It might be possible that he needs the 9 mil to cover a corporate insurance bond for some subcontract. He'd have to show proof of the bond at the same time as the proposal, and that could tie up the money for 2-3 months. Add to that the fact that GWTR can't even speak of such a possibility until won. And if won, that 9 mil is "spoken for."
So many possibilities - so many reasons for silence.