In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Eric Coffie breaks down one of the most dangerous mistakes contractors make when bidding on government work: overpromising what they can't realistically deliver.

From unrealistic response times and staffing promises to inflated delivery schedules and "state-of-the-art" claims that don't yet exist, Eric explains how desperation to win can quietly sabotage performance after award. He also unpacks how this behavior raises red flags for evaluators—especially in Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements—where honesty and compliance matter far more than flashy narratives.

The conversation also dives into a second critical issue: misunderstanding the evaluation method. Eric explains why contractors often waste time and money submitting bloated, over-engineered proposals for LPTA contracts—only to lose to a lean, compliant bid with a lower price. If you want to protect your reputation, avoid performance failures, and bid smarter, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways

• Overpromising creates performance risk — Unrealistic staffing, response times, or delivery schedules can lead to COR issues, contract discrepancies, or termination for default.

• Honesty beats hype in LPTA bids — Inflated claims don't earn extra credit; evaluators only care if you meet requirements at the lowest acceptable price.

• Match your proposal to the evaluation method — In LPTA, "acceptable is acceptable." A shorter compliant proposal will beat a bloated one every time if the price is lower.

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