Author: fcr

The Small Business Administration (SBA) can be a fantastic resource for just about any small business, especially if you decide to bid on government contracting jobs. Here’s a quick look at the SBA in general as well as SBA government contracting and how Federal Contractor Registry can help small businesses.

 

The SBA was created during the 1950s to help small businesses grow and, in turn, help improve the nation’s economy. The SBA provides resources to help Americans get started with a new business or to help grow an existing small business.

 

If you are just getting started, the SBA offers tips and information to help you create a business plan and launch your business. They also help you find funding, such as low-interest loans and grants as well as matching you to mentors that can help you expand and grow and manage your firm.

 

Is Your Business Small?

To qualify as a small business, you must meet certain size standards. These vary based on your industry. The SBA has a Size Standards Tool at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards although this is currently undergoing an update. At any rate, the page above contains information that can help you determine whether or not your business qualifies as a small business.

 

To determine whether or not you qualify, you will need to know your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes, which can be found at Census.gov, describe the types of goods and services your company can provide.

 

Once you’ve found your codes, the SBA determines whether or not your business is small by either looking at your annual receipts (gross income) or your number of employees. For instance, if your business is a sporting goods manufacturer and you have 750 or fewer employees, you qualify as a small business, no matter what your gross income might be.

 

On the other hand, if you own apple orchards and your company has gross receipts of $4 million or less per year, your business will qualify as small, regardless of the number of people you employ. As you can see, your business might have hundreds of employees and millions in gross receipts and still qualify as small.

 

SBA Set-Asides

Once you’ve determined if you qualify as a general small business, the SBA also has several programs specifically designed to help business owners that wish to bid on government contracts. These programs are known as SBA government contracting assistance programs or simply as  “set-asides” because the government sets aside certain contracting jobs just for qualifying small businesses.

 

There are set-asides for general small businesses, but there are also a few special set aside categories, including:

 

Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

If you have served in the United States armed services and own 51% or more of a qualifying small business, you can register as a VOSB. There is also a designation for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) for anyone who served in the military and became disabled because of a service-related injury.

 

Currently, VOSB verification is handled by the Veterans Administration, but that process will be handled by SBA beginning January 1, 2023. If you register with the VA before this date, your verification status will be transferred automatically.

 

Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

If your small business is at least 51% owned and operated by a woman, you can apply for the WOSB program. The SBA also has a designation for an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB).

 

To qualify for the latter certification, you have to qualify as a WOSB but also the woman or women that own the business, according to the SBA, must each have a personal net worth of less than $750,000 and $6 million or less in assets. Further, the woman or women that own the business also much have $350,000 or less in adjusted gross income for the three previous years.

 

Small Disadvantaged Business

The government sets aside about 10% of all federal contract dollars to businesses that qualify in this category. To qualify for these federal government contractor jobs, the company must be at least 51% owned and operated by a person that qualifies either as socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged.

 

The economic requirements are outlined above under the EDWOSB section. Socially disadvantaged groups include “those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control.”

 

This includes a wide range of people including African Americans, Native Americans and many other ethnic groups as well as women and people with physical disabilities. Basically, if you can express how your ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, gender or other factors have negatively impacted your ability to earn a living, start a business or even gain access to education, you may qualify as socially disadvantaged.

 

The HUBZone Program

HUBZone stands for Historically Underutilized Business Zone, and this program was designed to boost small businesses located in areas that typically have struggled economically, such as impoverished urban areas or remote rural areas.

 

For this program, a small business must have its principal location in a HUBZone and at least 35% of the employees must live in a HUBZone. The business also must be 51% or more owned and operated by U.S. citizens, a community development corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaskan Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization or a Native American tribe.

 

About 3% of all federal contracting dollars are set aside for HUBZone businesses. To check if your business is located in a HUBZone, go to https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5. Some areas, such as those hit by a natural disaster, qualify as temporary HUBZones, so if you live in an area severely damaged by fire, a tornado, hurricane or other disasters, you might be able to qualify for this program.

 

 8a Certification

About 5% of contracting dollars are set aside for businesses in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program, which often is just known as 8a certification. This program is set up for businesses 51% or more owned by socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizens who have been in business at least two years. Once you qualify for this program, you can participate for up to nine years.

 

Let Us Help With SBA Government Contracting!

While signing up with the SBA is a must for any small business, all federal contractors, large or small or in between, must complete their registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) to do business with any federal agency. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can provide you with fast, accurate SAM registration services.

 

However, we also provide several value-added services. We will help you sign up with the SBA and ensure that you are enrolled in all eligible programs. We know that this process can be tricky, but we have years of experience helping new government contractors. We also can introduce you to Super 8a contractors in our network, which can be a great way to get started with government contracting jobs.

 

Whether you qualify for one or more SBA government contracting certifications, don’t miss out on your chance to bid on these lucrative jobs. If you’d like for us to handle your SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. Once our registration specialist contacts you, be sure to mention that you need SAM registration and help to sign up with the SBA, as well.

While you might be searching the internet for a SAM registration guide, completing your SAM registration is only one step that you need to take in order to become a government contractor. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can help with SAM registration, but before you get started with that process, there are a few other steps you need to take.

 

1. Determine If You Fill A Need

Government contracting jobs can be lucrative, and the government needs a wide array of goods and services, but before you dive into federal contracting, it can be smart to see if your specific goods or services are needed by the government.

