Author: fcr

Every year, there are hundreds of federal contractor opportunities available for businesses throughout the United States. If you are interested in applying for these fed contracts and grabbing a piece of the government pie, so to speak, there are a few initial steps you will need to take, including the following.

1. Get Your DUNS Number
Of all of the steps you’ll take in order to bid on fed contracts, this will be the easiest. Every contractor will need to obtain a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number. To do so, you simply head to www.dnb.duns-number.html and hit the Get Started tab under the “Request a D-U-N-S Number” section. You also can use this link to update your company information, such as an address, phone number or email change.

This number establishes a credit file for your business. When potential companies are selecting contractors, they will input the DUNS number for each business to take a look at each company’s financial stability. If your company has multiple physical locations, you will need to secure a unique DUNS number for each of these locations. Fortunately, applying for a DUNS number only takes a few minutes and within a few business days, you will have this number, and applying for a number is free, which is an added bonus.

2. Complete SAM Registration
There are thousands of fed contracts, but they are only available to those who have completed SAM registration, which stands for System for Award Management. This is a huge database that includes all of the vendors that are approved to bid on fed contracts. While you can complete SAM registration for free, this process can take up to 15 hours to complete and the registration process is quite complicated. Additionally, if you make a mistake on the application, which you won’t know until after it has been submitted, you will have to begin the process all over again.

We highly recommend that you hire a third party registration service, such as ourselves, to handle this process. Many people begin SAM registration on their own only to become quickly overwhelmed and frustrated. We have handled thousands of SAM registrations for all types of companies, and can quickly finish up your application and get you ready to bid on fed contracts.

3. Update Your Website
An attractive, vibrant website is always a good idea, and if your website looks like it’s stuck in the early 2000s, it might be time for an upgrade. Of course, design is just one part of a great website; it also needs to include plenty of information so that agencies can truly see what your business is all about. A single page website with a phone number just doesn’t cut it anymore. Potential clients want to know more, and if your website doesn’t showcase your abilities, they may simply move on to another company that provides more information.

4. Research The Bidding Process
Once you’ve completed SAM registration and redesigned your website (if necessary), you will need to learn all you can about the actual bidding process. Head to websites such as SBA.gov and GSA.gov to learn more about the bidding process. The SBA (the Small Business Administration) has a website stocked with helpful information and resources for small businesses that wish to bid on government contracts. You can even attend workshops and classes to learn more about the bidding process, some are even available online, making it easy to fit in to just about anyone’s schedule.

5. Consider Subcontracting Jobs
When people dive into the world of fed contracts, they often head straight for the biggest, most lucrative contacts, but it’s often smarter to consider subcontracting. Government agencies rarely select contractors with no government experience, and subcontracting can be a great way to build up your resume, so to speak. It’s also an ideal option for a small business, as you might be able to better fill some sort of niche or provide a service that a larger company might not offer. Of course, you do have to complete SAM registration in order to subcontract, and this huge database provides one way for contractors to search for subcontractors, so even if you don’t immediately begin bidding on fed contracts, registering with SAM can be beneficial.

At Federal Contractor Registry, our part of the process is to make it easier for businesses to complete their SAM registrations and SAM renewals. If you want to bid on fed contracts, we take relieve you of the burden of SAM registration. Once you’ve obtained your DUNS number, head to our homepage and simply click on the New Registration tab to get started.

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There’s an old saying that states, “time is money,” and we certainly agree with that assertion. If you want to register for government contracts, you probably have read a bit about the SAM registration process and how long this process can take. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a dozen (or more) hours filling out this application, because the team at Federal Contractor Registry is here to help.

First of all, let’s explain a bit about SAM registration. SAM stands for System for Award Management, and this is a centralized database where any government agency officer can go to look for potential contractors. Each contractor has a personalized listing that describes their business and capabilities, as well as a unique identifying number, known as a CAGE code.

SAM registration is required by anyone who wishes to bid on contractor jobs for the federal government. This includes available jobs from FEMA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing & Urban Development and the hundreds of other government entities that often need the skills of various outside contractors. This includes federal contractor jobs as well as state and local jobs. After you register for government contracts, you can begin to bid on jobs.

SAM Registration: The Facts
The government does not charge contractors to register for SAM, which is great. However, the SAM registration process can be so time-consuming and complicated that many people are discouraged from bidding on lucrative government contracting jobs. It can take someone anywhere from 10 to 15 hours (or more) to complete the entire registration process, and while there are tips and help available to help contractors better understand how to register for government contracts, this information can be quite confusing.

Rather than waste time and become frustrated with the intricacies of SAM registration, you can use a third-party registration process such as Federal Contractor Registry. Of course, we do charge a fee for our services, but once we complete the process, you will be ready to start bidding. We can handle all of the heavy lifting, so to speak, because there’s no reason why you need to deal with the headache of SAM registration.

