Post-Award Contracts: Lessons from Industry

Winning a contract is a milestone—but it’s only the beginning of the journey. In this session, Kyle Peterson, VP of Customer Success & Account Strategy at VisibleThread, explored what happens after the win, and why the post-award phase is where successful delivery—and future opportunity—are truly secured.

Mastering the Post-Award Phase

Kyle drew on real-world insights from industry leaders to highlight what separates reactive contract delivery from strategic post-award execution. He emphasized the need for clear communication, strong governance, and early alignment with stakeholders to ensure expectations are met—or exceeded—from day one. Attendees learned how to proactively manage risk and performance, ensuring delivery stays on track and relationships stay strong.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Success

The session delved into how organizations can treat the post-award phase as a growth opportunity, not just an obligation. Kyle shared strategies for tracking compliance, documenting progress, and gathering performance data that can be leveraged for future proposals. This approach doesn’t just help meet current requirements—it positions teams for smoother re-competes and stronger reputations with buyers.

From Compliance to Competitive Advantage

While compliance is critical, Kyle underscored that it’s only part of the story. He showed how teams that embed customer communication, responsiveness, and continuous improvement into their post-award workflows are the ones that consistently outperform competitors. Attendees walked away with practical tactics for managing obligations while also building trust and demonstrating value throughout the contract lifecycle.

Elevating Post-Award Delivery

For proposal and delivery teams alike, this session offered a blueprint for turning one-time wins into long-term partnerships. With a focus on smart post-award practices, it equips organizations to not only deliver—but to differentiate.