6 Reasons To Hire Federal Contractor Registry

The government does not charge you to sign up with the System for Award Management (SAM), but SAM registration is a difficult process, and while we charge a fee of $597, we believe that Federal Contractor Registry offers customers a substantial value that includes many essential perks, including:

 

  1. Accurate SAM Registration & Setup

The SAM registration application is lengthy and includes a variety of sections including adding your NAICS codes, your product service codes, SBA set-asides etc. Once the registration is completed, we will provide you with your MPIN, CAGE code and any other important information you will need to keep on hand.

 

One of the best reasons to hire an expert is that we guarantee accuracy, and we understand each section of the SAM application. Business owners, while they are experts in their field, don’t always understand the intricacies of the SAM registration process, and if you make mistakes, this can delay the approval process significantly. As SAM experts, we will ensure that your registration is accurate so that your registration is approved as quickly as possible and get started as a federal contractor.

 

  1. We Save You Time

It can take business owners 10 or more hours to complete SAM registration, and that’s time you have to take away from running your business and generating revenue. SAM registration is not an easy process, and it can be quite frustrating, but we are SAM experts and understand every portion of the registration process.

 

Our team has handled thousands of SAM registrations (and SAM renewals) for just about every type of business imaginable, and we can complete your registration quickly and accurately, leaving you free to focus on your business and to learn all you can about working as a federal contractor.

 

  1. We Help With The New SAM Unique Entity ID

In the past, all companies that signed up with SAM had to submit their Data Universal Number System (DUNS) code. Historically, most businesses simply registered with Dun & Bradstreet and were assigned a code, but that system will become obsolete in 2022.

 

The new system is, unfortunately, a bit more complicated, but we can help! Before we begin your SAM registration, we will oversee the process of getting your Unique Entity Identifier assigned to your business, which will save you a substantial amount of time on top of having us handle your SAM registration.

 

  1. We Can Help With Your Notarized Letter

Every new business or individual that signs up for SAM must send a notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk identifying the Entity Administrator for their business. This is simply the person who is authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

 

We can send you the proper template for this letter, and all you will have to do is fill out a few sections, print it out and take it to a notary and then send it to the Federal Service Desk. The letter templates can be difficult to locate on the government website, and government officials keep changing where this letter is located, but we will save you the hassle of finding this letter and simply send you the template and we can answer any questions you have regarding the proper way to fill out the template.

 

  1. We Help With SBA Registration

A portion of all government contracts are set aside for small business owners, but in order to take advantage of these “set asides,” you need to register with the Small Business Administration. The Small Business Administration also provides an assortment of other benefits for small business owners and while we highly recommend that all of our small business clients take advantage of these opportunities, we know that getting started with SBA can be challenging.

 

As we complete your SAM registration, we also can provide you with proper registration for several SBA programs. Our particular area of expertise is helping any tribally-owned businesses (including Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian businesses) sign up to become Super 8a contractors.

 

SBA also offers special programs for businesses that are majority-owned by women and/or veterans, as well as businesses located in HUBZones, and we can help you figure out this process and which programs might be the best fit for your company.

 

HUBZones are “historically underutilized” business zones. These often are local in economically-challenged urban areas as well as rural areas and on Native American lands. In some cases, a temporary HUBZone might be created to help an area recover economically after a natural disaster.

 

  1. We Can Introduce Super 8a Contractors To Other Federal Contractors

Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of businesses complete their SAM registration, and we are happy to introduce our new Super 8a federal contractors to other contractors in the FCR network. This can be a great way for firms owned by Native American tribes, Alaskan Native Corporations (ANCs) and Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) to find prime contractors that are a match to their goods or services. We don’t want to simply complete your SAM registration, we truly want your business to succeed with government contracting.

 

If you are ready to get started with government contracting and would like Federal Contractor Registry to help, simply 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 soon as possible.

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7 Facts About CAGE Codes & SAM Registration

In 2020, the United States government spent more than $600 billion on government contracts. The government can be an excellent source of income for just about any type of company, but you first have to complete your SAM registration and attain a CAGE code. Here are a few quick facts about CAGE codes, SAM registration and government contracting in general.

 

  1. SAM Registration Leads You To A CAGE Code

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the database that includes detailed information about all active government contractors. In order to be listed in this database, you must complete the SAM registration process. Once you are approved, the government will issue you a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

 

The CAGE code is your unique identifier within the System for Award Management. Government procurement agents can enter this number into the database and your company and its current status will pop up. Without a CAGE code and active SAM registration, you cannot do business with the federal government or usually with a state government, as they also will want your CAGE code when you bid on contracts.

 

  1. You Can Hire Someone To Complete SAM Registration

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, the process is confusing and time-consuming, and many people just opt to hire a third-party registration service rather than spend ten or more hours trying to translate the complicated government-speak in the SAM application. Additionally, if you make mistakes on the application, this can delay your approval and you might not even fully understand how to fix the mistakes.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we’ve handled thousands of SAM registrations for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large Fortune 500 firms and everything in between. We liken ourselves to accountants, because, while you could complete tax forms on your own for free, the tax code is complicated, and mistakes can be costly. We can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately so that you can be approved as quickly as possible and get that CAGE code.

 

  1. CAGE Codes & SAM Registration Expire

You need to renew your SAM registration every year to remain active as a government contractor. In fact, it is highly recommended that you renew your registration several months in advance. If a government procurement agent is considering your company for a contract but sees that your registration will expire shortly, this might cost you the contract because if you don’t renew, the government cannot work with your company.

 

The team at Federal Contractor Registry handles initial SAM registrations as well as SAM renewals, so you can hire us if you like. If you aren’t making any changes, you probably will be able to handle the renewal process on your own. However, if you are making changes or if you are unsure if you completed all of the sections of the SAM application correctly when you first signed up, it can be wise to let a third-party handle SAM renewal. We can make sure that every section is filled out correctly and make any necessary changes.

 

  1. You Must Complete A Notarized Letter

Because SAM registration isn’t complicated enough, the Federal Service Desk decided to add an extra step in the process a few years ago. When you first sign up with SAM, you must send the Federal Service Desk a notarized letter listing your Entity Administrator. In the past, you could not gain SAM approval or get a CAGE code until this letter was received and filed, but because this caused a massive backlog of SAM approvals, this is no longer the case. However, you do still need to send in the letter as soon as possible.

