CAGE Code

Procurement Agents: 5 Facts For Government Contractors

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Government contractor jobs can be very lucrative, but the process of acquiring these government contracts is much different than working within the private sector. Each government agency has procurement agents to help facilitate the selection of contractors, and it’s smart to understand a bit about these important individuals.

When it comes to government contractor jobs, the word “procurement” will become very important to you. Procurement refers to the process by which all government agencies acquire goods and services from the private sector. Every agency of the federal government and most state government agencies will have procurement agents on staff specifically to help with finding government contractors. Here are a few helpful facts about these government agents.

1. Procurement Agents Are Crucial Decision Makers
While the owner of a private company can simply select a vendor, the heads of government agencies cannot just decide that they want a good or service, call up a company and purchase what they need. They must first submit a request or purchase order to the procurement agents serving their agency.

In some cases, such as for very small purchases under about $3,000, a procurement agent can simply do some research and find the best options and purchase what is needed. Once you get above that $3,000 mark, the process becomes a bit more complicated, but procurement agents are still the individuals tasked with taking that purchase order, reviewing it and determining how best to fulfill that request. In general, contracts between $3,000 and $150,000 almost always are awarded to small businesses, although small businesses owner also can bid on larger contracts if they wish.

2. A Government Office Was Created Just For Procurement Policy
There are so many government agencies and special offices it could make your head spin. There are 15 main Cabinet departments, such as the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, and within each of these main departments are dozens of other agencies and offices. All of the agencies and departments are part of the Executive Branch of government. There are also a few other agencies operated by Executive Branch, including the Small Business Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Management & Budget.

Within that latter agency or office is where you’ll find the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. This office was created in 1974 to set standards and practices for government procurement that, according to its website, “result in the best value for the taxpayer.” All government agencies must follow the standards set forth by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, or OFPP.

3. Procurement Agents Follow Strict Guidelines
Even if you are golfing buddies with the head of a government agency, this isn’t really going to help you win government contracting jobs. The agency heads might recommend someone, but it’s completely up to the procurement agents which companies are selected to fulfill contracts and they must follow the rules precisely.

Rather than worry about talking to regular agency employees, it’s better to establish solid relationships with an agency’s procurement officers. It’s also smart to present your company as an attractive and affordable option with a solid Capability Statement. If you are a good match for the government contract and can showcase your experience and skills well, you are more likely to be considered.

All potential government contractors need to create a quality Capability Statement, which basically is a resume for government contracting. It looks quite a bit different from a typical worker’s resume and contains unique sections such as Core Competencies, Differentiators, Past Performance, Company Data and Contact Information.

There are many examples online of solid Capability Statements, and we highly recommend that you take a look, and follow their lead. A great statement, just like a great resume, truly can set you apart from other companies.

4. Private Companies Also Use Procurement Agents
While we typically think about procurement agents in regards to government contractor jobs, many larger companies also hire procurement agents to handle their purchasing of goods and services. When you learn how to establish strong relationships with government procurement agents, it can help you establish a good rapport with private sector procurement specialists.

As a side note, working as a procurement agent, either with a private company or for a government agency can be a lucrative career. With the current pandemic, many people are searching for new job opportunities, and if you are highly organized and efficient as possess strong communication skills and analytical skills, this might be a good option to consider.

5. Procurement Officers Only Consider Approved Vendors
There are thousands of government contractor jobs available, and many set aside specifically for small businesses. However, you are not eligible to bid on any of these government contractor jobs until you have been approved and have an active account in the System for Award Management (SAM).

SAM is a government database that lists the status of all government contractors and is run by the Federal Service Desk, which in turn is managed by the General Services Administration. You must complete the SAM registration process in order to gain the government’s approval to bid on contracts. This can be a sticking point for many businesses because the registration process, while free, is extremely complicated.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can handle your SAM registration and get you on the road to earning lucrative government contracting jobs. We do charge for our services, but it can be much easier to simply hire a SAM registration expert than to try and complete the application on your own, which is filled with government-speak and confusing instructions.

Many people get started with their SAM registration only to become quickly frustrated by the process, but you don’t have to let the complexities of the registration process prevent you from expanding your company via government contracting.

We can complete the process quickly and accurately so that you can start bidding on government contracting jobs and working with procurement agents. After the application is approved, the government will issue you a Commercial and Government Entity Code or CAGE Code. Once you have a CAGE Code, you are eligible for bidding, and you can even sign up with state procurement systems to provide goods or services to state government agencies, as well.

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How To Find & Win Federal Contractor Jobs

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There are plenty of federal contractor jobs out there, but many people, especially those from smaller companies, don’t really understand how to find and win these lucrative contracts. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to do to get started with federal contracting.

Step One: Complete Your SAM Registration
Before any company or entity can do business with the federal government (or even many state and local governments), you need to get what is known as a Commercial and Government Entity Code, or CAGE code. In order to get the CAGE code, you must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) database.