 

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the government database for all things relating to government contracting. In order to work with any federal agency, you must complete SAM registration, but before you complete this process, you can search for contracting opportunities at SAM.gov.

 

Get started by clicking on the Contract Opportunities tab and then we recommend clicking on Advanced Search. Once you click that, you can search using several different filters. You also could simply search using a keyword that describes your business. For instance, if you provide security services, you could search using the word “security.”

 

However, it’s typically easiest to search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These describe the exact goods or services your company can provide to government agencies. If you aren’t sure of them, you can look this up at Census.gov or we can provide you with them should you choose to use Federal Contractor Registry as your SAM registration provider.

 

To search SAM.gov using your NAICS codes, just click on the Product or Service Information tab and enter your code or codes. NAICS codes are broken down into segments based upon your business sector and industry.

 

For instance, let’s say your company produces wood office furniture. Your NAICS code would be 337211. The 337 refers to the sector of Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing while the 21 narrows it down to office furniture and the last number specifies wood furniture manufacturing as opposed to other materials.

 

At any rate, if you entered this code into the search, you would discover several pages of results from many government agencies, including the General Services Administration, Department of Defense and others. You can study these results to determine whether or not these contracts fit what you can provide.

 

2. Study Various Government Agencies

Once you’ve found that several agencies do need the goods or services you can provide, spend some time learning about these agencies to determine which ones might be the best match for you.

 

In some cases, you might want to select an agency with offices near your business location, especially if the services or goods you provide can only be provided locally. If this is the case, when you do your search at SAM.gov, your can narrow down the search results by using your NAICS codes as well as listing a geographic location under the Place of Performance tab.

 

If you don’t find any good matches, don’t forget to check out the contacting jobs listed by your state government’s procurement agency. State governments also acquire many goods and services from the private sector and these contracts can be just as lucrative as federal contracts and sometimes they are easier to attain.

 

3. Create A Capability Statement

A capability statement is a resume for your company and every government procurement agent will expect you to have this document. Most government contractors will even put it up on their website, perhaps even building a page specifically for government contracting and adding this document to this section of their website.

 

This statement includes several typical segments including a basic description of your company as well as contact information and a section that includes your NAICS codes, your Product Service Codes, your CAGE Code (this is assigned after your complete SAM registration) and any industry-specific certifications your company possesses.

 

Additionally, you will want a section of Core Competencies, which outlines the type of goods or services your company provides. Past Performances is another section to add, and in this area, you will list past clients. Another section is typically called Differentiators, and this section quickly describes what sets your company apart from your competitors.

 

You can find many good examples of Capability Statements online. It’s best to get started on this document before you start bidding on contacting jobs. Once you have SAM registration approval, you are immediately eligible to bid on contracts so you will need this statement complete. All you will need to add is your CAGE code and you will be ready to go.

 

4. Sign Up With The Small Business Administration

If your business qualifies as a small business, it’s smart to sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Even if you decide against government contracting, this government agency offers programs and support for all types of small businesses.

 

The government sets aside a portion of all government contracting jobs specifically for small businesses, but you need to sign up and register as a small business to bid on these “set-aside” contracts.

 

That’s just one reason to sign up with SBA. SBA also can help you secure loans and grants and can provide general business support, such as helping you create a business plan or finding mentors to help grow your business.

 

5. Gather Your Necessary Information

No SAM registration guide would be complete without listing the type of information you will need to complete the registration process. Whether you decide to hire a third-party SAM registration service or complete the process on your own, you will need to gather the following information together.

 

For instance, you will need to ensure that you have your bank account number and routing number, as this will be added to your SAM account. This is the account that government agencies will use to pay you for the goods or services you provide.

 

You also need your tax identification number for your business, which typically can be found on any of your tax forms. The government also wants your business phone number and a physical mailing address for your business, not a PO Box.

 

In the past, you also needed to provide your DUNS number, which stood for Data Universal Numbering System. This is no longer used and was replaced with the Unique Identity ID which consists of 12 alphanumeric characters.

 

For those who already have an active SAM registration, this ID was assigned automatically, but if you are new to the System for Award Management, you will need to register for this identifier. You can do this at SAM.gov or we can handle the process for you if decide to use our service for SAM registration.

 

Additionally, you will need to provide your NAICS codes and your Product Service Codes. If you use our service for SAM registration, we also are happy to help identify the best codes for your business if you have not done so already.

 

SAM Registration: Should You Hire An Expert?

The government does not charge a fee to register with the System for Award Management, but some company representatives opt to use a third-party registration service simply because it’s easier and faster.

 

We do charge a fee, but for those unfamiliar with SAM, registering on your own can take 10 or more hours and can be quite frustrating. In fact, many people give up on the idea of government contracting because the SAM registration process is too confusing.

 

Using a third party ensures that you avoid the headaches associated with registration and ensures that your application is 100% accurate. If you make mistakes, this can delay your approval significantly

 

Even when using a SAM registration guide provided by the government, you may find that the explanations are hard to understand. If you want to avoid the hassle and get approved for government contracting, we can help! To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist quickly will be in touch to gather information and start working on your SAM registration.

The Department of Defense is the largest agency in the U.S. federal government and, as you might expect, this agency also spends far more on government contracts than any other agency. DOD contracts can be a lucrative option for government contractors, and you might be surprised at how this agency spends its money.

