Background

Forge Group, LLC is a global solutions provider delivering niche subject matter expertise to tackle complex challenges for federal agencies. As a certified 8(a), woman-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (WOSB, SDVOSB), Forge Group prides itself on personalized service and innovative problem-solving.

The Challenge: Fragmented Business Development Processes

Before adopting NextStage, Forge Group faced several challenges in managing their business development (BD) lifecycle:

• Lack of Standardization: Different divisions tracked and reported BD activities in varied ways, causing inefficiencies and misalignment.

• Limited Visibility: Without a centralized CRM, opportunity tracking was fragmented, complicating leadership's ability to monitor the pipeline.

• Disconnected Collaboration: Inconsistent communication across capture and proposal teams led to missed opportunities and duplicative efforts.

• Manual Tracking: Reliance on spreadsheets and occasional use of Monday.com resulted in inconsistent and incomplete tracking.

"With multiple divisions involved, maintaining alignment and consistent reporting was a major challenge for us. We needed a better way to bring everything together."

These challenges limited Forge Group’s ability to efficiently track opportunities, maintain accurate records, and strategically allocate resources. 

The Solution: Comprehensive Platform for BD Efficiency and Collaboration

Forge Group needed a platform that could unify their BD and capture workflows, foster collaboration, and provide leadership with real-time visibility. That’s where NextStage came in. NextStage provided:

• A centralized, user-friendly system for opportunity tracking.

• Integrated collaboration tools to streamline cross-team communication.

• Real-time market intelligence and proposal timeline management.

• Automated workflows to replace manual, error-prone tracking.

"We were looking for a single source of truth for all of our BD activities—NextStage gave us that."

Results & Impact

Since implementing NextStage, Forge Group dramatically improved how they manage business development. Centralized opportunity tracking now provides every division with a consistent, up-to-date workflow, eliminating disconnected and inconsistent processes. Automation has improved overall efficiency, allowing teams to reduce administrative tasks and focus on high-value activities, including early client engagement.

"Since adopting NextStage, tracking and managing opportunities has become much more consistent. Everyone's on the same page now."

One of the most impactful improvements has been in how the team approaches proposal planning and resource management. With greater visibility into expected RFP releases, Forge Group can now better anticipate workloads, avoid scheduling overlaps, and make smarter bid/no-bid decisions. It has eased internal pressure and ensured stronger coordination across teams.

The ability to make faster, more informed decisions has also improved significantly. With live visibility into the pipeline, leadership can quickly prioritize high-value pursuits and allocate resources where they matter most.

Additional key outcomes include:

1. Smarter Proposal Planning: Clearer scheduling helped avoid overlapping efforts and improved team coordination.

2. Full Pipeline Visibility: Leadership can now make faster, more informed decisions based on real-time data.

3. Improved Collaboration: A unified platform ensures transparency and communication across all BD functions.

"Before NextStage, we often found ourselves overlapping proposals and overwhelming our team. Now, we have a clear view of what’s ahead and can plan accordingly."

As Forge Group grows, NextStage offers a scalable foundation that keeps teams aligned and BD processes consistent. This has positioned the team for sustainable, long-term success.

Looking Ahead: Positioned for What’s Next in GovCon

Forge Group expects the GovCon BD landscape to become even more competitive, fast-paced, and data-driven. From their perspective, the key shifts shaping the future of GovCon include:

• Greater Use of Automation and AI: Tools will increasingly be used to streamline pipeline management, identify new opportunities faster, and automate repetitive tasks.

• Early and Tailored Client Engagement: Success will rely on early, value-driven engagement and customized proposal strategies.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Organizations will depend on real-time insights to stay agile and competitive.

"Technology and automation will be key to staying agile in this evolving space. That’s why tools like NextStage are essential."

NextStage positions Forge Group to meet these emerging demands with confidence and agility.

Conclusion

By partnering with NextStage, Forge Group has transformed its BD and capture workflows by centralizing processes, enhancing collaboration, and strengthening visibility into future opportunities. With a unified system built for scale, Forge Group is now better equipped to stay agile, pursue the right opportunities, and drive long-term business success.