Office Solutions (ROS). Rosebud Facilities Management (RFM) is the next priority for pursuing 8(a) certification and also needs to pursue HUBZone certification. REDCO is also interested in recommendations regarding potential 8(a) eligibility or alternative certifications for additional entities, where appropriate.
3. Contract portfolio
Approximately how many active and historical federal, state, local, or tribal contracts does REDCO expect the selected consultant to inventory and assess under Phase 1? For purposes of estimating level of effort, does REDCO envision this as a high-level inventory and status review, or should Proposers anticipate a more detailed contract-by-contract review of administration, compliance, and reporting requirements?
REDCO anticipates a relatively limited and varied portfolio of historical and active federal, state, local, tribal, and grant-related awards. Phase 1 is intended as a high-level inventory and status review, focused on identifying open, unreported, or un-closed-out awards and assessing the availability of past-performance documentation. A detailed contract-by-contract compliance audit is not assumed unless the consultant identifies a material risk or recommends deeper review as an optional subsequent activity.
4. Documentation availability
Does REDCO currently maintain centralized or readily accessible documentation supporting the areas contemplated by the readiness assessment, including entity and ownership records, SAM.gov registrations, certifications, government contracts, past-performance records, policies and procedures, financial/accounting information, and related compliance documentation? Or should Proposers anticipate that document identification, collection, and organization across the subsidiaries will be a substantive part of the engagement?
Documentation exists across REDCO and its subsidiaries but is not fully centralized or consistently organized. Proposers should anticipate that document identification, collection, and organization will be a meaningful component of the readiness assessment.
5. Existing technology environment
What systems or tools does REDCO currently use for CRM/business development, opportunity tracking, document management, accounting/ERP, project management, and contract administration? Does REDCO have preferences or constraints regarding introducing additional third-party platforms or automation?
REDCO uses a mix of entity-level tools for accounting, document management, project management, and business development. The assessment should evaluate the current environment and identify practical gaps. REDCO is open to recommendations, but the initial engagement should not assume implementation of new third-party platforms without separate approval.
6. Access to personnel
For proposal planning purposes, approximately how many REDCO and subsidiary stakeholders should the selected consultant expect to interview?
Proposers should anticipate interviews with approximately 12 to 15 REDCO and subsidiary stakeholders, including executive leadership, finance, operations, and leaders of priority entities. REDCO will help coordinate access and refine the interview list during kickoff.
7. Scope refinement, prioritization, and phasing
Would REDCO be receptive to a proposal that addresses all of the RFP’s objectives but recommends alternative phasing, prioritization, or levels of effort based on the Proposer’s experience and assessment of where REDCO can derive the greatest near-term value?
Yes. REDCO welcomes proposals that achieve the RFP’s objectives while recommending alternative phasing, prioritization, or levels of effort. Proposers may identify priority subsidiaries or workstreams for deeper initial assessment and structure remaining activities as subsequent or optional phases, provided the proposal clearly explains the rationale, deliverables, and pricing.
8. Budget
Does REDCO have an anticipated budget range or not-to-exceed amount for this engagement, and does REDCO prefer a fixed-fee structure, time-and-materials structure, or phased pricing with separately authorized implementation activities?
REDCO has not established a public not-to-exceed amount for this engagement. Proposers should provide clear, phased pricing, preferably on a fixed-fee basis for defined assessment deliverables, with any implementation or additional advisory support separately scoped and authorized.
9. Post-Phase 5 activities and implementation
Does REDCO anticipate a need for optional implementation or advisory support following completion of the initial engagement?
REDCO anticipates that optional implementation and advisory support may be valuable following the initial engagement. This support is not assumed to be part of the base scope. Proposers may describe available implementation options, associated pricing, and the circumstances in which they would be recommended.