 

In 2021, the Department of Defense had a budget of more than $700 billion and much of this was used to pay for government contracts. While it’s true that companies such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman earn a large percent of these contracts, there are still plenty of contracts out there for mid-size companies and even small businesses. Here are a few facts about working with the DOD.

 

1. DOD Doesn’t Just Needs Tanks & Airplanes

While the big bucks in DOD contract spending certainly come from providing aircraft, tanks, weapons and other similar items, just like other agencies, the DOD also needs many other supplies.

 

For instance, they have to feed our troops, so food services are always needed. They need office supplies, clothing suppliers, medical equipment, repair services and much more. We did a recent search using the SAM.gov Contract Opportunities search engine and found everything from contracts for printer paper to HVAC replacement to shipping equipment.

 

To determine if you are a good fit for DOD contracts, head to SAM.gov and click on the Contract Opportunities tab. From click on Advanced Search. Type in “defense” under Federal Organizations or use the code 097.

 

From there, we recommend that you narrow down your search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes describe the type of goods or services that you can provide to the federal government. We can determine your codes during the SAM registration process, or you can look for them at Census.gov.

 

If you don’t find a match, don’t give up on government contracting jobs! There are hundreds of federal agencies, and many of them probably need your goods and services. Additionally, state governments also use goods and services from the private sector and these contracts can be just lucrative as the fed contracts.

 

2. Security Clearance Is Not Always Needed

Many new to government contracting jobs mistakenly believe that they cannot do business with the DOD unless the have security clearances, but this is not always the case. Obviously, some companies, such as those manufacturing weapons or aircraft, will need high-level security clearance, but if you are simply providing supplies or some services to DOD, this may not be necessary.

 

3. SAM Registration Is The First Step

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a database that contains information about every government contractor, but in order to be listed in this database, you are required to complete the SAM registration process.

 

While the government doesn’t charge a fee to sign up for any of its programs, including SAM registration, it’s not the easiest process and many people give up on the idea of government contracting once they discover the amount of paperwork involved in the process.

 

It can be easier to simply hire a third-party registration service, such as Federal Contractor Registry to complete your SAM registration. We do charge a fee, but we can save you tons of time and frustration. For those new to government contracting, it can take 10, 12 or more hours to complete the registration process, which is filled with confusing government speak.

 

We can ensure that your registration is completed quickly and accurately, so that you are approved as fast as possible and receive your CAGE code, which is the unique identifier for your company in the System for Award Management. You cannot do business with any federal agency without a CAGE code and active listing in SAM.

 

Why choose Federal Contractor Registry? In addition to completing your SAM registration, we also offer several additional value-added services to help you get started in federal government contracting, including:

 

• Signing up with the Small Business Administration (if applicable)
• Helping with the Notarized Letter Requirement for SAM Registration
• Acquiring your Unique Entity Identifier (which recently replaced DUNS)
• Introducing you to Super 8a Contractors in the FCR Network

 

4. Study Up On Contracting Rules & Regulations

The government has many regulations regarding government contracting, and it’s important that you understand the rules that apply to the type of contracts you bid on. These rules are known as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and for the DOD contracts, they are called Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The DOD often has more stringent and complex regulations given the level of security needed for certain contracts.

 

These regulations not only stipulate what guidelines contracts must follow but also guidelines that the government agencies must follow. This might include requiring certain contracts be set aside for small businesses or perhaps requiring that contractors ensure that they have a drug-free workplace, etc. There are literally thousands of regulations that fall under FAR.

 

Obviously, you don’t (nor could you) memorize all of these organizations, but if you see a government contract notice and it lists a FAR on it, it is smart to go to Acquisitions.gov and take a look at the specific FAR listed in the contract as this may preclude you from bidding on the contract.

 

In general, the government expects that all government contractors provide them with one might term honest services at an honest price. If it is discovered that you or a representative from your company has violated a government regulation or acted in an business-like manner or mishandled money, etc., this could end up with your company being placed on the Excluded Party List System.

 

If you end up on this list, this prevents you from bidding on any federal contractor jobs until your suspension is lifted and it is quite a process to have a suspension lifted. In some cases, it isn’t even a possibility.

 

5. Check Out The DOD Website

If you head to Defense.gov (which is often called DefenseLink), you can learn a great deal about this agency, up-to-date news and even information about government contracting jobs that have been awarded.

While the website isn’t a huge help for potential defense contractors, it does give you an idea of what’s currently happening at DOD and where they might need help in the near future.

 

As stated above, you can find contracting options at SAM.gov, but we also recommend that you check out the Small Business Administration’s SubNet system, which lists subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. Subcontracting can be a great way to get started with government contracting.

 

Get Started Now!

If you want to bid on DOD contracts or contacts with any other federal agency and would like us to help with SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage. Fill out our quick contact form and a registration specialist will be in touch as quickly as possible to gather your information and get started on your SAM registration.

When it comes to federal contractor jobs, there are several options to consider including traditional contracting jobs, such as disaster relief jobs for FEMA or providing goods or services to another agency. For small businesses, subcontracting can be a good option to consider, especially when you are just getting started with contracting. GSA contracts are another option, but they can be tricky to understand and attain, so let’s take a look at this third option.

