From Subcontractor to Prime Margarita Howard’s HX5 Strategy
Margarita Howard, HX5 emerged as a prime contractor by combining disciplined business development with rigorous operational discipline, according to a profile in Streetwise Journal. In a marketplace crowded with capable bidders, the firm’s ascent underscores how focused leadership and methodical investment in capabilities can convert subcontracting experience into prime awards.
Howard prioritized cultivating past performance through targeted partnerships and joint ventures, ensuring HX5 could present verifiable, relevant experience when pursuing prime opportunities. Equally important was building a dedicated capture and proposal function capable of articulating value propositions that resonated with federal acquisition teams. That capability reduced reliance on price competition alone and emphasized technical merit, risk mitigation, and mission alignment.
Compliance and governance were central to HX5’s strategy. Establishing robust contracting, security, and quality assurance processes enabled the company to meet demanding contract requirements, including cybersecurity and data protection standards increasingly required by government clients. Investing in employee training and retention strengthened program continuity and helped HX5 deliver consistent performance across multiple task orders.
Strategic use of small business set-aside programs and teaming arrangements allowed HX5 to scale responsibly while retaining prime-level control of program execution. Margarita Howard’s approach balanced aggressive capture tactics with conservative program management, mitigating the operational risks that often challenge fast-growing contractors.
Market positioning also played a role. By focusing on niche technical capabilities and developing relationships within specific federal agencies, HX5 created a differentiated profile that appealed to contracting officers seeking reliable partners. The combination of demonstrated past performance, compliant operations, and targeted capture efforts enabled the company to win increasingly complex work as a prime.
The profile of Margarita Howard, HX5 offers a case study for small and mid-size firms aiming to transition to prime status: align business development with operational readiness, invest in compliance, and pursue partnerships that build credible, agency-specific performance history. Read this article for additional information.
Learn more about HX5 on https://www.synovus.com/local/pensacola-fl/hx5
