About Duane Morris Government Strategies

Locating public financing for startup costs, growth, research and development, or capital improvements is both difficult and competitive. Understanding and navigating government policy can be tedious and time-consuming. Successful integration in the government procurement process requires unique expertise.

DMGS knows local, state and federal governments—and how it can work to help growing organizations, companies, nonprofits and communities. DMGS professionals understand the legislative and regulatory processes, including public financing; appropriations; the government procurement process; grant research and writing; and policy. The team can help devise a plan to maximize any organization’s relationship with the government and its agencies.

DMGS’ Federal Government Affairs team and State Government Affairs team have been responsible for the creation and passage of pivotal legislation at both levels of government. Through the firm’s internal staff and technological capabilities, DMGS is able to closely monitor policy developments and expeditiously respond on clients' behalf. Accordingly, the firm has the capability to develop original policy and author legislation or language from scratch. DMGS professionals have assisted clients on a variety of public policy initiatives, including but not limited to, green buildings; defense; education; energy; environmental; healthcare; local government tax reform; manufacturing; tax policy; and transportation.

To help an organization achieve its goals, DMGS works with clients to design and implement an effective grassroots strategy. This strategy starts with defining and understanding the target audience and then mapping out the most effective way to reach that group. DMGS experts are well-versed in developing strategies, creating messages that resonate, targeting key grassroots constituencies, building coalitions and implementing plans for earned media. From letters to the editor to activating special interest groups and elected officials, DMGS guides clients that are fighting for policy reform, local development or much-needed change.

DMGS Development Finance Consulting devises a tailored strategy for clients that enables proposed development plans to become successful projects. DMGS has specialized project experience in commercial real estate development, municipal infrastructure, historic preservation, transit-oriented development, green building, affordable housing and the associated economic development programs. Beyond private capital, complex development projects often require public funding assistance to fill financial gaps.

DMGS Development Finance Consulting offers clients a full range of services that include preparation of a project financial feasibility analysis, development of a comprehensive project-financing strategy including private and public sources; application to public funding programs including necessary government relations support; securing development entitlements and regulatory approvals; implementation of funding package and compliance monitoring; and third-party vendor identification and management including RFPs, bid negotiation and scheduling.

DMGS’ understanding of government buying practices and compliance protocols, along with its solid relationships at all levels of government, gives its clients an advantage when navigating this complex process. DMGS knows the essentials of winning government contracts, such as how best to market and sell services and products and how to put multiple contract vehicles—including U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules—in place that enable government customers to purchase from a company. Additionally, DMGS’ Procurement team understands how to establish contractual relationships with federal agencies to facilitate research and development as well as non-dilutive investments to establish and commercialize technologies, processes and solutions.

Sale of Goods and Services: DMGS performs detailed tasks to deliver results to its procurement clients. These tasks and supporting processes are designed to ultimately identify opportunities for clients to increase sales in the federal marketplace by best use of their sales and marketing resources. DMGS’ proven process is designed to identify opportunities as far in advance of the RFP process as possible.

Non-Dilutive Development Funding: DMGS provides consulting services related to identifying and capturing non-dilutive federal Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds. The firm uses a formula driven by client criteria matching to government program criteria in order to measure the potential for successful capture of funding. This process allows DMGS to pinpoint specific potential funding sources.

DMGS’ team of grant writers has years of experience identifying, qualifying, pursuing and securing grants at the federal, state and local levels of government, as well as with foundation, corporate and private funding. DMGS’ Grant Strategies Division provides three basic services: grant monitoring, grant writing and grant development. Through experience with various programs, DMGS can be a valuable partner in identifying eligible costs and project needs, drafting first-rate applications and monitoring the grant process throughout its duration.

With multiple office locations and projects around the United States, DMGS has established itself as a national presence, providing local, state and federal services to clients. This array of expertise sets DMGS apart from competitors, as the team brings not only decades of experience in all levels of government but also contacts and knowledge from several geographic regions. DMGS’ satellite offices allow its clients a more extensive network of opportunity.