 

What Are GSA Contracts?

First of all, the GSA is the General Services Administration. This is a federal agency whose main purpose is procurement meaning they purchase goods and services for all government agencies. The GSA is also in charge, through its Federal Service Desk, of the huge database for all government contractors – the System for Award Management.

 

The System for Award Management (SAM) includes all active (and inactive) government contractors. You cannot do business with the federal government without first completing your SAM registration, and this includes applying for GSA contracts. Once you have completed SAM registration, you can work with just about any federal agency, including GSA.

 

For most types of standard government contracts, an agency will post a solicitation on SAM.gov and government contractors will bid on the contract. This takes some time as the government procurement agent will have to review all of the bids and make a decision about which contractor or contractors to choose.

 

With GSA contracts, also known as GSA schedules, you can bypass this bidding process and become an approved vendor for any government agency. Getting on a GSA schedule does not guarantee that you will make any money, but it can help you bypass the bidding process.

 

For instance, perhaps your company produces air purifiers. You could apply to become listed on the GSA schedule for Industrial Products and Services. If approved, this means when a government agency needs air purifiers, they can simply purchase them from an approved GSA vendor rather than going through the whole contract and bidding process. It’s a time saver both for the government agency and the vendor.

 

Completing SAM Registration

SAM registration is always the first step with any type of government contract. With SAM registration, you have two options. You can complete the SAM registration application on your own at no charge or you can hire a third-party, such as Federal Contractor Registry to complete the process for you.

 

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, the process is complicated and time-consuming and can take 10, 12 or more hours to complete. Many people become frustrated with the process and give up on the idea of government contracting, which is unfortunate because contracting can be highly profitable.

 

Hiring a third party does cost money, but because we’ve completed thousands of SAM registrations and SAM renewals, we fully understand the process and can complete your registration quickly and accurately. As part of our SAM registration fee, we also can help you with other steps, including:

 

• Signing up with the Small Business Administration (if applicable)
• Helping with the Notarized Letter Requirement for SAM Registration
• Acquiring your Unique Entity Identifier (which recently replaced DUNS)
• Introducing you to Super 8a Contractors in the FCR Network

 

Are GSA Contracts Right For You?

If you want GSA contracts, the first step is to ensure that you have the types of goods and services needed by the GSA. There are 12 categories including:

• Facilities
• Furniture & Furnishings
• Human Capital
• Industrial Products & Services
• Information Technology
• Miscellaneous (Includes everything from apparel to flags to musical instruments)
• Office Management
• Professional Services
• Scientific Management & Solutions
• Security & Protection
• Transportation & Logistics Solutions
• Travel

 

You can head to GSA’s eLibrary at https://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/home.do to help learn more about the types of goods and services needed within these 12 categories, but let’s use one – Office Management – as an example.

 

Within the Office Management category, you can find many different types of GSA contracts. For instance, one category includes office supplies such as copy paper, shedders, toner cartridges, pens, paper clips, mailing and shipping supplies, calendars, file folders and much more. If you can provide one or more of these items consistently at a level needed by government agencies, you might be a great fit for a GSA contract.

 

GSA Requirements

Once you’ve established that your business is a good fit for GSA contracts, you must ensure that you meet the prerequisites for getting on a GSA schedule. One requirement is that your business was established two or more years ago and can provide financial statements for two years.

 

Additionally, you must be able to show, as it states on the GSA website, “measurable past performance.” If you have already earned three or more federal contracts and have ratings in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System, this can be an adequate measure of past performance.

 

If you are just getting started with government contracting or have only one or two completed government contracts with ratings, the GSA will ask for references from at least six previous clients or customers to gauge your past performance. You will be evaluated on several factors including reliability, quality, cost, accuracy, professionalism, delivery times and customer support.

 

You also need to complete some GSA training, and you can find this training, which is free, at GSA.gov. The first part of training is reading a 90-page guide entitled Pathways to Success, which helps you better understand how GSA awards contracts. The second part is to complete a multi-page Readiness Assessment checklist. While both of these steps take time, you can learn a great deal about GSA and its processes while completing your training.

Once you have completed the training and completed your SAM registration, received your Unique Entity Identifier and compiled a list of previous customers that can attest to the quality of your past performances, you can go to https://eoffer.gsa.gov/ and begin the process of applying for consideration for a GSA schedule.

 

This can be a complicated process and there are private companies out there that can help you get on a GSA schedule. If you believe GSA contracts will be a profitable option for you, this could be an option to explore. Keep in mind, that it can take many months for GSA to approve you (even up to 12 months), and this does not guarantee that your goods or services will be purchased. We usually recommend that company representatives continue to seek out traditional government contracts while they wait to see if they are approved for a GSA schedule.

 

Contact Us For SAM Registration Help!

If you would like for us to complete your SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. Once you submit, a registration specialist will be in touch with you as quickly as possible to get started on your SAM registration so that you can begin bidding on GSA contracts or any type of government contracting job.

The System for Award Management is the database that includes all federal government contractors. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can provide you with fast, accurate System for Award Management registration and renewals as well as several other important contracting-related services. But first, let’s take a look at this database and some facts about government contracting.

 

The System For Award Management Is Fairly New

The government began listing government contracts online back in 1994 with the Central Contractor Registration database, known as CCR. In 2012, the System for Award Management (SAM) was created and the CCR was included in this database along with a few other databases, including the Excluded Parties List, which we will discuss a bit later in this article.

