For years, former Federal Contracting Officer Carmela Hornbeck has guided small businesses, startups, and first-time vendors in breaking into the federal defense space. With insider knowledge, proven strategies, ready-to-use templates and expert-led Q&A sessions, she makes government contracting straightforward, practical and achievable.
Contractors Educated
with Insider Tools
Q&A Sessions Watched On-Demand
Businesses Guided by a Former Federal Officer
Hours Saved with Insider-Backed Templates
First-Time Contractors Onboarded Successfully
SAM Registrations Supported with Expertise
To empower small and growing businesses with the insider knowledge, tools, and confidence only a former Federal Contracting Officer can provide. We simplify complex government processes through step-by-step resources, expert guidance, and actionable strategies that help contractors move forward with certainty. We focus on:
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Making compliance and registrations (like SAM) easy to navigate
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Providing insider-built templates for proposals and outreach
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Supporting users with consultation
To create a level playing field where small businesses can compete with confidence in the federal marketplace. By sharing insider strategies from a former Federal Contracting Officer, we envision a future where contractors avoid costly mistakes, build stronger proposals and secure more opportunities with clarity and trust.
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Equal access to insider knowledge
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Stronger proposals with expert insight
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Confidence to win Federal opportunities
Welcome, and thank you for stopping by.
I’m Carmela Hornbeck, CEO and founder of Defense Contract Insights. As a former Air Force Contracting Officer, I’ve spent years on the inside of the federal acquisition system—reviewing proposals, awarding contracts, and watching too many small businesses miss out simply because they didn’t understand the process.
That ends here.
I created this course and digital resources to bridge the gap—to give entrepreneurs like you the real-world tools, strategies, and insider insights needed to succeed in the federal marketplace. My mission is to make government contracting clear, achievable, and profitable for small businesses.
Whether you’re brand new or looking to improve your win rate, you’ll find actionable guidance here—built from firsthand experience in the very system you’re trying to break into.
You don’t need to guess your way through this.
You need a roadmap.
And that’s what I’m here to give you.
Let’s turn your potential into performance—and your capability into contracts.
Let’s win—together.
I highly recommend Defense Contracts Insights LLC, operated by Carmela Hornbeck. Her consulting services have been critical to our business. The team integrates smoothly with our operations, always professional, responsive, and detail-oriented. Their instructions are clear, and their support has boosted our efficiency. If you're serious about improving your contract success rate, DCI is the way to go.
Investing in Carmela’s program was a game-changer. Her insider knowledge of DoD procurement completely transformed my approach. I’m now registered with SAM and actively receiving serious contract opportunities. Her insights gave me clarity, and I now feel equipped and confident navigating the government contracting world. DCI provides real value that small businesses like mine truly need.
Defense Contracts Insights, especially Carmela, brought incredible value to my business. Her program provided mentorship that pushed my knowledge beyond what I imagined possible. If you're a small business owner trying to understand the government contracting process, this program is a must. The guidance is practical, direct, and absolutely effective. I would definitely recommend it to others.
The course videos from DCI are excellent—clear, concise, and full of actionable tips. Carmela’s government insider experience offers a competitive edge I haven’t found elsewhere. Her insights made complex topics simple and easy to implement. I gained clarity and confidence to move forward. I’d recommend this program to anyone serious about pursuing government contracts effectively.
I absolutely love the course! Carmela’s insider perspective was enlightening and empowering. Within 30 days, I felt confident enough to start bidding on contracts. The course structure made everything easier to understand, and the step-by-step guidance removed the guesswork. It’s ideal for beginners who want fast results with strong support. This course is truly worth it.
The DCI course was straight to the point and easy to follow. The video lessons gave me practical knowledge I could apply right away. Carmela’s unique background adds tremendous value. I was able to understand key concepts faster and start implementing them immediately. For anyone looking to shorten the learning curve in government contracting, I recommend this program.
