If you’re a SEDI- or very small business (VSB) in MD, VA, DC, or DE with <250 employees, Maryland TEDCO’s new BRIDGE Proposal Lab gives you no-cost training and live support to help you compete for federal contracts and grants. Seats are limited to 20 companies per cohort in specific verticals (IT Services, Professional Services, Health and Health IT, and Logistics & Facilities) selected for forming teams. The Lab will run two cohorts per year. Application Deadline is September 19, 2025, but we expect to review applicants on a rolling basis and expect to fill the Lab early, so apply ASAP.
What it is
BRIDGE Proposal Lab (from Maryland TEDCO, funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI, and delivered with OST Global Solutions, a premier government business development consulting and training firm) is a cohort-based program that levels the playing field for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged (SEDI) and Very Small Business firms. You’ll get comprehensive instruction in all aspects of business development, an opportunities pipeline for your vertical, live working sessions on pursuing opportunities as a team of companies in the cohort, a business development AI platform license and training, and expert reviews of your proposals prior to submission—the same playbook that has delivered win-rates ~2.5× the national average.
Targeted verticals (your past performance must match these areas):
- IT Services
- Professional Services
- Health & Health IT
- Logistics & Facilities
What you get
- Deep skill-building: Full OST Global Solutions business development curriculum (310 hours) in our Learning Management System (LMS), plus cohort workshops, office hours, and tailored consulting advisory support.
- Opportunities pipeline for each vertical to pursue together with other companies selected for the cohorts, including future alumni
- An AI platform license
- Hands-on capture and proposal development (our expert consultants roll up sleeves with you):
- Strategy for winning: proposal themes, teaming, capture action items with the guidance of expert capture managers
- Compliance: outlines, checklists, review support
- Proposal Guidance: orchestration of the cohort’s proposal efforts by experienced proposal managers
- Costing: budget & cost proposal prep
- AI assistance: AI platform for capture and proposals to accelerate your bidding and applications process the right way
Cohort model that pays it forward: Complete one full cohort, then team with and network with the next as the Lab alumni to cement skills and expand your network.
Why it matters
Federal grant funding and contracts can transform your business—but capital access isn’t equal. BRIDGE Proposal Lab helps close those gaps with practical training, real proposal development, and a community of peers and experts focused on getting you to “compliant + compelling + on time.”
Who should apply
- SEDI businesses under 250 employees or VSBs under 10 employees
- You must be registered to do business in MD, VA, DC, or DE – the program is limited to this region only
- You must be committed to completing 100% of your training and fully dedicating your time to pursuing federal contracts and grants with your cohort at the Lab, no excuses
The BRIDGE Proposal Lab is part of the broader federally funded BRIDGE Technical Assistance program delivered by Maryland TEDCO.
How it works
- Register for the BRIDGE Program. TEDCO confirms eligibility prior to your application.
- Apply before September 19 via the link TEDCO sends you after eligibility approval.
Cohorts: 2 per year.
Seats are limited to 20 per cohort—early applications recommended as the eligibility confirmation takes time and the Lab is filled as the applications arrive (we will review in batches based on verticals).
We expect many more applications than there are seats, and will select companies based on:
- Your company’s eligibility
- Capabilities and past performance in the right vertical
- Cohort fit for teaming purposes
- Quality of the answers to the application questions
- Commitment level to your business growth and participation in all of the Lab’s activities, including training.
Ready?
Smart FAQs
What’s the cost?
No cost to eligible participants. This new program is funded by federal dollars (U.S. Treasury SSBCI) through Maryland TEDCO.
What’s the time commitment?
Plan for scheduled cohort sessions + office hours + self-paced LMS – you will be doing full-time business development to grow your company and learning how to do it the way top government contractors win business. You’ll apply learning directly to live grant and contract proposals so the dedicated time drives real outcomes.
Do I need an opportunity in hand?
It helps, but it’s not required. We’ll help you identify targets and shape a pipeline, then move into capture and proposal execution.
What if I have a limited federal past performance?
If you have other past performance in the commercial and state bids and you are a qualifying small business, consider applying. The curriculum and coaching accommodate first-timers through building your skills from the ground up and growing through GovCon teams alongside more experienced and established cohort members.
What if I qualify and am an excellent candidate but don’t get in the Lab?
If you were a fit based on our evaluation criteria but the cohort is already filled, you will be placed on a waiting list. You may be brought into the Lab if someone who has been accepted doesn’t keep up with their training and participation, or may be accepted into one of the later cohorts. Unfortunately, your participation is not guaranteed as the number of Lab seats is limited.
What is a SEDI business?
In a nutshell, you are a small business under 250 employees, including W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, with limited access to credit due to socioeconomic factors. For more details, look up the U.S. Treasury definition for SEDI businesses under the SSBCI program. When you do, be mindful that this specific program limits the small business size to under 250 employees, and your company location to Maryland, Virginia, DC, and Delaware.
What is a VSB?
In a nutshell, you are a very small business under 10 employees – this includes 1099 consultants, not only W-2 employees. For more information, look up the U.S. Treasury definition for VSBs under the SSBCI program, but be mindful of the geographic limitations for this program.
Who pays for this Lab?
This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21034-0009 awarded to the Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
