Federal Acquisition Advisory
Where strategy becomes action.
About the Firm
Carroll Public Strategies was founded on a simple premise: the best acquisition advice comes from those who have actually held the authority. Our principal has managed portfolios, advised senior leaders, and restructured acquisition workforces — in uniform and as a civilian executive.
Every CPS engagement produces a specific, actionable output that immediately improves the client's competitive position. We produce bid/no-bid memos, capture plans, white papers, teaming agreements, and protest strategies — documents you can act on this week.
"Navigating the federal market demands more than expertise — a trusted guide with real program authority."
CPS has deep expertise in the full range of small business and socioeconomic set-aside programs — including the 8(a) Business Development Program, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB. We help clients understand which mechanisms apply to their situation, how to structure engagements, and how to position effectively with contracting officers.
CPS serves contractors building their GovCon position and program offices seeking independent acquisition expertise. Having operated from both positions simultaneously gives CPS a uniquely complete advisory perspective.
Conveniently located in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, CPS is well-positioned to travel anywhere in the nation to support clients. Whether your agency or program office is in the D.C. metro, a regional hub, or an installation anywhere in the country, CPS brings the same depth of expertise directly to you.
Core Capabilities
01
Comprehensive navigation of FAR Parts 8, 13, 15, 19, and 37. Sole-source justifications, pre-award positioning, acquisition method analysis, and post-award administration support.
02
End-to-end capture from pipeline development through proposal strategy. Opportunity qualification, competitive analysis, teaming intelligence, win theme development, and color review support.
03
Deep expertise in SBA 8(a) program mechanics, sole-source and competitive set-aside authorities, and socioeconomic designation strategy. We advise clients on how to structure, document, and execute awards across the full range of small business programs.
04
Program execution, organizational restructuring, workforce professionalization, subcontractor management, and contract transition planning — grounded in experience managing hundreds of concurrent contracts.
05
GSA MAS on-ramp, SIN qualification, and task order strategy. IDIQ vehicle identification, ordering officer relationship development, and vehicle portfolio optimization.
06
Pre-protest assessment, ground development, GAO/Agency/COFC filing strategy, and corrective action response — grounded in current FAR overhaul implications and Rule of Two viability analysis.
Service Lines
Full capture lifecycle: opportunity identification, competitive intelligence, teaming strategy, win theme development, color reviews, and proposal submission — grounded in current agency budget data and realistic pricing strategy.
Pre-award positioning, acquisition method analysis, and FAR/DFARS compliance review. J&A drafting, RFP requirement review, set-aside analysis, and source selection support from both contractor and agency perspectives.
Program execution support, organizational design, workforce professionalization, and contract transition planning. From restructuring a program office to navigating a PALT delay — operational advisory grounded in real program management authority.
Advisory support across the full 8(a) and set-aside engagement lifecycle: capability narrative development, contracting officer engagement strategy, documentation guidance, and threshold navigation for DoD and civilian sole-source and competitive set-aside awards.
Vehicle strategy, on-ramp preparation, SIN qualification, and task order execution planning. We identify which vehicles align with your capabilities and develop ordering officer relationships to generate sustained task order flow.
All engagements begin with a no-obligation consultation.
Schedule a ConsultationThe Principal
Principal, Federal Acquisition Advisor
Executive leader and Change Champion with over 30 years of expertise in federal acquisitions, procurement, and large-scale operations — including multibillion-dollar enterprise portfolio oversight exceeding $9B.
Mike Carroll brings rare depth to every engagement: deep acquisition authority, FAC-C Professional certification, private sector contract management at the prime and subcontractor level, and decorated military command experience.
He has directly advised senior government leaders on resource alignment and policy, negotiated $520M+ in DoD and FMS contracts at Airbus Helicopters, managed 75 contracts valued at $7B annually for the Afghan Relocation Effort, and led a 37-person acquisition workforce — driving small business utilization from 11% to 78% in four years.
As founder of Carroll Public Strategies, Mike applies this executive depth directly to client challenges — whether advising on 8(a) program strategy, building a capture plan for a competitive recompete, or restructuring a program office under a tight performance period.
"The gap between strategy and action is where most advisory firms live. CPS closes it — with the authority to execute, not just advise."
Experience
Mike Carroll's career spans more than three decades at the intersection of federal acquisition, program management, and executive leadership — in uniform, as a senior government official, and in private industry. That breadth is not incidental. It is the foundation of every engagement CPS undertakes.
As a senior acquisition leader within the federal government, Mike directed large-scale enterprise programs — overseeing hundreds of contracts simultaneously, managing multimillion-dollar portfolios, and leading acquisition workforces through complex modernization efforts. His tenure included significant achievements in small business utilization, cost avoidance, and workforce development that earned national recognition from acquisition leadership.
On the industry side, Mike has served in senior contract management roles at both domestic and international defense companies — negotiating complex DoD, DHS, and Foreign Military Sales agreements, managing relationships with government customers at the highest levels, and building the operational infrastructure that allowed those organizations to perform. He has also served as President of an active federal IT contractor, overseeing prime contracts across multiple agencies and applying sole-source authority to deliver results for agency partners.
Mike is a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served in command and staff positions across multiple stateside and overseas assignments. His military service grounded his understanding of the mission that federal acquisition exists to support — and instilled the discipline, accountability, and leadership ethos that defines the CPS approach.
Mike holds an MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School and has completed advanced executive education through the GWU Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. He holds FAC-C Professional certification and has been selected for competitive federal leadership development programs. That commitment to continuous development is reflected in every client engagement.
Why Carroll Public Strategies
Mike Carroll brings the rare combination of senior federal acquisition authority, FAC-C Professional certification, and private sector program management at the prime and subcontractor levels. Most advisors come from one side of the table. We have operated from both simultaneously — as a senior contracting executive and as a prime contractor president managing $159M in active programs.
The 8(a) program, small business set-asides, and other socioeconomic designations are powerful contracting tools — but only when properly understood, structured, and presented to contracting officers. CPS brings deep practical knowledge of how these programs work across both DoD and civilian agencies. We know what works, what fails, and why.
Every CPS engagement delivers a specific, measurable output: a bid/no-bid memo, a capture plan, a white paper, a qualifying project narrative, a protest strategy, or a teaming agreement. We scope every engagement to a discrete deliverable with a clear action date. Your investment produces a document you can act on the same week — not a monthly status report.
Engage the Firm
All engagements begin with a no-obligation discussion. We scope every engagement to a discrete deliverable — strategy that becomes action.
What CPS Delivers
Every CPS Engagement Delivers: A specific, actionable deliverable. Strategy that becomes action. Grounded in real acquisition expertise.