 

Instructions for this letter can be found at https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=df025fd01b9d3cd42fe5ed7ae54bcb2c. If you scroll about halfway down the page, you will see three templates. For most applicants, the first template is what you will want to click on. This downloads the sample template letter for a single company or person wishing to become a government contractor. Simply follow the instructions exactly, get the letter notarized and send your completed SAM notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk.

 

  1. Do Not Give Anyone Your MPIN

You will often have a procurement agent or perhaps another contractor ask for your CAGE code, and this isn’t a big deal. Your CAGE code is basically a public record and simply identifies you within the SAM database. However, if anyone asks for your Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN), do not give them this information.

 

While a CAGE code is public, your MPIN number is essentially a password into the System for Award Management. No one but your company’s Entity Administrator and possibly the company owner (if that is a separate person) or other highly trusted individuals should have this information. If someone has your SAM MPIN, they could get into your SAM listing and make unauthorized changes, so don’t provide this information to anyone, even a government procurement agent.

 

  1. There Are Many Obsolete Terms

Government websites and documents are filled with acronyms and special terms that can be difficult to understand. In some cases, you will see terms such as CCR (Central Contractor Registry) and ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Application). These are old terms for obsolete databases, but you still might see them on websites and even on some government documents. However, everything has been centralized in the System for Award Management, so even if you see a page listing CCR or ORCA, this really just refers to SAM.

 

One obsolete term that we have seen on a few government websites lately is FedBizOpps or FBO.gov. This was the old search engine that one could use to find government contracting jobs. The current search engine is located at Beta.SAM.gov. So, if you see a webpage suggesting you use FedBizOpps, this is obsolete, and you should just go to Beta.SAM.gov instead.

 

Some terms you do need to learn include items such as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Set Asides, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, Product and Service Codes (PSCs), the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) and that’s just a short list. Everything in the government is an acronym, so be prepared to learn the language of government-speak.

 

  1. Acquiring CAGE Codes Is Just The First Step

Once your SAM registration is approved and you have your CAGE code, there are still a few steps you need to take. Government contract jobs can be lucrative, but they also can be complicated to win. You need to learn all you can about the types of government contracts and how to reply to situations such as Requests for Proposals (RFPs), etc.

 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has some helpful tools and resources for small business owners that want to bid on government contracts. State procurement agencies also often host workshops or events where you can learn the ropes of government contracting, and there are a few companies that offer paid workshops and classes as well as companies that will find contracts that match your goods or services and complete the bidding process for you. This can be a good option when you are just starting out.

 

For small businesses, subcontracting can be a good way to dive into the government contracting world. In this scenario, you provide goods or services for a Prime Contractor, which is a business that has earned a large government contract. They handle all of the heavy lifting, so to speak, and you can build up a government portfolio and learn the ropes from the Prime Contractor. You will still need that CAGE code, though, even if you won’t be working directly with a federal agency.

 

If you want to start bidding on government contracting jobs, either federal contractor jobs or state contracting jobs, you will need to get that CAGE code. If you would like to hire us to complete your SAM registration, simply click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather your information and get started on your SAM registration.

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Federal Contractor Jobs: Tips & Facts For Small Businesses

While it doesn’t always seem like the government is a helpful entity, the federal government has set up many programs to boost small businesses. If you are interested in bidding on federal contractor jobs, small business owners sometimes have an advantage over mid-size and larger firms. Here are a few helpful tips and facts for small business owners.

 

Discover If You Qualify As A Small Business

Even if you have several hundred employees, you might qualify as a small business. The government sets size standards and what they consider “small” might surprise you. To see if you qualify, head to https://www.sba.gov/size-standards, which is the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Size Standards Tool.

 

Once you click the red Start button, the system will ask for your NAICS codes. This stands for North American Industry Classification System, and this system assigns codes to just about every good or service imaginable. For instance, if your company is a nursery or garden store, the code would be 444220. If you have 500 or fewer employees, you meet the SBA’s small business size standards.

 

If you don’t know your NAICS codes, the SBA provides a link on its Size Standards Tool page, or you can simply head to https://www.census.gov/naics/ and click on the 2017 manual and browse until you find the codes that best describe your specific goods or services.

 

Take Advantage Of SBA Programs

Once you determine that you do qualify as a small business, be sure to take advantage of all that SBA has to offer. The SBA has many resources for small businesses and not just those that relate to federal contractor jobs. The SBA provides loans and resources to help you manage and grow your business. They offer free business counseling and some helpful resources for those interested in government contracting.

 

The SBA sponsors several contracting assistance programs for companies that want to bid on government contracting jobs. The federal government sets aside a portion of all of its federal contracting budget and these contracts are known as “set asides.” There are several different types of set asides, including:

 

Small Disadvantaged Business – About 10% of all federal contracting jobs are set aside for companies that are considered “small disadvantaged businesses.” These companies must be 51% or more owned and controlled by a person or people that are considered either socially disadvantaged or economically disadvantaged (or both). This includes people of any group that has been “subject to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society,” such as Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, etc.

 

Women-Owned Small Business – If your business is 51% or more owned and controlled by a woman or women, this can be a good set aside category for your company, which is often called the WOSB program. There is also a subcategory called Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).

 

Veteran-Owned Businesses – There are two set asides in this category. The first is for a general veteran-owned small business that is 51% or more owned by a veteran or veterans. The second is for those injured during their service and this is known as the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program.

 

8(a) Business Development Program – This is another program designed for businesses that are 51% or more owned by persons that are considered socially and economically disadvantaged. This could be due to race or creed or due to gender, sexual orientation, disability or other factors. There are several other requirements for this program, which include caps on personal net worth, adjusted gross income and total assets, but if you qualify, 8a contracts can be quite lucrative and easier to win than other types of government contracts.

 

HUBZone Program – HUBZone stands for Historically Underutilized Business Zones and there are many HUBZones throughout the United States. These typically are located on Indian reservations, in rural areas and in urban areas where the economy needs a boost. There also can be temporary HUBZones in areas hit by a natural disaster to help rebuild the economy in those areas.