 

In order to work with any federal government agency (and most state government agencies), you must complete your System for Award Management registration, which typically is just called SAM registration. You will still sometimes read or hear about CCR.gov or CCR registration and other outdated terms such as ORCA, but everything is part of the System for Award Management presently.

 

SAM Registration Is Difficult

While it is free to register in the System for Award Management, SAM registration is by no means easy or quick. It can take 10 hours or more to complete the application and this online document is filled with confusing government-speak that can be difficult to decipher. For this reason, many people simply hire a third-party registration service to complete their registration.

 

While these companies, ourselves included, do charge a fee for SAM registration, we can take all of the guesswork out of the registration process. Our team of SAM registration experts will complete your application quickly and accurately, saving you time and the headaches associated with the SAM registration process.

 

It’s a bit like hiring an accountant to complete your taxes. You could complete tax forms on your own at no charge, but the tax code is complicated, and mistakes can be costly so hiring a pro just seems like a smart option. It’s just the same with SAM registration and SAM renewals, hiring an expert can be a better, easier option even if you have to pay for the service.

 

A Notarized Letter Is Required

For those new to the System for Award Management, you must send a notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk listing your Entity Administrator. This is simply the person authorized to make changes to your SAM registration. The Federal Service Desk (FSD) is the federal agency that manages all things regarding the System for Award Management. The FSD is managed by the General Services Administration, which is focused on procuring goods and services for all federal government agencies.

 

This notarized letter requirement was added a few years ago to increase security and is only required for first-time registrants and anyone with an expired SAM registration that previously has not sent in a notarized letter. If you already have an active SAM registration, it is likely that you already completed this letter and sent it in.

 

For those who wish to register in SAM for the first time, we can help you get started with this process as part of our SAM registration process. Essentially, you simply copy the government’s template for the letter, get it notarized and send it in. It can be a hassle, but the process is relatively simple, and it is a requirement for first-time SAM registrants.

 

The Unique Entity Identifier Has Been Added

In the recent past and for many years, Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) was part of the SAM registration process. When you registered with the System for Award Management, a company was required to include their DUNS number on the application.

 

However, this recently changed, and the government now issues what is known as a Unique Entity Identifier, also known as a Unique Entity ID. This was supposed to go into effect several years ago, but the process was delayed by the pandemic. At any rate, the Unique Entity ID has now replaced DUNS, so to complete your SAM registration, you will need to obtain this identifier.

 

The good news is that if you hire us for SAM registration, we can complete this process for you and save you the hassle. You don’t have to be a government contractor or listed in the System for Award Management to attain the identifier and any business can go to GSA.gov to learn more about signing up for the Unique Entity Identifier.

 

For those who already have an active SAM registration or even an expired SAM registration, the government already updated your listing and assigned you a Unique Entity ID. But anyone new to the System for Award Management will need to take the steps to get their ID and, as stated before, we can do this for you at no extra charge if you hire us for SAM registration.

 

The Excluded Parties List

You might have heard about System for Award Management exclusions, so let’s talk about that for a bit. While an inactive SAM registration prohibits you from working with any federal government agency, this is easily rectified by completing your SAM renewal. If you end up on the Excluded Parties List, however, this can keep you from bidding on any contracts even if your SAM registration is active.

 

The Excluded Parties List (EPL) is a list of contractors or individuals that are, as it states on SAM.gov, “parties excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain types of Federal financial and non Financial assistance and benefits.”

 

In general, this isn’t something most business owners should worry about, but if you or your company does owe money to the government, such as back taxes, or if you have been convicted of tax fraud, this can end you up on the list. Likewise, if a government procurement agent or representative of an agency accuses you or a representative of your company of unethical behavior, this also can get you on the list.

 

In other cases, your business practices may not align with government regulations. In these cases, you might be able to alter your business practices so that they do align and then appeal to the government to remove you from the list.

 

Most companies will never end up on this list, but if you do, it can be time-consuming and a difficult process to get off of the Excluded Parties List so it’s best to read over each government contract carefully to ensure that your business aligns with all government requirements and regulations.

 

Finding Government Contracting Jobs

There are private companies that can help match you to government contracting jobs, and while this is an extra expense, it can be a good option for those new to government contracting. If you prefer to find contracting opportunities on your own, you can go to SAM.gov and search for active contracts. The SAM database includes information on all active and inactive government contracts, and you can search by location, by agency, using NAICS codes or several other ways.

 

For small businesses, the Small Business Administration also offers helpful information about government contracting jobs and this agency runs SubNet, which is its Subcontracting Network System. Subcontracting (working for a prime contractor) can be a great way for a small business to get started with government contracting, and you can search for subcontracting opportunities at https://eweb1.sba.gov/subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm.

 

The SBA also offers several programs to help small businesses thrive, and all federal agencies set aside a portion of contracting dollars just for small businesses. If you own a small business and are interested in any SBA programs, such as 8a certification or signing up for the Woman-Owned Small Business program or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business program or just signing up with SBA in general we can help as part of our SAM registration services.

 

Sign Up For The System For Award Management Today!

