Twenty minutes on the Department of War Office of Strategic Capital program, and where {{Company}} sits against its published criteria.

 ── WHO IS ON THE CALL ──

Zack Larson, Sunstone Advisory Group. Fifteen years in federal market and award data; clients have secured more than $1 billion in federal awards.

William C. Randolph. Over twenty-six years in federal acquisition, retired Senior Executive Service at the Department of Homeland Security. Directed more than 10,400 contracting actions worth over $12.1 billion in a single year at Marine Corps Systems Command. Recipient of the 2008 Defense Acquisition Executive David Packard Award from the Secretary of Defense for the MRAP program.

Sunstone Advisory Group works alongside Steptoe LLP, outside counsel on federal transaction and regulatory matters. [https://www.steptoe.com/en/](https://www.steptoe.com/en/)

 ── WHAT WE WILL COVER ──

Most companies have never heard of this program. We start at the beginning.

1. **What it is**. A federal office, created in 2022 and written into law by Congress in 2023, that provides capital to United States manufacturers. Who runs it and what Congress authorized it to do.
 
2. **Why it exists.** The problem it was built to solve — domestic production capacity in named industrial segments — and why that became a priority.
 
3. **Why your company.** How your segment came to be one of fifteen named areas of particular focus, and why a company of your size and profile is the intended audience rather than a large defense contractor.
 
4. **What it actually provides.** The instruments, and the terms — including repayment set to the useful life of the asset, which has no commercial equivalent.
 
5. **Who it is for, and who it is not.** The published criteria, including the two questions that end it for most companies before anything else is considered.
 
6. **What readiness looks like.** What a company would need to have in hand before an application window opens, and roughly what that takes.
 

 ── NOTHING TO PREPARE ──

No documents, no financials, no deck. Twenty minutes of conversation. If you would like a colleague on the call, forward this invitation.

 ── PLEASE NOTE ──

Sunstone Advisory Group is a private advisory firm. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Department of War, the Office of Strategic Capital, or any federal agency. Nothing on this call is a representation that any application will be submitted, accepted or funded. No application is filed and nothing is submitted on your behalf. [SAM.gov](http://SAM.gov) registration is free and can be completed by any company at [sam.gov](http://sam.gov).

Twenty minutes on the Department of War Office of Strategic Capital program, and where {{Company}} sits against its published criteria.
 ── WHO IS ON THE CALL ──
Zack Larson, Sunstone Advisory Group. Fifteen years in federal market and award data; clients have secured more than $1 billion in federal awards.
William C. Randolph. Over twenty-six years in federal acquisition, retired Senior Executive Service at the Department of Homeland Security. Directed more than 10,400 contracting actions worth over $12.1 billion in a single year at Marine Corps Systems Command. Recipient of the 2008 Defense Acquisition Executive David Packard Award from the Secretary of Defense for the MRAP program.
Sunstone Advisory Group works alongside Steptoe LLP, outside counsel on federal transaction and regulatory matters. <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow' class='text-blue-500 hover:text-blue-600' href="https://www.steptoe.com/en/">https://www.steptoe.com/en/</a>
 ── WHAT WE WILL COVER ──
Most companies have never heard of this program. We start at the beginning.
<ol style='list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: inside; margin-left: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem'>
<li>
What it is. A federal office, created in 2022 and written into law by Congress in 2023, that provides capital to United States manufacturers. Who runs it and what Congress authorized it to do.
</li>
<li>
Why it exists. The problem it was built to solve — domestic production capacity in named industrial segments — and why that became a priority.
</li>
<li>
Why your company. How your segment came to be one of fifteen named areas of particular focus, and why a company of your size and profile is the intended audience rather than a large defense contractor.
</li>
<li>
What it actually provides. The instruments, and the terms — including repayment set to the useful life of the asset, which has no commercial equivalent.
</li>
<li>
Who it is for, and who it is not. The published criteria, including the two questions that end it for most companies before anything else is considered.
</li>
<li>
What readiness looks like. What a company would need to have in hand before an application window opens, and roughly what that takes.
</li>
</ol>
 ── NOTHING TO PREPARE ──
No documents, no financials, no deck. Twenty minutes of conversation. If you would like a colleague on the call, forward this invitation.
 ── PLEASE NOTE ──
Sunstone Advisory Group is a private advisory firm. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Department of War, the Office of Strategic Capital, or any federal agency. Nothing on this call is a representation that any application will be submitted, accepted or funded. No application is filed and nothing is submitted on your behalf. <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow' class='text-blue-500 hover:text-blue-600' href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> registration is free and can be completed by any company at <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow' class='text-blue-500 hover:text-blue-600' href="http://sam.gov">sam.gov</a>.

Preliminary Program Briefing — Office of Strategic Capital FY27 Loan Program

The federal government is the largest consumer in the world. If you sell products or services, there's a good chance the federal government buys what you sell. Zack Larson has spent 15 years helping businesses learn how to sell to the federal government. During this call, we'll discuss how your company can position itself to start selling or sell more to the federal goverment.