 

To qualify, your business must have its principal office be located in a HUBZone and be 51% owned or more by a U.S. Citizen, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaskan Native Corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization or a Native American tribe. Additionally, at least 35% of your employees must live in a HUBZone, although not necessarily the same zone where your business is located.

 

You can get certified for several of these programs, including the 8(a) Business Development Program, the WOSB program and the HUBZone program at https://certify.sba.gov/am-i-eligible. For veterans’ programs, go to https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs for more information.

 

Discover If Your Goods & Services Are Needed

Of course, even if you qualify for any set asides, you also need to determine if the government needs your goods and services. The System for Award Management, which is the government’s database for government contracting, includes a search engine at Beta.SAM.gov where you can check to see if you match any current government contracts.

 

Once you go to Beta.SAM.gov, click on the Contract Opportunities tab and this takes you to the search engine. From there, click on Advanced Search and we recommend that you search using your NAICS codes as this can help you find matches to your specific goods or services. If you find several matches, chances are that your business might be a good fit for federal contractor jobs.

 

Of course, state governments also acquire the bulk of their goods and services from the private sector, so don’t forget to sign up with your state procurement system. Additionally, check for federal contractor jobs using the SBA’s SubNet search engine at https://eweb1.sba.gov/subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm.

 

This database includes subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. Subcontracting is a great way to get started with federal contractor jobs as the Prime Contractor will handle all of the details with the federal government agency and you simply provide goods or services. Many Prime Contractors are required to use small businesses as subcontractors in order to win large government contracts.

 

Complete Your SAM Registration

Of course, you cannot bid on any federal contractor jobs (or state government jobs) until you have completed your SAM registration. The System for Award Management (SAM) includes all active government contractors and to become a government contractor, you must complete SAM registration and have your application approved.

 

Completing SAM registration can be a huge stumbling block for many small businesses because, while the government charges no fee to complete SAM registration, the application process is confusing and time-consuming, and many people just give up after they have spent several hours trying to figure out if they are completing the process correctly. Make any mistakes, and this will delay your approval and you won’t be eligible to bid on any federal contractor jobs.

 

An easier option would be to simply hire a third-party SAM registration service. While we do charge a fee for SAM registration, we have completed thousands of SAM registration applications for all types of businesses and can complete your registration quickly and accurately.

 

Yes, this is an extra expense, but SAM registration can take 12 or more hours to complete, and we will focus on your SAM registration so that you can focus on your business responsibilities. It’s just like hiring an accountant to do your taxes. You could complete tax forms on your own for free, but it’s difficult, confusing, time-consuming and, mistakes are costly. Sometimes it’s just easier to hire an expert.

 

If you are interested in bidding on federal contractor jobs and would like us to handle your SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather some details and get started on your SAM registration.

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5 Facts About Disaster Cleanup Jobs

Every year, the government spends billions on disaster relief, and they use companies from the private sector for all of their disaster cleanup jobs. If your company can provide disaster relief or cleanup services, we highly recommend that you expand your scope into government contracting. Here are a few facts to get you started.

 

  1. Disaster Relief Jobs Aren’t Just Cleanup Jobs

After a hurricane, tornado or fire, there is plenty of debris left behind, so disaster cleanup jobs are very common. If you can provide any type of debris removal services, you’ll find plenty of jobs to bid on, but that is not the only service the government needs after a disaster.

 

For instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was called in to help with the Covid-19 pandemic, as this was a national emergency that required an influx of goods and services. For this emergency, the government needed supplies such as refrigeration systems to store vaccines, tents and supplies for setting up testing sites and vaccine sites, and many medical supplies, as well.

 

In general, disaster relief includes a vast array of goods and services. For instance, if your company sells bottled water or can provide shelf-stable meal kits, this is something always needed in a disaster. Security services are in high demand, and the government often needs companies that can provide repair services or that can set up emergency fencing.

 

  1. FEMA Needs Goods & Services All Year

FEMA’s needs extend beyond disaster relief jobs, such as hurricane relief jobs or flood relief jobs, and they need goods and services throughout the year. This includes office items such as printer cartridges and paper, as well as general facilities maintenance and repairs.

 

If you head to Beta.SAM.gov, you can do an advanced search for Contract Opportunities and check out what FEMA needs currently or will need in the near future. Beta.SAM.gov is the contracting search engine that is part of the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is the database that includes information about all government contractors as well as providing information about current and past contracting jobs.

 

To determine if your goods and services might be a good fit for FEMA, head to Beta.SAM.gov and do an advanced search, selecting FEMA as the agency. It also is recommended that you also search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and/or your Product and Service Codes (PSCs).

 

These codes describe the types of goods and services you can provide to the government. If you don’t know your NAICS codes, go to go to https://www.census.gov/naics/ and click on the 2017 manual. For Product and Service Codes, go to https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual. There are several options, here including an Excel spreadsheet and a Word-based manual where you can search for your codes.

 

  1. Think Beyond FEMA

Once you select FEMA and enter your codes in the Beta.SAM search engine, you should see search results that match your goods and services, but if you don’t, this doesn’t mean that government contracting jobs aren’t available for your company. Simply de-select FEMA and do a general search and you are likely to find other agencies that might need your goods and services.

 

When it comes to disaster relief jobs or disaster cleanup jobs, FEMA disaster jobs aren’t the only option. Agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service often need help with cleanup and debris removal. However, there are hundreds of federal government agencies out there and all of them buy goods and services from the private sector so chances are good that your company will be a match for some federal contractor jobs.

 

Additionally, state governments often post disaster cleanup jobs as well as other government contracting jobs on their procurement websites, so don’t forget to sign up with your state procurement system. Government contracting isn’t just about taking on federal government contractor jobs, there are many opportunities at the state and even at the county level.

 

  1. GSA Schedules Can Be A Good Option

The General Services Administration procures many goods and services for other government agencies. For instance, they provide automobiles for government agencies and they maintain many federal buildings. They also have created special GSA contracts known as GSA schedules. If you consistently provide the government with goods and services, you might consider applying for a GSA schedule contract.

 

To get started, go to https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/purchasing-programs/gsa-schedule and select the Sell Through Schedule option. This will provide you with information as to whether or not your business is a good fit with GSA schedules and how to get on a GSA schedule.