The government issues thousands of government contracts every year worth billions of dollars, and government contracting jobs can be lucrative for businesses of all sizes and types. Whether you want to bid on disaster relief jobs for FEMA, on DOD contracts or on contracts with any agency, it all starts with SAM registration.

 

If you want to sign up with the System for Award Management, we can help. To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our website and fill out our quick contact form. One of our registration specialists will be in touch as soon as possible to gather your information and get started on your SAM registration.

Whether you’ve let your System for Award Management (SAM) registration expire or you are getting close to your expiration date, completing your SAM registration renewal is a crucial task you need to take if you plan on bidding on any government contracting jobs.

 

Why Complete SAM Registration Renewal?

Government agencies cannot do business with any company or individual with an expired SAM registration, and they often won’t even consider awarding a contract to anyone with a fast-approaching expiration date. This is because if a contract awardee’s SAM registration expires in the middle of the government contracting job, the agency can no longer use your services and then the agency is left in a lurch.

 

It is recommended that you complete SAM registration renewal several months prior to your expiration date. Usually, it doesn’t take more than a week to gain approval for your SAM approval, but if the Federal Service Desk is backed up (as they were during the early months of the pandemic), it can take longer for them to process both initial SAM registration application and SAM renewals. It’s better to avoid the risk of a long approval process and just renew your SAM account well in advance of the expiration date.

 

Additionally, if you want to work on state government contracts, most state procurement agents will want your (Commercial and Government Entity) CAGE Code, which is your identifier within the System for Award Management. If they find that your SAM registration has expired, you likely will not be considered for any state-level government contract jobs. While federal contractor jobs can be lucrative, we always encourage client to bid on state-level contracting jobs as these can sometimes be easier to acquire and can be just as lucrative.

 

Even if you have not yet earned your first government contract, we encourage you to complete your SAM renewal. On average, most contractors find that it takes more than a year and sometimes two years to earn their first government contract. It takes some patience and fortitude, but once you start earning contracts, this can transform your business.

 

Government contracting can be an excellent recession-proof way to boost your business. Even if the economy is struggling, the government will still need goods and services, and they will look to the private sector to fill those needs. Government agencies also always pay their bills, even in uncertain economic times, which gives the government an advantage over other clients, that might declare bankruptcy and leave you in the cold without payment for your services.

 

Federal Contractor Registry Can Help

While SAM registration renewal is not as complicated as the initial SAM registration process, it still can be confusing and time-consuming. At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations and SAM renewals every year and we can complete your renewal process quickly and accurately so that you don’t have to worry about losing your active status.

 

Even if you have an expired listing, we can update the listing for you and complete your SAM registration renewal. We do charge a fee for renewal, and the government will not charge you a fee. But, if you want to avoid the hassle of renewal, hiring a SAM expert can be a good idea and we handle renewals for any size of business.

 

As an added value, we also can help you sign up with several Small Business Administration programs, including 8a certification, the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program, the HUBZone program, the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and others. We do not charge to help customers with this process, it’s simply an extension of our SAM registration and SAM renewal services.

 

What About The Unique Entity Identifier Update?

When government procurement agents, prime contractors or others wish to look up your business in the System for Award Management, they typically use your CAGE Code if they have it or your (Data Universal Numbering System) DUNS number if they don’t have your CAGE Code. However, DUNS has been fazed out and now the government uses what is called the Unique Entity Identifier.

 

The good news is that if you have either an active SAM registration or even an expired and inactive SAM registration, the government already has updated this for you and assigned you a number. If you hire us for SAM registration renewal, we will make a note of this identifier and pass it on to you or you can ask your Entity Administrator (the person authorized to make changes to your SAM account) and have them look up the new identifier.

 

If you have never completed SAM registration before, the process of attaining your Unique Entity Identifier is a bit more complicated, but we can help you with this process along with completing your initial SAM registration. Keep in mind that you do not need to complete SAM registration in order to get a Unique Entity Identifier. So, if you simply want to update your DUNS information, you can go to GSA.gov and follow the steps to apply for the new Unique Entity ID.

 

Get Renewed Today!

If you would like the team at Federal Contractor Registration to handle your SAM registration renewal process, just head to our homepage and click on the Renew Registration tab and fill out our quick contact form and a renewal specialist will be in touch as quickly as possible to gather your information and get started on your SAM renewal.

The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, which was passed by Congress in late 2021 will make significant impacts in the world of federal contracting, adding thousands of new government contracting jobs. We can help you get started with government contracting, but first let’s take a quick look at what this bill entails.

 

Repair & Rebuild

As one might expect, this bill includes repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges throughout the United States and this includes everything from improving interstates to improving wildlife crossing safety and even improving recreational trails.

 

About $110 billion has been earmarked to handle repairs with a strong emphasis on repairing and improving the 45,000 bridges found throughout the United States. Government contracting jobs in this section won’t just be limited to actual construction and repair projects, but also research and development.

 

Improve Public Transit

Improving public transportation options accounts for another large chunk of this bill. About $66 billion will be spent on improvements to our rail system, although this will be allocated for both passenger rail and freight rail. Another $39 billion is devoted to improvements in public transportation including repairing buses, rail cars, track and rail stations. This section also focuses on improving transit options for seniors and those with disabilities.  There also are sections devoted to subjects such as emergency lighting and data accessibility related to our national rail system.

