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Proposals Intern (Government Contracting)  Summer Internship 

Department: Proposals

Location: In office, Madison Heights, MI 
Duration: Summer Internship (8–12 weeks) 
Reports To: Proposal and Capture Manager 

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About this Role 

Mettle Ops is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Proposals Intern to support key initiatives that inform and strengthen our competitive positioning, and proposal readiness within the government contracting market. 

This internship offers hands-on exposure to federal procurement, competitive analysis, proposal development, and government focused messaging an excellent opportunity for students interested in communications, business, public policy, marketing, or acquisition fields. 

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The intern will participate and lead elements of meaningful projects with direct impact on our business development and proposal operations. 

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Select summer projects could include: 

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Competitive Landscape & Market Research 

  • Research peer companies and industry competitors. 

  • Analyze strengths, differentiators, and service positioning. 

  • Compile findings into a competitive benchmarking report with actionable recommendations. 

Federal Acquisition & Opportunity Research 

  • Investigate which agencies purchase our types of services using tools such as 
    USASpending.gov, FPDS, agency forecasts, and SAM.gov. 

  • Summarize relevant opportunities, trends, and procurement patterns. 

  • Deliver a digestible “How Government Buys What We Sell” briefing deck. 

Proposal Process Support  

  • Shadow elements of the proposal process (RFQ/RFP review, team meetings, communications, content collection, editing). 

  • Identify opportunities for workflow improvements. 

  • Update the current SOP documenting best practices and templates. 

Past Performance Summaries & Case Studies 

  • Interview project managers and technical leads. 

  • Convert project details into concise, compelling past performance single page case studies. 

  • Update past case studies with current information and project data. 

  • Ensure consistency in layout, messaging, and formatting. 

What You’ll Learn 

  • How government DoD agencies source and select contractors 

  • Federal procurement terminology and processes (RFI, SSN, RFP, evaluation criteria, etc.) 

  • Market positioning and messaging in a regulated environment 

  • Best practices for capability statements and past performance narratives 

  • Basics of proposal management and understanding of BD pipeline development 

  • Professional communication, interviewing, and technical writing 

  • Competitive analysis, research, and marketing strategy 

 

Qualifications 

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Required: 

  • Undergraduate student (or recent graduate) in Communications, Business, Public Administration, English, or technical Manufacturing or Engineering related fields of study 

  • Strong writing and analytical skills 

  • Ability to synthesize information into clear, concise summaries 

  • Attention to detail and the ability to prioritize effectively in a fastpaced environment. 

  • Interest in government contracting, proposals, or public-sector markets 

Preferred but not required: 

  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite  

  • Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) 

  • Prior exposure to research projects or competitive analysis 

  • Curiosity and willingness to learn federal procurement concepts 

 

What We Offer 

  • Hands-on mentorship from business development and proposal professionals 

  • Real-world experience contributing to business development efforts 

  • Opportunities to participate in meetings, reviews, and cross-team collaborations 

  • A supportive learning environment designed for growth 

  • Active Young Professionals Group 

 

How to Apply 

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Please submit: 

  • Résumé 

  • Short cover letter explaining interest in the role 

  • Portfolio samples/links if available  

(586) 306-8962

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HEADQUARTERS

3223 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

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METTLE OPS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

31791 Sherman Ave, Madison Heights, MI 48071

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METTLE OPS TECHNICAL INNOVATION CENTER

31800 Sherman Ave, Madison Heights, MI 48071

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METTLE OPS INTEGRATION FACILITY

31801 Research Park Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071

Mettle Ops is a woman-owned, service-disabled, veteran-owned, disadvantaged small business.

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WBE, WOSB, CVE, VOSB, SDVOSB, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Certified 2027 

GSA Schedule 47QRAA18D00C5  |  NIST SP 800-171 Compliant

Research and Development Center and Integration Center AS9100 Rev D Certified by PJR

UEI: QSYWD21GKVA1 | CAGE: 6XYB2

©

2026

Mettle Ops

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Mettle Ops does not report Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

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​HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA HEADQUARTERS

5000 Bradford Drive NW, Suite B3, Huntsville, AL 35805

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