 

Keep in mind, it can take a long time, even more than a year to get onto a GSA schedule. However, if you do get on a schedule, this helps you bypass the formal process of bidding on government contracts. Another fact to keep in mind is that just because you get on a GSA schedule, this doesn’t guarantee that your company will be chosen to provide goods and services. However, it is free to apply and it can be a good option for some companies, so it is something to think about as you become more familiar with government contracting.

 

  1. SAM Registration Is Required

In order to do business with any government agency, federal or state, you do need to complete your SAM registration. Once you complete this process and are approved, you will receive a special code known as a CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity). Federal government agencies require that you have a CAGE code and an active SAM registration to bid on contracts, but this is also true of all state governments and many local or county governments.

 

The government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, but many people hire a third-party registration service to complete the SAM registration. The application for SAM is complicated and can take more than 10 hours to complete. It’s filled with confusing government-speak and many people find that the whole process is so frustrating that they simply give up on the idea of government contracting.

 

Rather than give up on the idea of government contracting, which can be very lucrative, we can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately. We do charge a fee, but we compare ourselves to accountants because, while you could fill out your tax forms on your own, the tax code is complicated, and mistakes are costly.

 

We’ve been providing SAM registration and SAM renewal services for more than a decade and have handled thousands of SAM registration for companies of all sizes, including small businesses up to Fortune 500 firms. If you want to bid on disaster cleanup jobs or any types of government contracts, 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 will be in touch as quickly as possible to get started on your SAM registration.

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FEMA Disaster Jobs: 5 Tips For New Government Contractors

After a major disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake or flood, federal and state governments hire private contractors to help with cleanup and relief efforts. Options such as FEMA disaster jobs can be lucrative, but there are several steps you need to take in order to bid on these jobs, including the following.

 

  1. Determine If You Are A Good Fit For FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs goods and services throughout the year. If you want to work on FEMA disaster jobs, it is important to learn all you can about FEMA, how its organized and the types of goods and services commonly needed by this agency. Obviously, disaster cleanup jobs, such as hurricane relief jobs, often are needed, but there may be many other options available.

 

For instance, FEMA needs medical supplies, tents, cots, bottled water, prepared meals and shelf-stable foods, armed guards, emergency fencing, emergency housing and much more. They even need items such as copier paper and repair services such as HVAC repair or electrical repairs, etc. When you think about FEMA, think beyond the basic cleanup services because there are many other opportunities.

 

If you head to Beta.SAM.gov, and click on the Contract Opportunities tab, this will take you to a page where you can search for available government contracting jobs. We recommend that you click on the Advanced Search tab. Once you get on that tab, you can search by keyword, federal organizations, NAICS codes, set asides and much more.

 

For an initial search, you might simply go to the Federal Organizations box and type in – Federal Emergency Management Agency or just FEMA. You also can search with the additional parameter of your NAICS codes, which are codes that describe your ask goods and services. To find your NAICS codes, go to https://www.census.gov/naics/.

 

If you find several contracts that look like a match, chances are you would be a good fit to work with FEMA. But, keep in mind, that you need to read over these jobs carefully to see if your company can provide the scope of goods or services requested.

 

  1. Complete Your SAM Registration

You will not be able to work on FEMA disaster jobs or any other cleanup jobs until you have completed your SAM registration, been approved as a contractor and received your CAGE Code. This is not just a FEMA requirement, but a requirement of all federal agencies and even most state agencies.

 

SAM stands for System for Award Management; this is the centralized database that includes all active government contractors. If you are not listed in this database with an active account, you cannot bid on FEMA disaster jobs or any government contracting jobs. To apply for admittance, you will need to fill out the lengthy SAM registration application, which is completed online.

 

The government charges no fee to register with SAM, but the SAM registration process is time-consuming and often difficult to understand, as it is filled with government-speak and acronyms unfamiliar to most non-governmental employees. Therefore, many companies will hire a third-party registration service, such as ours, to complete this lengthy and often frustrating process.

 

We do charge a fee to complete your SAM registration, but our registration experts can complete this application quickly and accurately, ensuring that you are approved as quickly as possible. We liken ourselves to accountants, because, while you could fill out your tax forms yourself at no charge, using an accountant makes good sense because the tax code and tax forms are complicated, and mistakes are costly.

 

  1. Consider Working With Your State & Other Agencies

While FEMA disaster jobs can be lucrative, FEMA isn’t always called in to help with every disaster and each state also have various disaster cleanup jobs or related goods and services that they need. You still need to complete SAM registration to work with state governments as most state procurement systems require you to enter your CAGE code when you sign up with their system.

 

CAGE codes are, officially, Commercial and Government Entity code, and this is a five-character identifier the government assigns you after your SAM registration is complete and approved. Every company has a unique CAGE code, and state procurement systems will ask for your CAGE code, NAICS codes and other information when you sign up. The good news is that signing up with a state procurement system tends to be much easier than completing SAM registration.

 

  1. Sign Up For The Disaster Response Registry

The bidding process for many government contract jobs is a long process and contractors aren’t chosen in just a few days. While a private company can make decisions quickly about vendors for goods and services, the government has many rules and regulations that procurement agents must follow.

 

However, when disaster strikes, FEMA doesn’t have time to start throwing out Requests for Proposals and going through the typical bidding process. They need immediate assistance, and this is why the Disaster Response Registry was created. If you can provide debris removal, reconstruction or repair services, disaster relief supplies or help with the distribution of supplies on short notice, it is a good option to become a part of this registry.

 

During the SAM registration process, there is a section where you can indicate that you wish to take part in this program. Once your registration is approved, you will be added to the registry, so if you complete SAM registration on your own, be sure to sign up for this registry. If you use our services, just let us know that you wish to be listed in the registry, and we will make a note of that.

 

  1. Sign Up With SBA

If you qualify as a small business, some contracts are set aside just for small companies, and these are known as “set asides.” To check if you qualify as a small business, head to https://www.sba.gov/size-standards. If you qualify, you will want to sign up with the Small Business Administration and you will want to ensure that after SAM registration is complete that you also complete your SBA Small Business Profile, or we can do that for you should you choose to use our registration services.