What We Need
Before you come to us, we will need a few pieces of information. We will need to know your taxpayer identification number, which should be listed on any tax forms you fill out and your bank also will have that on file.

Additionally, you will need to acquire a DUNS number. Thankfully, this is an easy process. Simply to go to dashboard.dnb.com/register. From there, you create an account and answer a few quick questions. Within one or two business days, you will receive your DUNS number. This is an identifying number that will be assigned to your business, but unlike the SAM registration process, this is quick and straightforward.

After SAM Registration
Once you register for government contracts, you can begin looking for jobs. There are many websites to use for this process, including USAJobs.gov and FedBizOpps.gov. Additionally, if you are a small business, the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides a wealth of information of how to find and procure government contractors. You can find more information at SBA.gov.

If you want to register for government contracts, and you have your DUNS number and taxpayer ID, we can help. Simply go to our homepage and select the tab for New Registration or contact a registration specialist at (800) 985-7658.

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System for Award Management (SAM) registration is the first step on the road to government contacting and there are plenty of jobs available. Once you complete the SAM register process, your next step is to find those government contracts. Here are a few tips to help make contracting a bit easier.

1. Small Business Owners Should Get Certified
There are several small business certifications that can make it easier to procure a contracting job. For instance, there are special certifications for small businesses owned by women. There are special certifications for small businesses owned by people who are socially disadvantaged or economically disadvantaged. Businesses owned by service-disabled veterans also may be eligible for special certifications.

Sometimes agencies will search specifically for these types of certified small businesses, so if you qualify for a certification, take advantage of it. Of course, keep in mind that, no matter what type or size of business you own, the SAM register process must be completed before you apply for jobs.

2. Research Government Agencies
While you probably have heard of government agencies such as FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, there are actually dozens of federal agencies that are less well known. Some of these agencies outsource to federally-approved contractors, so it just makes sense to learn as much as you can about different federal agencies that might need your services. Sites such as FedBizOpps.gov list many different types of contracting jobs, and we also recommend that you contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) as they can provide you with all sorts of helpful advice for getting started with government contracting.

You also might consider attending the Government Procurement Conference, which is held yearly in Washington, D.C. This year’s event will be held on April 19 and includes several helpful seminars including Federal Contracting 101 and Subcontracting with Prime Contractors. There also will be many government exhibitors on site. In the past, exhibitors included the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Housing & Urban Development, Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Logistics Agency and many more. The U.S. Small Business Administration also has some short videos on its website that can be helpful for those new to government contracting. To access these videos, go to www.sba.gov and click on the Learning Center tab.

3. Learn How To Write Proposals
When you apply for a contracting job, you will need to create a job proposal. This proposal, much like a resume, needs to set you apart from the pack and convince a government agency why you are the best fit for a specific project. There are quite a few resources available online that can provide you with tips to help with this process, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), which offers a myriad of support materials for all types of small businesses wishing to get started with government contracting.

Of course, it all begins with SAM. While you can complete the SAM register process on your own, this is a very confusing and time-consuming process. In fact, it can take 10 to 15 hours to complete the entire registration process! The team at Federal Contractor Registry is here to help. We have completed thousands of these registrations and understand all of the government acronyms and the types of information needed for this process.

Save your time (and your sanity) and hire us to complete your SAM registration. To get started, simply give us a call or fill out our contact form and a representative quickly will be in touch to gather some important information and begin the SAM register process.

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If you want to bid on government contractor jobs, one of your first steps will be to complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration. There are thousands of jobs available, but without SAM, you won’t be able to take advantage of these opportunities. Read through our helpful list of fast SAM facts, and then give us a call and let us help you with the lengthy registration process.

1. SAM Registration Is Your Only Path To Government Contracting

If you don’t complete System for Award Management registration, you will not be eligible to bid on any government contracts. Likewise, if your SAM registration expires, you also will be ineligible to bid on contracts. Fortunately, once you complete this process, you will be ready to go, and free to bid on an assortment of contracts from agencies such as FEMA, Department of Defense and more.

2. Recruiters Often Use SAM

You might be surprised to learn that sometimes you don’t have to seek the government jobs; they find their way to you. While you have to complete System for Award Management registration so that you can bid on government contracts, it’s also a tool that many federal agencies (and even state and local agencies) use to find contractors. In fact, sometimes government contractors will use SAM to find subcontractors, as well. SAM is an excellent recruitment tool, as well as a way for you to discover opportunities.

3. Many Agencies Are Hiring Now

Depending on the type of business you own or the services you provide, there are always government agencies that need your help. For instance, with the recent California wildfires as well as the many severe hurricanes in 2017, clean-up crews and construction companies are in high demand from agencies such as FEMA. Other agencies that often need contractors include the Department of Energy, the Navy Electronic Commerce, the Defense Logistics Agency and more. Once you’ve completed System for Award Management registration, you can head to websites such as FedBizOpps.gov to search for contracting opportunities worth $25,000 or more.

