Government Contracting Tips – 5 Tips For Success Article

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Government Contracting Tips – 5 Tips for Success

Government contracting can be a lucrative and attractive venture for struggling small businesses, but breaking into the federal market as a newcomer can be tough. In this article, we cover 5 basic tips for would-be contractors to help increase their chances of success.

Author: Celeste

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Ask anyone who has worked government contracts in the past and most contractors will agree that it takes time and effort to land your first contract. This can be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of small businesses who need to start making money now. While there is no magic bullet to guarantee success at government contracting, there are a few things small business owners can do to increase their odds.

Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin

One major mistakes business owners make when trying to court the government is making themselves out to be a jack of all trades, thinking that the more goods and services they can offer, the more likely they are to find a contract to work. Unfortunately, this can actually DECREASE your chances at winning a contract. The government generally has very specific needs and is more likely to seek out companies that focus on the specific line of work they’re looking for. So if you’re an experienced electrician, you do yourself a disservice thinking you’ll get more work if you also push your limited experience in plumbing, landscaping and painting. Focus on your primary skill sets or products instead of trying to be a one-stop shop.

Are you Certified for Set-Asides?

Don’t overlook any set-asides your business may qualify for. It pays to educate yourself about the various certifications and programs you can take part in to make your business more favorable to government buyers. Is your business minority or women owned? What about veteran owned? Do you qualify for the 8(a) or HUBZone program? In some cases, qualifying for these set aside statuses can mean little or even no competition for certain government contracts. To find out what the specific requirements are for each program and what is needed to certify for each, check out the SBA’s Small Business Certifications & Audiences page.

Check Subcontracting Opportunities

If you are having trouble securing a prime contract, why not check out subcontracting opportunities for your business? Especially for companies that are new to government contracting, this can be a great way to get your feet wet, gain some experience and build relationships with both government agencies and other businesses. Prime contractors who have contracts exceeding $500,000 (or $1,000,000 for construction of a public facility) are required by law to offer subcontracting opportunities to small businesses. To find such subcontracting opportunities check out the GSA’s Subcontracting Directory and the SBA’s SUB-Net page.

Use your Resources

There are many resources available to vendors to help them secure government contracts. Small business owners would be wise to get in touch with their local SBA office to take advantage of their many counseling, training and educational services. Another great resource is your local PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Centers) office. They offer a wealth of information and services to businesses interested in contracting with the government, most free of charge. These include helping you determine if you qualify for set-asides, networking and matchmaking events, notification of bid opportunities and proposal preparation assistance. Business owners would also be wise to prepare a listing on the SBA’s DSBS (Dynamic Small Business Search) and check out past contracts awarded through the FPDS (Federal Procurement Data System). For those interested in $25,000+ contracts, don’t forget to register on FedBizOpps.gov to view and bid on these contracts.

Marketing, marketing, marketing…

Securing a government contract takes a lot of work, and a good portion of that may include marketing your business to procurement officers. This is an often neglected step, overlooked by business owners who think once they’ve registered in CCR and ORCA the contract offers will just come rolling in on their own. Few things in business work this way. It is very important that you build relationships with the government agencies in your region and even with other businesses. Attend networking and matchmaking seminars, small business and government workshops, and reach out one-on-one to procurement officers in your area. It will take some time, research and work, but the results will be well worth it.

Of course, don’t overlook the basic requirements to work government contracts, such as properly completing CCR and ORCA registration. Ultimately, being successful in government contracting comes down to being patient and persistent. Few businesses are overnight successes and many report that it took anywhere from 12-18 months before they secured their first contract. However, by following these suggestions and taking a proactive approach you can increase your chances of success.

About Author

Celeste is the author of the blog http://governmentcontractingtips.com providing information and tips for small businesses interested in government contracting. She also works in Contractor Relations for
www.usfederalcontractorregistration.com helping small businesses market themselves to the government.

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Government Contracting Tips – 5 Tips for Success