This database includes every contractor eligible for federal contractor jobs and includes important information about each contractor. While it is free to register with SAM, it is a very complicated process, which is why many people will hire a third-party registration service, such as our company, Federal Contractor Registry.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations and renewals each year and we can complete your registration quickly and accurately. It can take up to 15 hours (or more) to complete SAM registration and the process can be frustrating, and if you make a mistake, this can delay your approval significantly, which is why we recommend hiring an expert.

For us to get started, we just need some basic information from you. This includes your DUNS number (if you don’t have one, you can apply for free at Dun & Bradstreet), your bank account and routing numbers (the government requires that this be part of SAM registration) and your tax identification number.

Of course, we also will gather some information about the goods and services you provide so that we can determine the best NAICS codes and PSCs to describe your business. NAICS stands for the North American Industry Classification System and includes codes for just about any type of business imaginable from Astroturf producers to zipper manufacturers. PSCs, which stands for Product Service Codes, is another classification system, although not quite as detailed as the NAICS.

Step Two: Send In A Notarized Letter
The federal government requires that all new government contractors send in a notarized letter identifying the entity administrator for each SAM account. This is the person authorized to make changes in your SAM account.

We recommend that you simply go to this webpage https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/answer.do?sysparm_number=KB0013183, and download either Template 1 or Template 2 under the section marked Step 1. Follow the directions exactly and then sign the letter in the presence of a notary and mail it to the Federal Service Desk. All the instructions for this process can be found on this webpage.

You can work on this letter as soon as we start filling out your SAM registration. If fact, we recommend that you send it in as quickly as possible. To bid on federal contractor jobs, you need both SAM approval and a notarized letter on file, although the government may approve your SAM registration before they process the letter.

Step Three: Sign Up With SBA
The Small Business Administration provides a wealth of services for small businesses. While the SBA loan program has taken a huge hit during the COVID-19 crisis, don’t let this dissuade you from signing up if you qualify as a small business. To find out if you qualify, go to https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/. You will need your NAICS codes, which we can help you determine as part of SAM registration.

The federal government sets aside a portion of its government contracting budget specifically for small businesses. These are known as set-asides, and there are several different types of set-asides, depending on who owns your business and where it is located.

For instance, there are set-asides for veteran-owned businesses and woman-owned businesses. These types of set-asides require that at least 51% of the business must be veteran-owned or woman-owned. There are set-asides for just about anyone who belongs to a historically marginalized group, and this includes people who have faced discrimination due to ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or other factors.

Additionally, if your business is located in a HUB-Zone, this also qualifies as a set-aside. A HUB-Zone is a Historically Underutilized Zone, and there are many throughout the United States and its territories. To find out if your business is located in a HUB-Zone, go to https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5.

We highly recommend that any small business sign up at SBA.gov as it can be easier for small businesses to win government contractor jobs. Many prime contractors (large businesses that win huge contracts) are required to use small businesses as sub-contractors, as well, and this can be a great way to get started as a federal contractor.

Step Four: Create A Capability Statement
A capability statement is basically a resume for the government. It is a one-page document that includes important information about your company. This includes your CAGE code, NAICS codes, your DUNS number and your contact information.

You also include a section entitled Core Competencies, which details the most important goods and services you provide. The statement also features a section of Past Performances, which includes previous jobs you’ve completed. You will also want to list some past clients. To find out more, just do a quick internet search for “capability statement” and you will find many examples.

Step Five: Find Out What’s Available
At Beta.SAM.gov, you can search for available federal government contractor jobs. We recommend that you search using your NAICS codes, as these filter for the specific types of jobs or services you can provide.

You also should sign up with your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center, or PTAC. It’s free to sign up, and your PTAC reps can answer many questions about government contracting and they offer workshops and training events to help you get started, and many are online, so you don’t need to worry about social distancing. To find the PTAC in your area, go to aptac-us.org.

We also highly recommend signing up with your state procurement system. As soon as you have your CAGE code, you can sign up and there are many opportunities at the state level. State governments also host workshops and events where you can mix and mingle with various state government agency representatives and find contracting opportunities. While COVID-19 temporarily has halted these events, some state governments still might offer online workshops or other online resources to help government contractors.

While there are thousands of profitable federal contractor jobs available, it can take time to earn your first contract. These days, if you do offer an essential job or service related to COVID-19 relief, you might earn a contract very quickly. For everyone else, you should expect it to take several months to earn your first contract. It can even take a year to earn that first contract.

Step Six: Learn How To Bid
The process of bidding for federal government contractor jobs is very unique, and it’s crucial that you learn all you can about the different types of bids and proposals. Your PTAC and the SBA can be helpful resources, but we also recommend that you check out webpages such as https://www.cdc.gov/contracts/about-cdc-contracts/types.html and https://www.acquisition.gov/content/part-16-types-contracts. We also highlighted different types of contracts in a previous blog at https://federalcontractorregistry.com/a-look-at-5-types-of-government-contracts/.