4. SAM Registration Takes Time

While the government does not charge for System for Award Management registration, we receive calls every day from people completely frustrated by the registration process. Many people actually get about 20% of the way through registration, become frustrated, and thus aren’t able to take advantage of many profitable job offers. It takes many hours, as many 15 hours in fact, to complete SAM registration, and you simply may find that you don’t really have extra time to devote to the registration process. Government contracting is profitable, and we can help. Rather than spending several of your valuable working days struggling with complicated government procedures, let the team at Federal Contractor Registry complete this task for you.

5. Gather Some Info & Give Us A Call

To get started, we need a few pieces of information. This includes providing us with your federal taxpayer identification number (which should appear on any of your previous tax forms) and your DUNS number. If you do not yet have a DUNS number, simply head to the Dunn & Bradstreet website and apply for one. It’s free, and a very quick process, taking just a few minutes to complete. It can take 24 to 48 hours, to receive this number, once you have applied. Once you have this information, either give us a call or fill out our quick contact form today and a representative will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Our government is like a big pot of alphabet soup, and if you are getting ready to bid on government contracts, you probably hear acronyms such as SAM, MPIN, CAGE, FBO and DUNS tossed around. It can be confusing to understand what these all mean and how they affect you as a government contractor, but we can help you break it all down in a few helpful steps.

1. It all begins with SAM
SAM stands for System for Award Management. This is essentially a huge database that includes all of the vendors that work with the federal government, as well as people who are seeking grants and those providing grants. If you are interested in government contracting, you need to complete SAM registration and then you can be listed in this database as a vendor. Before SAM, there were multiple databases where vendors registered, but SAM makes it easy for Federal agencies to find vendors in one centralized location.

2. For SAM, You Need DUNS (and EIN)
Ah, the complexity. We could just explain the facts about an MPIN number, but it makes more sense in context. All contractors must complete SAM registration, which is what Federal Contractor Registry can accomplish for you. However, before you register for SAM, you need to acquire a DUNS (Dun & Bradstreet Number). This is a unique 9-digit number that identifies your business’s physical location. If your business includes multiple physical locations, you will need a DUNS for each location. Applying for a DUNS is free and registration takes just a few minutes. Once you have this number, you can come to us for SAM registration. We also will need your business’s Employer Identification Number, which is known as an EIN, and it should be located on any tax return you have filed and it your bank also will have it on hand, as the EIN is required to open a business bank account.

3. After SAM, You Receive Your MPIN Number
MPIN stands for Marketing Partner ID Number. After you complete SAM registration, you receive this number, and this is the password you will use to log in to various government databases, such as FBO.gov. This website is part of the General Services Administration, and you can find many contractor jobs on this website from agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Department of the Navy, the Department of Transportation and so on.

4. MPIN & CAGE: Are they Similar?
Once you’ve completed SAM registration, you receive both a MPIN number and a CAGE code. While the MPIN is what you use to log in to various government websites, the CAGE code is the code that identifies your business. An official in any government agency can look up your business or you as an individual using this code.

It is important to note that your SAM registration needs to be renewed every year. We can help you with your initial SAM registration, which is a lengthy process, as well as helping with SAM renewals. After a renewal, your CAGE code and your MPIN number will not change. However, if your SAM registration has not been renewed, you will not be able to access government websites nor will you be able to bid on government contracts.

While the MPIN number, CAGE code, SAM registration and so on might seem complicated, we make it easy as possible for you to become a government contractor. The process of filling out SAM registration is complicated and very time-consuming, and many of our clients tell us that until they found our service, they had just about given up on the idea of government contracting. However, there are so many opportunities available, and once you deal with SAM registration, you can get started with the bidding process. Let us help you jump over the SAM hurdle and get started with government contracting.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with disaster response coordination. In order to provide these services, there are many FEMA contractor jobs available throughout the course of the year. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can help contractors get started with FEMA contracting and also can provide some general information about FEMA and its history.

Register to Become a FEMA Contractor

1. FEMA Is A Relatively New Agency
Until the 1970s, disaster response and relief typically was handled on a case-by-case basis and many agencies within the government would respond to a disaster, which often led to confusion as to which agency was handling which task. There was no official organization to coordinate disaster response until 1973, when the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration was created, and this agency was part of the Department of Housing & Urban Development.

In 1979, President Carter became increasingly pressured by governors of multiple states to create a stronger, more centralized agency to assist with disaster response and, thus, FEMA was established. This caused a major reorganize of various disaster-related agencies within the government, and agencies such as the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration and others merged into FEMA.