The federal government is the largest consumer in the world. If you sell products or services, there's a good chance the federal government buys what you sell. Zack Larson has spent 15 years helping businesses learn how to sell to the federal government. During this call, we'll discuss how your company can position itself to start selling or sell more to the federal goverment.

Federal Market Intro

SAM/SBA Optimization

Report Review & Delivery with Zack Larson

30 Minute Meeting with Zack Larson

Federal Market Introduction

Federal Market Intro (Capabilities Page)

<div>Sunstone Advisory Group is a federal contracting advisory firm built to help small businesses compete—and win—in the U.S. federal marketplace. We translate complex procurement signals into data-driven market intelligence and clear competitive positioning, so clients can pursue opportunities confidently as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or teaming partner 🚀.Our approach is advisory-led and grounded in deep federal market strategy and analytics. We focus on reducing the confusion business owners feel when entering federal contracting and replacing it with an actionable path: where to play, how to position, and how to execute capture and go-to-market decisions. With experience tied to outcomes of $2B+ in contract awards and guidance provided to thousands of contractors, we help clients move from uncertainty to a focused, winnable strategy ✅.</div>

<div><ul><li>Federal Market Intelligence & Data Analysis: We analyze federal spending, buyer behavior, and procurement trends to help you identify which agencies, NAICS/PSC categories, and contract vehicles best match your capabilities—so you invest time where the probability of award is higher.</li><li>Competitive Positioning Strategy: We turn your strengths into a differentiated message and market stance, clarifying whether you should pursue opportunities as a prime, a subcontractor, or a teaming partner—so your offer fits the buying environment and stands out.</li><li>Capture & Go-to-Market Planning: We support capture planning, opportunity shaping, and pursuit prioritization to align your pipeline with realistic win paths—helping you avoid chasing everything and instead build a repeatable pursuit system.</li><li>Teaming & Partnership Guidance: We help you evaluate teaming targets, partnership roles, and subcontract pathways so you can enter new agencies or vehicles faster—while reducing the risk of misaligned partners and unclear responsibilities.</li><li>Small Business Federal Entry Support: For first-time or early-stage federal contractors, we provide step-by-step advisory to reduce complexity, map the process, and build momentum toward a first award—so you move from “learning” to “winning” with fewer costly detours.</li></ul></div>

<div><ul><li>“Federal contracting feels too complex—how do you make it practical?”We break the market into clear decisions: which buyers to target, how they buy, what you can credibly win, and which path (prime/sub/team) fits best. Our work is grounded in data analysis and a structured strategy process, so you leave with an actionable plan—not just theory.</li><li>“We’re a small business—can we realistically compete against large incumbents?”Yes, when you compete in the right lanes. We help you focus on winnable segments, identify subcontract and teaming routes, and position around specialized strengths. The goal is to compete where your agility and niche capability outperform scale, and where the buying signals support your approach.</li><li>“Do you only help companies trying to prime, or also subs and teaming partners?”We support all three paths: prime contractor, subcontractor, and teaming partner. In many cases, the fastest route to revenue is strategic subcontracting or teaming to build past performance and relationships—then expanding into priming when the timing and evidence are right.</li><li>“How do you prove impact if there aren’t public client testimonials available?”We rely on outcome-based credibility signals from public-facing profiles and documented claims, including advisory experience across thousands of contractors and capture outcomes tied to $2B+ in awards. In engagements, we also define measurable milestones—pipeline focus, pursuit quality, partner alignment, and bid decisions—so progress is visible.</li><li>“We’ve never won a federal contract—where do we start without wasting months?”We start by validating fit: your capabilities, likely buyers, and the most efficient contract entry points. Then we map an achievable path that may include targeted subcontract roles, teaming, or select prime pursuits. The emphasis is on speed-to-traction with decisions backed by market data.</li></ul></div>

<div>I’m Zack Larson, Founder and CEO of Sunstone Advisory Group, based in the St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida area. My work sits at the intersection of federal market strategy and data analysis—turning the complexity of federal procurement into clear, competitive decisions. For more than 15 years, I’ve focused on helping federal contractors understand what the market is actually signaling, how buyers behave, and how to position to compete effectively.In practice, that means I help companies decide the best way to pursue work as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or teaming partner, then translate that decision into a go-to-market and capture approach they can execute. Since 2009, I’ve advised 10,000+ small businesses navigating federal contracting, and I’ve also been described as a senior federal market strategist whose capture and go-to-market teams have generated $2B+ in contract awards across areas like medical supplies, construction, and security. Separate profiles additionally cite consulting with 20,000+ federal contractors and helping 100+ firms win their first federal contract—proof points I take seriously because behind every number is a business owner trying to create stability and growth through government work.When I’m not deep in federal data or strategy, you’ll probably find me enjoying the Gulf Coast vibes—chasing a great coffee in St. Pete or catching a sunset near the water.</div>

What We Do

FAQs