 

If you want to bid on FEMA disaster jobs, but have not yet completed SAM registration, consider letting us complete this process. To get started, just head to our home page and click on the green New Registration tab, fill out our quick contact form and a registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

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5 Tips For Using Beta.SAM.gov

Government contracting jobs can be an excellent, recession-proof form of income. The government will always need goods and services, even when the economy is not at its best. There are several ways to find active government contracts, including using the government’s own search engine at Beta.SAM.gov. Here are a few tips to help make using this search engine a bit easier.

 

  1. The Web Address Beta.SAM Is Misleading

If you place Beta.SAM.gov into a search bar and click enter, this web address actually directs you to the SAM.gov homepage, which can be a bit confusing. What you need to do is look under the first header “The Official U.S. Government System For:”

 

Under that, you will see several options and the first one is labeled “Contract Opportunities.” Of course, instead of placing the address “Beta.SAM” in there, it just states, “was FBO.gov.” This is confusing for those using the system for the first time, especially since those new to government contracting probably have zero ideas as to what FBO.gov even was.

 

FedBizOpps was the name of the previous search engine for federal contracting jobs, and it was located at FBO.gov. That site no longer exists, it’s all about Beta.SAM at the moment. At any rate, click on that “Contract Opportunities” tab and you will be able to access the Beta.SAM search engine (which is sometimes just called Betasam as a nickname).

 

  1. Use The Advanced Search Option

When you click on the “Contract Opportunities” tab it takes you to a page with a little search box and encourages a federal contractor to enter the unique identifier for a contract or perhaps some random search term. Rather than search this way, we recommend clicking on the Advanced Search option that’s to the right above the search box.

 

Once you get into this section, you will notice that it allows you to filter by Keyword, Federal Organization, Dates, Notice Type, Product or Service Information, Set Aside, Place of Performance and Contract Awardee. You also should note that the Status defaults to “Active” which is what you want, otherwise you will end up with results that you cannot even bid on because they are closed or old contracts.

 

  1. Consider Searching By Category

We find one of the easiest ways to find government contract jobs that truly fit an individual company is to use the Product or Service Information filter. When you click on the arrow next to this option, it allows you to search using NAICS codes or Product and Service codes (also known as PSCs). These are codes that describe the goods or services that your company can provide and your company might fit several codes.

 

To find your NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes, go to https://www.census.gov/naics/ and click on the 2017 manual. For Product and Service Codes, go to https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual. There are several options, here including an Excel spreadsheet and a Word-based manual where you can search for your codes.

 

Once you find your codes, head back to Beta.SAM and enter them into the search bar. The result should be any contacts that fit the goods and services that you can provide. Be sure to read the proposals carefully to ensure that you can deliver what the government needs and in a timely fashion.

 

  1. Use Multiple Parameters

It often can be smart to search using several parameters. For some companies, it makes sense to search using NAICS codes and also search using the Place of Performance tab. Some companies can provide services nationwide as well as in U.S. territories, but some are more limited in scope.

 

For instance, if you want to bid on FEMA disaster jobs, such as hurricane relief jobs, you might only be able to assist with jobs in Florida or perhaps Louisiana or even in a specific metro area, such as Houston or Biloxi. The Place of Performance tab allows you to search either by Zip Code or by state name, so you can select whichever is the best fit for your company.

 

Another option would be to search using your PSCs or NAICS codes and also the Set Aside search option. The government “sets aside” a portion of its annual contracting budget specifically for small businesses. There are several categories of small businesses set asides, including woman-owned small business, HUBZone businesses and service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses, etc. Additionally, you can sign up for the 8a contracts, via the 8(a) Business Development Program.

 

More information about all of these programs can be found at the Small Business Administration’s website at SBA.gov. If you are a small business, we recommend that you sign up with SBA and see if you qualify for any of the aforementioned set asides. Even if you do not, most general small businesses also can earn some set aside contracts and also work for bigger Prime Contractors, which is known as subcontracting.

 

  1. Don’t Solely Focus On Beta.SAM

Good old Betasam is not the only option you can use to find government contractor jobs. In fact, we recommend that you think beyond simply searching for federal contractor jobs and also consider that all state governments have procurement systems and also buy the bulk of their goods and services from the private sector.

 

State contracting jobs can be just as lucrative as federal jobs, so even if your heart was set on bidding on fed contracts, state contracts can be a great option. Additionally, you can look into GSA contracts. Getting on a GSA schedule can take more than a year, but it does help you bypass the difficult bidding process for traditional types of government contracts.

 

Subcontracting is a good option for small businesses, and you can search for subcontracting opportunities at SBA.gov’s SubNet search engine at https://eweb1.sba.gov/subnet/client/dsp_Landing.cfm. With subcontracting, you are working with a Prime Contractor. They will pay your fees and handle all interaction with the federal government. This can be a great way to learn the ropes of government contracting.

 

Get Started Today!

Of course, before you can bid on government contracting jobs, you do need to complete your SAM registration, and we can help! While the government does not charge a fee to register with the System for Award Management, it can be extremely difficult and time-consuming to complete the registration process. Many people simply hire a third party, such as our company, to complete SAM registration for them.

 

We liken ourselves to accountants because, while the government does not charge a fee to file your taxes, the tax code is confusing, and mistakes are costly so it just makes sense to hire a tax expert. The same is true with SAM registration. It’s difficult and if you make mistakes, this can delay your approval significantly.

 

Until your SAM registration is approved, you cannot bid on any contracts in Beta.SAM, so if you’d like for us to complete your registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage, fill out our quick contact form and a registration specialist will get in touch with you as soon as possible. We also handle SAM renewals, so if your registration is nearing that expiration date, we can quickly complete the renewal process for you.

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Do You Need To Renew SAM Registration?

If you have recently completed your SAM registration (or perhaps several months ago), you might be wondering if your listing in the System for Award Management needs to be renewed. The answer is yes, but the exact time when you need to renew SAM registration might surprise you.

 

SAM registrations must be renewed every year, and once your initial registration is approved, you will receive an email from the government indicating the date when your registration expires, which is one year from your approval date.