2. FEMA Has Its Ups & Downs
During its first decade, FEMA assisted with few large-scale disasters, and was plagued with bureaucratic problems. Even applying for FEMA contractor jobs was a more difficult process, and the agency was criticized heavily by the press. This was particularly an issue during Hurricane Andrew in 1995 when it took FEMA about five days to send in federal assistance, despite thousands of citizens being without power as well as without access to food and water.

After Hurricane Andrew, FEMA was reformed and a new director, James Lee Witt, was brought in to streamline this agency. Witt previously served as the director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Service, so his previous disaster-response experience helped him create a FEMA that was more efficient and better able to respond quickly to disasters throughout the United States and its territories.

3. FEMA Continues To Evolve & Change
When FEMA was formed, it was an independent government agency. In fact, the director of FEMA was a cabinet post during the Clinton years. After September 11, 2001, however, FEMA was moved into the Department of Homeland Security. After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA was again reorganized and some preparedness functions were removed from its charge, including the Office of Infrastructure Protection, the National Communications System, National Cybersecurity Division and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

4. FEMA Declarations Are Complex
When a disaster occurs, FEMA doesn’t just automatically step in, provide disaster relief and start handing out FEMA contractor jobs. The governor of the affected state must first make an official request to their regional FEMA office. Usually before this occurs, officials conduct what is known as a PDA, or preliminary damage assessment, to gauge the level of the disaster and its severity. From there, the President will then declare that a major disaster or a crucial emergency exists and, at this point, FEMA can be activated and begin to assist with relief and support.

5. FEMA Contractor Jobs Are Prevalent
Despite reforms, it still can be difficult for FEMA to provide assistance after a large-scale disaster. Often, this is simply because they need more contractors to help with clean-up, repairs, engineering tasks and more. While there are many FEMA contractor jobs available, many companies and individuals mistakenly believe that bidding on FEMA contractor jobs is too difficult or complicated. However, once you have registered as a government contractor, it can be fairly easy to bid on, and ultimately receive, a federal contracting job.

If you are interested in bidding on FEMA contractor jobs, the first step is to complete your System for Award Management registration, or SAM registration. This is where we come in. SAM registration is a complicated process that can take as many as 15 hours (or more) to complete, but we can handle the entire process for your, ensuring that registration is handled properly and as quickly as possible. Once you have completed SAM registration, you will be able to bid on those lucrative FEMA contractor jobs. If you are ready to get started, just give us a call at any time and we will begin the process.

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This year has been a rough one for the United States, with multiple disasters including Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria and the many California wildfires, just to name a few. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created to help local and state governments respond to a disaster and to help with disaster recovery.

Register to Become a FEMA Contractor

While disasters take a huge toll on American families, these disasters also provide some opportunities for contactors. If you are interested in learning more about FEMA contractors and becoming a part FEMA disaster recovery, read on as we explain a few helpful facts.

1. FEMA Contractors Are Needed
Anytime a governor declares a state of emergency, the governor then has the option of formally requesting the president to have FEMA step in and help out with disaster response and relief. This happens multiple times throughout each year, such as with Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Harvey. While hurricane season has ended, repairing the damage caused by these tremendous storms barely has begun. Likewise, cleaning up after the many California wildfires also is just in the beginning stages. In addition, there have been several other notable FEMA-declared disaster areas around the country in 2017. This includes disasters related to flooding in Idaho, West Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire and Oregon. FEMA contractors are needed to respond to all of these disasters.

For instance, clean-up crews are needed, and there are thousands of homes, apartment complexes and businesses that need repairs. FEMA also often needs civil engineers, construction specialists and even security guards. FEMA contractors are in short supply, so we encourage you to complete all the paperwork necessary to become FEMA contractors and take advantage of these lucrative and helpful jobs.

2. Compile Some Basic Information
Before people or companies become FEMA contractors, you have to have a few important items in place. The first is to know your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which is easy to find on your tax forms. Secondly, you need to contact Dun & Bradstreet and apply for a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number. This is free and takes just a few minutes to complete. Once you have your TIN & DUNS handy, you can apply to become FEMA contractors.

3. Let Us Complete Your SAM Registration
SAM stands for System for Award Management, and this is basically a database that includes pertinent information about each company that is interested in being FEMA contractors or government contractors or vendors. When you apply for SAM, you will receive what is known as a CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code, and this is the identifier that every government agency will use to find information about your company.

While you can apply for SAM registration on your own, completing the application can take more than 15 hours. Not only is the application lengthy, it’s fairly complicated and confusing. We hear from people all of the time that want to be FEMA contractors but were overwhelmed by the SAM registration process. This is where we come in. Once you have your DUNS and TIN, just give us a call and hire us to complete your SAM Registration. Over the years, we have helped thousands of individuals and companies complete SAM Registration. Once your application is complete and approved by the government, you will be ready to bid on FEMA contracts.

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