Multi-Company Analysis
One of the Intelligence Center’s most powerful features is the ability to select and analyze multiple companies simultaneously. This guide explains how to effectively compare competitors and extract insights for capture planning.Why Compare Multiple Companies?
Multi-company analysis helps you: ✅ Understand Market Dynamics - See who’s winning what types of work ✅ Identify Relationships - Discover shared agencies and contracting officers ✅ Assess Competitive Positioning - Compare contract sizes and scope ✅ Find Teaming Opportunities - Identify complementary capabilities ✅ Inform Pricing - Understand typical contract values in your spaceHow Multi-Select Works
Unified View
When you select multiple companies, all their contracts are merged into a single, unified list. This allows you to:- Sort and filter across all companies
- See contracts side-by-side
- Identify patterns and overlaps
- Export combined data
Contract Attribution
Each contract in the merged list shows which company it belongs to via the Vendor Name field, making it easy to distinguish between competitors.Step-by-Step Comparison
1. Select Your Competitors
Choose 2-5 companies to analyze:Start with 2-3 competitors for focused analysis. Add more if you need broader market intelligence.
2. Review the Merged List
All contracts from selected companies appear in one list. You’ll see:- Total contracts across all companies
- Combined contract values
- All modifications and task orders
- Complete POC information
3. Use Company Filters
Filter the merged list to focus on specific companies:- Click Vendor Name to sort by company
- Use the search box to find specific vendors
- Compare contract counts per company
4. Identify Patterns
Look for commonalities across competitors:- Shared agencies
- Similar NAICS/PSC codes
- Comparable contract sizes
- Common contracting officers
- Overlapping performance periods
Comparative Analysis Techniques
Size Comparison
Compare average contract values to understand competitive tiers: Example Analysis:Agency Concentration
Analyze which agencies each competitor serves: Example Analysis:Contract Type Patterns
Compare the types of contracts each competitor wins: Example Analysis:Growth Trajectory
Look at contract dates and modifications to assess growth: Example Analysis:Competitive Intelligence Scenarios
Scenario 1: Incumbent Analysis
Goal: Understand the incumbent’s relationship with the agency Steps:- Select the incumbent contractor
- Filter contracts to the target agency
- Review all contracts with that agency
- Note contracting officers and program offices
- Examine modification patterns (indicator of satisfaction)
- Check contract end dates (replacement timing)
- How long have they worked with this agency?
- How many contracts do they hold?
- Are contracts growing (good performance) or shrinking?
- Who are the key government POCs?
Scenario 2: Competitive Set Analysis
Goal: Identify all major competitors for a market segment Steps:- Select 4-6 companies you know compete in the space
- Sort by NAICS/PSC codes
- Compare contract sizes and types
- Identify market leaders vs. niche players
- Note any teaming relationships (joint ventures, subs)
- Who are the “big fish” in this market?
- Are there small businesses we should consider teaming with?
- What’s the typical contract size for this work?
- Which companies are growing vs. declining?
Scenario 3: Teaming Partner Evaluation
Goal: Assess potential teaming partners’ capabilities and track record Steps:- Select 2-3 potential teaming partners
- Filter to relevant NAICS/PSC codes
- Review past performance with target agency
- Check contract sizes (can they handle prime or sub role?)
- Examine modification patterns (performance indicator)
- Do they have relevant past performance?
- Have they worked with our target agency?
- What’s their typical role (prime vs. sub)?
- Do they have good performance history (positive mods)?
Scenario 4: Market Entry Analysis
Goal: Understand a new market segment before pursuing opportunities Steps:- Select 5-7 companies known to work in the space
- Review all their contracts in the market
- Identify common agencies and buyers
- Note typical contract values and types
- Look for small business set-asides or full-and-open
- What’s the typical entry point (contract size)?
- Which agencies offer opportunities?
- Is this a small business or large business market?
- What capabilities do winners typically have?
Advanced Comparison Techniques
Relationship Mapping
Build a relationship map across competitors:- Export POC data for all selected companies
- Create a spreadsheet with:
- Contracting Officer names
- Companies they’ve awarded to
- Number of contracts per KO
- Total values per KO
- Identify key relationships:
- Which KOs work with multiple competitors?
- Which KOs award the largest contracts?
- Are there exclusive relationships?
Timeline Analysis
Create a timeline of competitive wins:- Sort contracts by award date
- Create a timeline showing:
- When each competitor won contracts
- Contract values over time
- Agency trends
- Identify patterns:
- Market entry timing
- Growth trajectories
- Seasonal patterns
- Recent wins (momentum)
Capability Clustering
Group companies by capabilities:- Group contracts by NAICS/PSC
- Identify capability clusters:
- IT Services competitors
- Engineering competitors
- Administrative competitors
- Assess positioning:
- Who competes directly with you?
- Who has complementary capabilities (teaming)?
- Who’s moving into your space?
Best Practices
Select Relevant Competitors
Choose companies that actually compete for similar work. Including too many unrelated companies dilutes your analysis.
Focus on Recent Contracts
Prioritize contracts from the last 2-3 years. Older contracts may not reflect current capabilities or relationships.
Look for Patterns, Not Just Data
Don’t just collect contract lists. Look for trends, relationships, and strategic insights that inform your capture approach.
Document Your Findings
Export the data and create a competitive analysis document with your insights. Share with your capture team.
Update Regularly
Rerun your analysis periodically as new contracts are awarded. The competitive landscape changes constantly.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Pitfall 1: Too Many Companies
Selecting 10+ companies creates information overload. Focus on 3-5 direct competitors for actionable insights.
Pitfall 2: Ignoring Context
Contract values alone don’t tell the story. Consider contract types, agencies, performance periods, and modifications.
Pitfall 3: Assuming Completeness
Not all contracts appear in USASpending/FPDS. Classified work, certain agency contracts, or very recent awards may be missing.
Pitfall 4: Overlooking Small Players
Don’t only analyze large competitors. Small businesses may have set-aside advantages or niche expertise.
Analyzing Combined Data
After selecting multiple companies, you can analyze the merged contract list:- Search within the results to find specific contracts
- Sort by clicking column headers to organize data
- Expand individual contracts to see full details
- Take notes and document your findings
Take screenshots or copy contract numbers and details into your capture planning documents for reference.
Sharing Your Analysis
The URL preserves your selected companies, making it easy to share:- Copy the URL from your browser
- Share via email or Slack with your team
- Bookmark for future reference