 

However, you will need to renew your well before this expiration date. For instance, if your registration expires on September 1, don’t wait until August 30 to renew SAM registration. In fact, it’s best to start thinking about renewal two or three months before the expiration date.

 

Government agencies are allowed only to work with active government contractors. If your SAM registration expires, an agency can no longer work with you as your status will be marked as inactive. Therefore, if you bid on a contract, but your registration is just a few weeks from expiring, you may lose out on that government contracting opportunity because the procurement agents for that agency will be hesitant to award a contract to a company that might not renew its SAM registration.

 

Another reason to renew a few months ahead of the expiration date is that it can take several weeks or longer to have your SAM renewal approved, depending on how busy the Federal Service Desk is at the time. The Federal Service Desk is the agency tasked with handling SAM registrations and SAM renewals.

 

Currently, this agency has been overwhelmed with SAM registrations and SAM renewals, and many businesses received extensions this year because the Federal Service Desk simply cannot handle the influx of renewals and registrations. Even if you are one of these businesses that received a notice of a 120-day extension, it is still wise to renew SAM registration well in advance of this new deadline.

 

Why Renew SAM Registration?

If you’ve won one or more government contracting jobs, you probably are eager to renew SAM registration, but if you’ve not yet won that first contract, you might be wondering if government contracting is worth it. We encourage you to stay with it and try a few new strategies to help increase your chances of winning a contract.

 

First of all, if you’ve only been signed up with the System for Award Management for a year, it’s important to know that most government contractors don’t win their first contractor during the first year of contracting. It can take up to two years to win your first contract on average.

 

Learning about the different types of government contracts and how to bid on those contracts can be tricky, but some private companies offer seminars, workshops or classes that can help. Additionally, there are private companies that also help you find contracts and win bids. Obviously, these companies charge a fee for their services, but it can be one way to break into government contracting and learn the ropes.

 

For companies that qualify as a small business, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has many helpful aids for new government contractors. Many government contracts are set aside specifically for small businesses, which are simply called “set asides.” These include set asides for woman-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone businesses and companies participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program.

 

HUBZones are “historically underutilized” business zones, and these include areas where the government hopes to improve the economy of an area. Sometimes these are located in impoverished urban areas, sometimes in rural areas and sometimes there are temporary HUBZones in areas hit with natural disasters to help build up the economy again. All Native American lands are considered HUBZones, as well.

 

The 8(a) Business Development Program is open to many small businesses that are majority-owned by a person who belongs to a historically marginalized group. This would be a group of people that have faced discrimination based on race, creed, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation or other factors.

 

8a contracts can be quite lucrative, so if you qualify, we highly encourage you to sign up for this program. Even if your small business is not eligible for these aforementioned set asides, you can still sign up with SBA and bid on contracts and your designation as a general small business can make it easier to win certain types of contracts.

 

The SBA has its own government contracting search engine just for small businesses at https://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm. This is called the Dynamic Small Business Search, and you can search for government contracting jobs in a variety of ways, such as by location, set asides and more.

 

If you are a smaller business, we also encourage to consider you to think about subcontracting. The government awards huge, lucrative contracts to large Prime Contractors every year, and many of these contractors are required to use small businesses as subcontractors to win a job.

 

No matter what size business you own, we also recommend that you learn how to market yourself to the government. Create an amazing capability statement and build a page on your website just for government contracting. Sign up with your state procurement agency, as well. Not only are there many government contract jobs at the state level, but many states also hold events for contractors where they can meet with agency representatives and learn about contracting in general.

 

Let Us Renew SAM Registration

We encourage everyone to consider renewing SAM registration and continuing to take a change on government contracting. If you aren’t sure when you need to renew SAM registration, just go to our homepage and click on the Status Check tab, fill out our quick form and we will complete a status check for you and email the results in about an hour.

 

SAM renewals aren’t always as complicated as the initial SAM registration, but many companies simply hire a third party to handle renewals and save time. If you would like to hire us to renew your SAM registration, simply head to our homepage and click on the blue Renew Registration tab. Then just fill out our quick contact form, and a registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible.

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Storm Cleanup Jobs: Get Started With SAM Registration

Throughout the year, the federal government, as well as state governments, offer a variety of storm cleanup jobs to companies in the private sector. While these jobs can help boost your business, you do need to take a few steps before you can bid on these government contracting jobs. The first step in the process is SAM registration.

 

What Is SAM Registration?

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the centralized database that includes all active federal contractors. If you want to be listed on this database, you will need to complete your SAM registration. This is an online application available at SAM.gov. You can complete the application on your own at no charge or you can hire a third-party SAM registration service, such as Federal Contractor Registry.

 

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, they admit on their own website that it can take several days to complete the SAM application. If you aren’t familiar with government terminology or cannot afford to take 10 or 12 or more hours to complete the application, you can hire us to complete SAM registration.

 

Many people get started with the SAM registration process only to become frustrated and give up on government contracting. However, we can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately so that you can be approved quickly and eligible to work for any government agency, including FEMA and even state government agencies.

 

Hiring us is basically just like hiring an accountant because while the government charges no fee to complete your tax forms, these forms can be complicated, and mistakes are costly. SAM registration is complicated and if you make mistakes, it can delay your application approval.

 

If you do decide to complete SAM registration on your own, be sure to include yourself in the Disaster Response Registry on the SAM application. This registry includes all businesses that can provide emergency support such as debris removal, emergency supplies and other disaster-related support. FEMA and other agencies can look for businesses on this registry and bypass the traditional contracting process during an emergency.

 

Think Beyond FEMA

When you think of storm cleanup jobs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) probably springs to mind immediately, but a few other federal agencies often offer cleanup jobs. For instance, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency often need cleanup services.

 

Additionally, your goods and services might be needed by many other agencies. There are hundreds of agencies, and they are required to purchase most or all of their goods and services from private contractors. While FEMA disaster jobs certainly can be profitable, it’s a good idea to think about other opportunities.

 

To see what’s currently available, you can head to Beta.SAM.gov, which is the search engine for government contractor jobs. Once you are on that page, click on Contract Opportunities and then when you reach the search bar, click on the Advanced Search option. From there, we recommend that you search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes describe your exact goods and services.

