To build an in-house contracts and proposal desk, you need people who can find opportunities, read a solicitation, decide whether to bid, write a compliant proposal and manage the contract after award. The Ayangbah Foundation trains your staff to do exactly that through the 54-hour Government Contracting Academy and our Friday Contracting Workshops, with team training and custom quotes available on our partners page.
Why build the skill in house
Many businesses and nonprofits know public contracts and grants could grow their revenue, but bids slip by because no one owns the process. Others rely on outside help for every proposal.
A trained internal desk changes that:
- Someone watches for opportunities that fit your work.
- Bid/no-bid decisions are made with a clear method, not a guess.
- Proposals follow the solicitation, so they are less likely to be tossed for missing items.
- After award, someone knows how to manage the contract.
What your staff learn in the Government Contracting Academy
The Academy is 54 hours across 9 modules, and each learner builds a portfolio along the way:
- How government buys.
- Procurement and ethics.
- Registrations and certifications, including SAM.gov.
- Finding opportunities.
- Bid/no-bid decisions.
- Reading solicitations, RFPs and grant notices.
- Proposals and grant narratives.
- Pricing inputs.
- Post-award contract administration and a career portfolio.
See the full program on the Contracting Academy page. For background, read SAM.gov registration for small businesses and government proposal writing.
Keep the desk sharp with Friday workshops
Friday Contracting Workshops are 2-hour sessions on finding bids, reading an RFP, bid/no-bid, compliance matrices, proposal and grant narratives, and SAM.gov and certifications. They work well as:
- A quick start for a staff member before the full Academy.
- Ongoing practice for your desk after the Academy.
- Cross-training for managers who review proposals.
Options for employers
- Enroll individual staff in a public cohort and pay per seat.
- Use the installment plan for the Academy: 3 payments of $499.
- Buy a 4-pass for Friday workshops.
- Request a private team cohort or on-site training through /partners for a custom quote.
Class details
- Academy day cohort: Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 4:00 PM, November 23 to December 16, 2026 (no class November 26).
- Academy evening cohort: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 to 9:00 PM, January 12 to March 11, 2027.
- Academy price: $1,497 (pay in full) or 3 x $499 (installments).
- Friday workshops: every Friday, 12:00 to 2:00 PM (none November 27, December 25 or January 1). $97 (single) or $297 for 4 (4-pass).
- Format: live online from anywhere in the U.S., or in person in downtown San Bernardino.
- What you get: live instruction, real solicitation practice and a portfolio for each Academy learner.
How to enroll
- Apply online for each person you want to enroll (about 2 minutes), or request a custom quote for a private team cohort.
- Pay with the Academy or workshop pay links above or see every option on our tuition page.
- We confirm your seat within 2 business days.
Not ready yet? Join our free Monday info session, every Monday from 5:00 to 5:45 PM Pacific, online. Register on /enroll to get the link.
FAQ
Do my staff need contracting experience first?
No. The Academy starts with how government buys and builds from there.
Will you write our proposals for us?
No. We train your staff to do the work themselves, so the skill stays in your organization.
Can we train a group on our own schedule?
Yes, ask about team training and on-site cohorts on our partners page. Pricing is by custom quote.
Questions? Call or text (909) 454-7076.