 

Airport Improvements & Port Improvements

Another $25 billion has been included to improve our nation’s airports and $16.6 billion has been allocated to improve ports and waterways. Obviously, with the recent issues with our ports flooded with container ships, this is an area of concern that has affected the entire system of commerce throughout the nation.

 

Ferries & School Buses

Providing better accessibility for students is another part of this new bill, but the bill also focuses on providing school buses that run on clean energy, as mitigating climate change is addressed throughout the bill. Ferry service, especially in rural areas, is another area of concern and the bill seeks to improve ferry service in areas such as Alaska and Washington, where people rely on these boats to get to work or to purchase goods and services in other areas not easily accessible by roads.

 

Internet Improvements

The bill includes $65 billion to fund programs that ensure that all Americans will have access to high-speed internet. This section of the bill addresses issues common in rural areas, such as slow internet speeds and poor connectivity, as well as providing access for people throughout the United States who otherwise would have difficulty paying for quality internet services.

 

Electric Vehicle Charging

The bill also seeks to build electric vehicle charging stations throughout the United States. As several states are now requiring automakers to make more electric vehicles and improve emissions standards, this part of the bill will help support the motorists that purchase electric vehicles and also make it easier for people to make the switch from traditional vehicles to electric vehicles.

 

Clean Water

According to the White House fact sheet on the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, as many as “10 million American households and 400,000 schools and childcare centers lack safe drinking water.” About $55 billion will be invested to provide better access to clean drinking water. Government contracting jobs in this area might focus on providing services to replace lead pipes as well as analysis and research to determine where the greatest needs for water improvement might be.

 

Clean Energy

The goal in this section of the bill is to move toward a “zero-emissions future.” It includes a myriad of tasks including earth mapping, carbon storage, hydroelectricity efficiency improvements, solar energy expansion, nuclear energy infrastructure planning and much more. While some government contracting jobs in this area might include repairing or building energy-generating facilities, some of the jobs will include collecting data, completing energy consumption surveys and completing impact studies.

 

How To Bid On Government Contracting Jobs

The government will look to the private sector for all of these infrastructure tasks, but only companies with active listings in the System for Award Management (SAM) will be eligible to bid on these government contracting jobs. This means you will need to complete your SAM registration before you can start bidding on federal contractor jobs, and we can help.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we provide fast and accurate SAM registration services (and SAM renewals) for companies of all sizes. While the government does not charge a SAM registration fee and we do, we can save you time and the hassle of SAM registration.

 

SAM registration is a highly complex process and can take ten or more hours to complete. Additionally, if you make any mistakes on this complicated application, it can delay your approval in the System for Award Management. We will complete your SAM registration correctly the first time so that you can get started with government contracting as soon as possible. While we do charge a $597 fee for SAM registration, that price includes:

• 100% accurate SAM Registration & Setup
• We can help you procure the new SAM Unique Entity ID
• We can help with the SAM Notarized Letter requirement
• We can help with SBA Registration
• We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other Federal Contractors in the FCR Network

 

Government Contracting Job Options

As part of this bill, the government has made a huge commitment to purchase goods and services from American companies as much as possible, and this means that American federal contractors will have the edge when bidding for any contracting jobs. The best way to see if you are a good fit for government contracting is to head to SAM.gov and click on the Contract Opportunities tab.

 

This leads you to the search engine for government contracting jobs. We recommend that you click on the Advanced Search option and then scroll down to Product or Service Information and enter your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes or your Product and Service Code (PSCs). If you aren’t sure which codes match your business, we can help you find the best codes as we complete your SAM registration, or you can head to Census.gov to find your NAICS codes. This tends to be the easiest search option because it brings up search results that are a close match to the goods and services your company can provide.

 

If you are registered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a small business (and we can help with this process), you also should check for contracting opportunities in the SBA Subcontracting Network at https://eweb1.sba.gov/subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm.

 

Subcontracting is a great way for small businesses to get started with government contracting. This simply means that you will be working for a Prime Contractor, which is a large company that has been awarded a larger government contract. Prime Contractors often are required to use small business subcontractors to win a government contract.

 

Get Started Today!

As the projects within the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act get going, more and more lucrative government contracting jobs will become available, so this is a perfect time to get started with government contracting. If you would like us to help with SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage, fill out our quick contact form and a registration specialist soon will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

If you are a woman that owns 51% of a small business, you may qualify for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program. There are many reasons to consider signing up with the SBA, and one benefit is that WOSB-certified businesses often find it easier to win government contracting jobs. We can help you get started with the WOSB program, but let’s first take a quick look at this program and how it can help boost your business.

 

What Is WOSB Certification?

The WOSB program was created, as the SBA states, “to provide a level playing field for women business owners.” The program was established in 2000, and it requires that at least 5% of government contracting dollars be awarded to women who own small businesses.

 

In the world of government contracting this is known as a “set aside” contract because the government sets aside a portion of all government contracting jobs specifically for small businesses. In addition to WOSB, there are several other types of SBA set-asides, including the Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business set aside, HUBZone set-asides and several others.

 

There are two types of WOSB certifications. General WOSB certification can be granted to any business that qualifies as a small business and is owned 51% or more by one woman or multiple women. The Economically Disadvantaged WOSB program (EDWOSB) is another option. For an EDWOSB, the business must be 51% or more owned by a woman (or women) that are considered by the SBA as economically disadvantaged.