 

To search using your NAICS codes, you will have to click on the More Filters tab and then click on the tabs that you don’t want to deselect those filters. Then you will see that the page looks a bit blank, but you will want to click on the words Product or Service Information. A box will load up where you can enter your NAICS code.

 

Once you enter that code, you should see a list of possible contract opportunities. Some of these will be a good match for your business, while others won’t, so you will need to read each notice carefully to ensure that you can provide the exact goods and services needed by the agency. You also could look using keywords – such as “cleanup” or “hurricane,” etc., but typically using your NAICS codes is a good way to find matching contracts.

 

Types of Storm Cleanup Jobs

While debris removal is an important service after a hurricane, flood or another disaster, these aren’t the only types of jobs related to storm cleanup. Storm cleanup jobs technically include all of the relief services needed when a disaster occurs. The government needs everything from debris removal to repair services as well as temporary housing, bottled water, food, medical supplies and much more.

 

If your company can provide any type of good or service that might be needed during a disaster (this includes disasters such as the current pandemic), then there are probably government contract jobs available. If you just do a search on Beta.SAM.gov for FEMA, you will see a wide variety of items that are needed, including printer cartridges, media services, security services, AV equipment and much more. FEMA may be focused on disaster relief and storm cleanup jobs, but they have many other needs, as well.

 

Sign Up With Your State

Sometimes a state handles storm cleanup, especially if the storm or disaster does not meet the requirements to call in FEMA. It is wise to also sign up with your state procurement system. To find your state system, simply do an internet search with your state name and the word “procurement.”

 

In the search results, look for websites that feature a .gov suffix. For instance, if you search for “Virginia procurement,” the first result is eVA.virginia.gov and it is listed as Virginia’s eProcurement Marketplace. With the .gov suffix, you know that this is an official government website.

 

Keep in mind, that state procurement agents will expect that you have completed SAM registration when you sign up and will want to know your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. CAGE codes are assigned to businesses after their SAM registration is approved, and it serves as a company’s unique identifier within the System for Award Management.

 

Get Started Today!

Helping with storm cleanup jobs is not just profitable, but you also are helping serve your country during a time of need. If you are interested in disaster cleanup jobs or any type of government contracting and would like us to help with SAM registration, just head to our homepage and click on the green New Registration tab. From there, you just need to fill out our quick contact form and a registration specialist will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

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7 Types of Government Contract Jobs

The world of government contracting can be quite confusing, especially if you are just getting started. One of the first steps you need to take is to learn about the different types of government contract jobs that are available. In this blog, we are going to look at seven different options that you will find when you start looking for contracting opportunities.

 

  1. Fixed-Price Contracts

With a fixed-price contract, government procurement agents have set a price for goods and services. This means that the agency has a solid idea of how much the contract is worth and presumably sets a reasonable fee for the goods or services. In general, the value of the contract is not negotiable, but there are variations of these contracts, such as fixed-price contracts with economic price adjustments or fixed-price contracts with prospective price redetermination.

 

  1. Cost-Reimbursement Contracts

With these contracts, the government might not have as clear of an idea of how much a project will cost to complete. This doesn’t mean that the government is willing to pay a sky-high price for the goods or services, it simply means they aren’t 100% sure of the costs for this government contracting job. They still expect bidders to provide reasonable cost estimates, but there’s just no fixed price.

 

  1. Incentive Contracts

With an incentive contract, the government typically needs a job completed by a very firm deadline and they are willing to provide an incentive if the job is completed on time or earlier than expected. These contracts also are used to ensure that a contractor completes a job at a specific cost. While cost-incentive contracts are the most common type of incentive contracts, there are also performance-incentive contracts and delivery-incentive contracts and sometimes there might be a mix of these three incentives.

 

  1. Time & Materials Contracts

Just as the name suggests, these contracts set an hourly rate for labor as well as for the cost of materials needed to complete a job. For contractors, these can be the least desirable type of government contract jobs because you have to track your hours carefully as well as calculating material costs, and you have to front the costs yourself and then submit paperwork to the government for reimbursement.

 

  1. Indefinite Delivery & Quantity Contracts

Sometimes a government agency doesn’t know how much of a good or service they need or for how long or perhaps when they will need an item, which is why we have the indefinite-delivery contracts. The contractor agrees to supply the goods as needed by the agency for the duration of the contract. Typically, you will have a general idea regarding the scope of supplies or services as well as a general timeline, but it won’t be as exact as it would with a fixed-price contract.

 

  1. Set-Aside Contracts

The government spends billions of dollars in government contacts every year, and a portion of these are “set aside” for small businesses. There are set asides for woman-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) and businesses that take part in the 8(a) Business Development Program. These government contract jobs might be fixed-price, cost-reimbursement or any other type of contract, they simply are awarded to small businesses. Often, these contracts are smaller in value than contracts awarded to a prime contractor, but small businesses can bid on any size contract they wish provided they can meet the requirements of that contract.

 

Additionally, there are competitive set-aside contracts and sole-source set-aside contracts. Sole-source contracts bypass the bidding process, but these are rare, and you are much more likely to be competing against other small businesses in a competitive format. To learn more about options for small businesses and 8a contracts, go to SBA.gov.

 

  1. GSA Schedules

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for acquiring goods and services for federal government agencies. If you can acquire GSA contracts, which are known as GSA schedules, government agencies can purchase goods or services from you directly without having to deal with the bidding process.

 

This might sound ideal, but it can take a year or more to get on a GSA schedule and just because you are on a GSA schedule, this doesn’t guarantee that your goods or services will be needed or purchased. Still, for some businesses, this can be a good option. To learn more about GSA schedules and to determine if your business would be a good fit, go to https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/purchasing-programs/gsa-schedule and click on the Sell Through Schedule box.

 

The information provided in this blog is simply basic information about the types of federal contractor jobs you might see available from various federal government agencies. State government agencies also use similar types of contracts, and we do recommend that you sign up with your state procurement office as well as with the federal government as lucrative government contracting jobs are available from states as well as the federal government, and sometimes it can be easier to win a state contract than a federal contract.

 

The best course of action for any government contractor is to spend some time learning more about the different types of government contracts as well as how to bid on these types of contracts. There are a few private companies out there that provide helpful tutorials and workshops and companies that you can hire to create your bid proposals. When you are just getting started with government contract jobs, hiring some expert help can be a smart way to learn the ropes.

