Many proposal managers have a no win job and others are more fortunate. The fortunate ones are blessed with company management that is experienced in the federal sales game. They know when to bid and no bid, understand the proposal writing process and all of its difficulties, and may even participate in writing proposals.

The less fortunate proposal mangers in no win situations have no support from the top. Their company management:

Doesn't understand the difficulties of writing a winning proposal

Bids on everything

Won't assign the best people to writing the critical parts of the technical solution

Provides little support to proposal writing and allows almost every proposal writing effort to end up as a last minute crisis

What do the mangers in no win situations do? Educate management and if that fails grin and bear it or find a new job. You are in demand and there are win positions out there.