Most vendors are chasing the same crowded contracts in the same big states. Meanwhile, government agencies in places like Connecticut, Maine, and Idaho are posting high-value opportunities with almost zero competition.

In this episode of This Week in Procurement™, host Abby Souffrant breaks down 28K+ new solicitations released this week. We dive deep into five active contracts, ranging from $45K remote legal work to a $2M election infrastructure deal and reveal why your "positioning" matters more than your "price" when it comes to winning.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The Data Pulse: Why software and pre-procurement (MRB) contracts are surging right now.
• The "Underdog" Advantage: Why you should look at states like Oregon, Nebraska, and Maine to build your past performance faster.
• Outcome vs. Service: The simple framing shift that makes buyers feel "safe" saying yes to your proposal.

🔗 Resources & Links

• Readiness Assessment: Find out if you're actually ready to bid.
• Under Contract Academy: Get access to the contracts in this episode and more!
• The Substack Briefing: Get these insights in your inbox every Friday.

Connect with Abby:

• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Disclaimer: Always verify solicitation details directly with the issuing agency before submitting. Data is sourced from public portals and summarized for intelligence purposes only.

27,583 new government contracts dropped this week. Most vendors didn't notice. We did.

This week Abby is back breaking down five opportunities you can actually go after right now, plus the RFI strategy that too many small businesses are sleeping on. (Hint: if you think RFIs are just market research, this episode is for you.)

We get into the contracts, the buyer signals, who's best positioned to win, and what the regional heat map is telling us about where the money is moving.

Dear Abby is open. Real questions, real answers, no fluff.

New episodes every week. The contracts aren't waiting, and neither should you.

Are you positioned as the "fix it now" vendor? This week on This Week in Procurement, host Abby Souffrant breaks down five hand-selected government contracting opportunities across the country that are open and ready to bid; from vending machine contracts in Mississippi to life skills training in Ohio.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The top 5 SLED (State, Local & Education) contracting opportunities for the week of February 6–12th.
• What buying signals agencies are sending and how to position your business to win.
• A regional breakdown of government spending trends across the East Coast, South, Midwest, and West Coast.
• This week's Pro Tip: Why leading with your metrics (not burying them) is the fastest way to get agencies to stop scrolling.
• Dear Abby: Which vendor portal should you register with first: federal, state, or local?

Whether you're a nonprofit, SaaS integrator, training firm, vending operator, or workforce development provider, there's an opportunity in this episode with your name on it.

📌 Want access to hand-selected contracts you can bid on right now? Join the Under Contract Academy. www.skool.com/undercontract

📌 Subscribe & turn on notifications! Our next series walks you through registering your business live in all 50 state procurement portals, starting with California.

27,583 new government contracts dropped between February 27th and March 5th. Most vendors didn't see a single one.

This week Abby breaks down five live SLED opportunities across EdTech, climate communications, AI evaluation, maternal health, and physical security, plus the regional forecast telling you exactly where the money is moving right now.

And if you've ever wondered whether to niche down or stay broad, Dear Abby has a direct answer for you.

The contracts aren't waiting. Neither should you.

In This Episode:

[0:00] Intro — Why every region is buying software and AI right now

[0:45] Opportunity #1 — Iowa K-12 PE Curriculum ($10K, fast win for shelf-ready EdTech)

[2:00] Opportunity #2 — California Climate Outreach ($430K, 2-year statewide engagement)

[3:15] Opportunity #3 — Massachusetts AI Decision Support Tools ($1M, global health scope)

[4:30] Opportunity #4 — South Dakota Doula Workforce Program (no posted budget, tribal component)

[5:45] Opportunity #5 — New Hampshire Exterior Surveillance Replacement (hard deadline: bids due March 30)

[7:00] Tip of the Week — The easiest contract to win is the one you already have

[7:30] Nationwide Forecast — 27,924 opportunities and what the regional heatmap is telling us

[10:30] Dear Abby — "Should I niche down or stay broad to increase my chances?"

Resources Mentioned:

• Government Contracting Readiness Assessment: https://form.jotform.com/260323708054047
• Under Contract Academy: https://www.skool.com/undercontract/about

New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss an opportunity.

Right now, a contract is being awarded in your state.

Not to the most qualified vendor. Not to the biggest company. To the one who showed up.

Episode 8 is about that gap between vendors who are ready and vendors who are actually winning. Abby breaks down five live opportunities, what the buyers are signaling, and exactly who needs to be in the room (that means you).

If you've been watching contracts go to someone else and wondering how this episode is your answer.

Dear Abby is back with the questions you're too afraid to ask in a LinkedIn comment.

The money is moving. The only question is whether it's moving toward you.

This Week in Procurement™ drops every week with five real opportunities, zero gatekeeping, and the strategy to back it up.

This week, Abby Souffrant of A&L Business Solutions is back in the saddle for a deep-dive pod companion to the This Week in Procurement broadcast and she's not holding back. From a surprising (and slightly controversial) vending machine contract in Oxford, Mississippi, to a brand-new $1.2M family support pilot program out of Washington State, Abby walks through five hand-selected government contracting opportunities across the SLED market (State, Local, Education, and beyond).

Abby also gets on her soapbox (in the best way) about why agencies are starting to charge for bid documents, how ChatGPT is creating a wave of copy-paste proposals that get everyone disqualified, and why "proof of concept" will always matter more than passion alone in the government contracting arena.

Contracts Covered This Week:

1. 📣 Vending Machine Contract - Oxford, Mississippi | Due: March 19, 2026 | $50 bid doc purchase required
2. 📣 Basic Needs Support Pilot Program - Washington State | Up to $240K/vendor | Max $1.2M total | Due: TBD (May 2025–June 2027 term)
3. 📣 Beach Safety & Ocean Conditions Dashboard - California | Tech/data play | Proposals due March 20, 2026
4. 📣 Public Art Master Plan - New Jersey | Budget: $7,500 | Due: February 28, 2026
5. 📣 Life Skills Education Trainer - Ohio | 46-page RFP | Due: March 3, 2026

Want access to these RFPs and hundreds more? Join the Under Contract Academy