 

Let Us Help With SAM Registration!

Of course, before you can bid on any government contract jobs, you must complete your System for Award Management (SAM) Registration. At Federal Contractor Registry, we complete SAM registrations (and SAM renewals) for hundreds of companies every year and can help you get through this arduous process.

 

You can complete SAM registration on your own at no charge, but many business owners find the processing confusing and too time-consuming, so they hire a service like ours instead. It’s just like hiring an accountant to do your taxes and saves you time and the headache of trying to understand each section of the SAM application.

 

Our SAM registration specialists can complete your application quickly and accurately so that you can bid on government contract jobs as soon as possible. To get started, 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 soon as possible.

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5 Essential Tips For A New Federal Contractor

shaking hands

Government contracting jobs can provide you with a great way to build up your business but learning the ropes of contracting can be tough. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can help you with the first step toward becoming a federal contractorSAM registration, but we also have a few essential tips that can help you acquire your first contracting job.

 

  1. Research Government Agencies

Before you take any steps toward becoming a federal contractor, it’s wise to see if your specific goods and services often are needed by federal agencies. The government needs just about every imaginable good and service, but some companies are a better fit than others, so do some research to see if contracting seems to be a profitable option for you.

 

To get started, you can do a quick search at Beta.SAM.gov, which is a search engine for government contracting that is run by the Federal Service Desk (an agency within the General Services Administration).  There are several ways to search for contracting jobs, but we typically recommend using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.

 

NAICS codes describe the types of goods and services a company provides. You can search for your NAICS codes at https://www.census.gov/naics/. If you opt to hire us for SAM registration, we also can help you find the best code matches. Once you have your codes, you can search for potential jobs.

 

You may find that many agencies need your goods and services, and we recommend that you research each agency and learn a bit about how the agency works to see if you might be a good fit. Read through some of the bid proposals to determine if you can provide what the agency needs.

 

  1. Learn About Requests For Information & Respond

In the world of government contracting, you will be introduced to a completely new vocabulary that we like to call government-speak. This includes a plethora of acronyms and special terms, and two of these Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Information (RFIs) are important to learn about.

 

An RFP is a request that a government procurement agent sends out to ask federal contractors to send in their bid proposals for a specific contracting job. These typically are several pages long and include the type of contract, timetable for job completion, the value of the contract, etc. However, sometimes those procurement agents are quite sure what they need, how much it will cost, how quickly goods and services can be delivered or completed and other details.

 

When this occurs, the agency sends out a Request for Information, and any federal contractor can respond and describe how they could provide whatever goods and services might be needed. If you see an RFI out there and you think your company could be a good fit, we highly recommend that you respond to these requests. While responding to an RFI doesn’t guarantee that you will win the final contract, it can make it easier because you’ve already made contact and shown that you have a solution to the agency’s issues.

 

  1. Sign Up With The Small Business Administration

Whether you have one employee or hundreds of employees, you may qualify as a small business. If so, we highly recommend that you sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA can provide you with loans and grants as well as helpful information to help you build up your business.

 

When it comes to government contracting, you may qualify for what are known as SBA “set asides.” The federal government sets aside a portion of its yearly contracting budget for qualifying small businesses, which means that small business owners have a better shot at winning certain types of government contracts. To learn more about set asides and what the SBA has to offer federal contractors, go to SBA.gov. You also can check to see if your business qualifies as a small business at https://www.sba.gov/document/support–table-size-standards.

 

  1. Create A Federal Contractor Marketing Plan

Marketing your goods and services with the federal government is quite different from working within the private sector. For one thing, federal agencies aren’t concerned with making a profit, they simply exist to provides services for American citizens and to keep the government running as efficiently as possible. Additionally, using contractors also serves as a way to help boost businesses.

 

When you start marketing for government agencies, you will need to create what is known as a capability statement, which is essentially a federal contractor resume. Your capability statement should include the usual contact information, as well as your NAICS codes and information such as your Product Service Codes (similar to NAICS codes) and your CAGE Code. This code is the unique identifier assigned to your company once your SAM registration is approved.

 

Additionally, you will need sections on your capability statement such as Past Performance and Differentiators. Past Performance is basically a list of your previous clients and Differentiators is a list of what sets you apart from other similar businesses. For instance, perhaps your company has many years of experience, perhaps you are family-owned, etc.

 

There are many examples of good capability statements on the internet, and there are even companies that will create a statement for you. We recommend adding it to your website and even creating a page just for government contracting. Procurement agents can head to this page to learn more about your company and how you can serve government agencies.

 

Additionally, sign up with your state procurement system. There are many lucrative contracts available at the state level, and state governments often host workshops and other events to help a federal contractor or state contractor learn more about contracting in general and the best ways to market their business to government agencies.

 

  1. Consider Subcontracting

If you are a smaller business, working with “prime contractors” can be a great way to get started with government contracting. The prime contractor is the company that bids on and wins the contract and then they use smaller businesses to help them complete a contracting job. Many prime contractors are required to use small businesses as subcontractors in order to win a contract.

 

As the subcontractor, you will not have to deal with contracts or procurement agents, only with the Prime Contractor, which can be much easier than trying to figure out all of the ins and outs of government contracting when you are just getting started. The SBA has a search engine for subcontracting at https://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm, and you can take a look and see if any of these jobs fit your goods and services.

 

Get Help With SAM Registration Now!

At Federal Contractor Registry, we complete System for Award Management (SAM) registrations for hundreds of companies every year. This includes small businesses as well as Fortune 500 firms and everything in between.

 

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, many people hire a service like ours to complete the SAM registration process which can be difficult and time-consuming. In fact, it can take more than 10 hours to complete the registration process and, if you make any mistakes, this can delay your approval.

 

It just makes sense to hire an expert to complete your SAM registration (and SAM renewals), and we can help. We liken ourselves to accountants because, while you can complete your taxes on your own, it’s time-consuming and difficult and if you make any mistakes, those can be costly. It’s often best to simply hire an expert for these types of tasks.

 

To get started on your path as a federal contractor, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather your information and get started on your SAM registration.

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