GOVCONMay 30, 202608:30
Starting a Government Contracting Consulting Business Around AI Companies in 2026
Your host
Eric Coffie
Eric Coffie built a construction company from zero to $20M+ in federal sales, then founded GovCon Giants to teach everyday people how to win government contracts.
About this episode
Marketing a GSA schedule the right way can completely change how a small business grows inside federal contracting, especially when AI and cybersecurity are reshaping every RFI and RFP hitting the street. In this episode Zack Golden and the GovCon Giants team break down how active contractors, aspiring consultants, and entrepreneurs can position themselves around the hottest demand signals in the federal market right now, including AI governance, autonomous systems, and the massive Air Force Research Lab opportunity coming out of contract. Here is what you will learn in this episode:
In this episode, you'll learn
- How to market a GSA schedule by expanding divisions, leaning into industry days, and using local site visits to win agency attention Why AI governance and AI security layers are showing up on nearly every federal RFI and RFP and how to position a client or your own company to capture that demand
- How to become a govcon consultant for AI and tech companies without burning out by managing one client to maintenance mode before signing the next
- How to build complementary teams by pairing AI companies with audit trail, robotics, and aerospace firms to deliver true turnkey solutions to federal buyers
- How to chase the $10 billion Air Force Research Lab AI IDIQ and other large vehicles by partnering with primes, IDIQ holders, and GSA schedule holders already inside the door
Show notes & timestamps
- 0:00Meet Mindy your federal opportunity AI assistant
- 0:30Welcome to the Federal Help Center podcast
- 0:52Marketing a GSA schedule for small business
- 1:21Expanding divisions into cybersecurity and maintenance services
- 1:50Industry day strategy for GSA schedule holders
- 2:20Inside the OpenCube IQ AI tools and CRM
- 2:49Using AI agents for capability statements and FAR research
- 3:19Consulting opportunities with AI governance companies
- 3:48Why AI is the federal buzzword every agency wants
- 4:16Managing multiple consulting clients without burning out
- 4:44Building complementary teams around AI governance and audit trails
- 5:41Finding partner companies that compliment your AI offering
- 6:37Chasing the $10 billion Air Force Research Lab AI IDIQ
- 7:07Robotics autonomous systems and secured AI document platforms
- 8:03Adding AI offerings to existing GSA schedules and IDIQs