 

WOSB Requirements

If your business is 51% or more owned by a woman (or women), the first step is to determine if you fulfill the additional requirements of the program. First, the business must qualify, by SBA standards, as a small business and you can determine whether or not your business qualifies as a small business by using the SBA’s Size Standard tool at https://www.sba.gov/size-standards.

 

When using the Size Standard tool, you will need to know your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes describe the goods or services that your company provides. You can find these at Census.gov, but we also can help determine these codes as part of our SAM registration service.

 

Second, the SBA requires that women must “manage day-to-day operations” and “also make long-term decisions” for the company. This means that if a business is owned, for instance, by a husband and wife, but the wife isn’t involved in management and decision making, the husband cannot simply hand over 51% of the company to her just to qualify as a WOSB. If she does make management decisions and long-term decisions, however, this would qualify.

 

To qualify as an EDWOSB, you must meet all of the aforementioned requirements and meet several additional requirements, including:

• Be owned and controlled by a woman (or women) with a personal net worth less than $750,000
• Be owned and controlled by a woman (or women) with $350,000 or less in adjusted gross income (this income requirement includes the three previous years)
• Be owned and controlled by a woman (or women) with $6 million or less in personal assets

 

Keep in mind, if you have a business with more than one woman owner, this is a requirement for each of the women. For instance, if two women meet the requirement, but a third woman has a higher personal net worth, higher adjusted gross income or more assets, then the company would not qualify as an EDWOSB. However, it still would qualify as a WOSB.

 

SBA WOSB Registration & SAM Registration

Signing up for SBA and the WOSB program is free, but it can be difficult to complete the process, especially if you are not familiar with the intricacies of signing up with government systems. At Federal Contractor Registry, we help companies with System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Anyone who wants to get started with government contracting must complete the SAM registration process.

 

Our team can help you with SAM registration and also help you with your WOSB and SBA registrations. While we do charge a fee for our SAM registration services, we will help you with SBA and WOSB at no additional charge. The government will not charge you a fee for completing SAM registration on your own, but the SAM registration process is extremely complicated and time-consuming, and, for many business owners, it’s simply easier to hand this process over to a pro just as you would hire an accountant to do your taxes.

 

We’ve been handling SAM registrations for years and can complete the process for you quickly and accurately. If you make a mistake on your application, this can delay your approval, and you cannot bid on any government contract jobs without an active SAM account. We will ensure that everything on your application is correct, and also ensure that you are signed up with SBA and heading toward WOSB certification so that you can bid on WOSB set aside contracts.

 

WOSB & Government Contracting

Once your SAM registration application has been approved and you’ve attained certification as a WOSB, you can begin searching for federal contractor jobs. To search for potential jobs, you can go to https://sam.gov/content/opportunities or the SBA SubNet site at https://eweb1.sba.gov/subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm.

 

The first URL leads you to the official search engine for the System For Award Management (SAM) database. This database contains information about every government contractor, but the database’s search engine also includes information about past and current federal contracts.

 

To search on this first site, we recommend that you click on the Advanced Search tab and search using multiple parameters. Typically, if you search using your NAICS codes or Product and Service Codes (located under the Product or Service Information tab), you will find contracts that match the goods and services your company provides.

 

You also can go to the Set-Aside tab and search for your WOSB or EDWOSB program set-asides. There are four listings – WOSB Program Set-Aside, WOSB Program Sole Source, EDWOSB Program Set-Aside and EDWOSB Program Sole Source.

 

Many government contracting jobs are competitive with many WOSBs bidding for the job award. However, in some cases, a sole-source contract is offered, and there is no competitive process because it is likely that only one single business can fulfill the contract requirements. Both of these options can be very profitable, but the sole source award process tends to be a bit quicker.

 

Keep in mind, you can bid on any government contract for which you can provide the goods and services needed. While there are contracts set aside just for WOSBs, if you have an active SAM registration, you can bid on other jobs, as well. The only exclusion might be if a contract is set aside for another type of business, such as a veteran-owned business.

 

The second URL, which leads to the SBA SubNet website, is dedicated to helping small businesses find subcontractor jobs. Subcontractors work for Prime Contractors, and these are large companies with large government contracts. They often need help from subcontractors and sometimes are even required to use SBA-approved subcontractors in order to win these large federal jobs. Subcontracting can be a great way to get started with government contracting, so we encourage you to use the SubNet search engine, as well as the main SAM search engine.

 

While one of the best reasons to sign up with the WOSB program is that it can give you an edge when you bid on federal contractor jobs, there are other SBA benefits that you might find helpful. For instance, all fifty states have their own procurement system and offer billions of dollars in state contracting dollars every year. These states also have set-asides, and your WOSB certification could prove very helpful if you bid on government contracts at the state level.

 

Additionally, SBA offers small business loans and can help match you with investors for your WOSB. The SBA also can help you attain a surety bond, help you find government grants and even provide low-interest disaster loans if your business is damaged after a natural disaster or other types of disasters. The SBA also offers free business counseling for those just starting out with a new business or those who may be struggling and need some help to make their business stronger or to get started with government contracting.

 

Get Started Now!

If you would like us to complete your SAM registration and help with the SBA process, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. Once you submit this form, a registration specialist will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM application. Once that is complete and approved, you will be eligible to bid on government contracting jobs.