It might seem like government contracting is too complicated and time-consuming, but once you start earning contracts, this can be an excellent way to build your business. While economic downturns might affect your private sector clients, the government will still be buying goods and services to fulfill the needs of its citizens. This can be a highly stable type of income, so it’s definitely worth the time you put into learning the ropes.

If you want to bid on federal government contractor jobs, there’s no time like the present. To get started, contact us at any time, and we will get your SAM registration completed as quickly as possible. Once you’re approved and get your CAGE code, you will be eligible to bid on contracts. You can give us a call at (800) 985-7658 or click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage.

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FEMA Contractors: How You Can Help During A Pandemic

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With COVID-19, the government has never needed more help from the private sector. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is always looking for new FEMA contractors and now more than ever. If you have goods or services that could help during this pandemic crisis, we can help you contract with FEMA.

Federal Contractor Registry Can Help
In order to do business with any government agency, including FEMA, contractors must first complete their registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). This system is a huge database listing all government contractors, large and small. Once you complete SAM registration and are approved, you will receive a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. This code is the unique identifier for your business within SAM.

How do you register with SAM? That’s where we come in. We are a third-party registration service, and we can handle your entire SAM registration quickly and correctly. While the government does not charge companies to register with SAM, the process is extremely time-consuming (often 10+ hours) and confusing.

Many people start the SAM registration process only to become frustrated and simply give up. Likewise, many people complete the process only to find that they have filled out sections incorrectly and have to go back in, fix the issues and then resubmit the application, costing them precious time when they could be applying for government contracts.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we complete hundreds of registrations and renewals each year. We are SAM experts and we can quickly complete your registration and we ensure that every section is filled out correctly, which speeds up the process. In many ways, we are just like accountants. After all, you could fill out your tax forms yourself, but the tax code is very complicated, so it just makes sense to hire a professional to handle it. It’s just the same with SAM registration.

After SAM Approval
Once your SAM registration is approved, you can provide goods or services to the federal government. FEMA, which is in charge of the emergency response to COVID-19, is especially in need of FEMA contractors.

To find contracting opportunities with FEMA or any other agency, go to Beta.SAM.gov. This homepage has a link to where you can search for possible contracts. Under the section “What Can I Do Here?” simply look under “Contract Opportunities” and click on “Search Contract Opportunities.”

This leads you to what basically amounts to the federal search engine for contracting. You can search by keywords, date, federal organizations, NAICS codes, set-asides and more. We did a quick search to gauge the number of opportunities for FEMA contractors and found hundreds of possibilities.

Some were related to medical supplies, such as providing masks and gloves for use as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Other needed items included IV pumps, non-contact thermometers, hand sanitizer, CPR training, cleaning & disinfecting services, cots, boxed or bottled drinking water, portable showers and wash stations. These were just a few of the hundreds of requests from FEMA.

However, FEMA contractors aren’t just needed to provide medical supplies. FEMA has other needs as well, including suppliers of copy paper, companies that create temporary walls, food services providers and even media and advertising services.

While you can search directly for FEMA offerings, we often think it makes more sense to search using your NAICS codes. This stands for North American Industry Classification System. Your NAICS codes, which we will decipher for you during the SAM registration process, are the codes that describe precisely what goods or services your company provides.

When you search using NAICS codes, you will end up with more specific hits that relate to your business. You also will find that the government needs more than FEMA contractors. Every agency and sub-agency of the federal government needs contractors, so while you might have thought about just working with FEMA, there are plenty of other opportunities out there.

Additionally, don’t forget about working with your state and local governments. State governments also have emergency response needs right now, and sometimes these state contracting opportunities are easier to attain than the federal contracts. Although, we have found that during this crisis, the government is working faster than ever to approve vendors as equipment as there is so much immediate need.

To register with your state, simply do a google search for your state with the word “procurement,” next to it. This is the official term for providing goods or services to a government agency.

For instance, if you search for “Oregon procurement,” the website procurement.oregon.gov comes up and there’s even a link that states “Get Started as a Supplier.” Keep in mind that any time you sign up for a state government procurement system, you will need to provide that CAGE code, so your SAM registration is truly the first step you take into the world of government contracting.

Once we complete your SAM registration, any potential FEMA contractors are encouraged to use Beta.SAM.gov, but we also found some helpful information at https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help.

If you look under the section marked “How To Help – Private Sector,” there are some helpful links. These can be used for FEMA contractors with an active SAM registration. If you already have an active registration but are close to your renewal date, contact us as soon as possible and we can complete your SAM renewal.

FEMA cannot work with FEMA contractors that do not have an active SAM registration, and if your registration is only a month from expiring, it’s possible that it might expire during a contract and then FEMA can no longer work with you or pay you for goods and services. SAM registrations must be renewed every year, and we highly recommend that you renew several months in advance.

To get started as a FEMA contractor or as a contractor with any agency, just click on the New Registration tab on our homepage or give us a call at (800) 985-7658 and speak with one of our helpful registration specialists.

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How Do I Get A Cage Code? We Can Help

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If you’ve been asking yourself, “how do I get a Cage Code?” We have the answer. Completing your System for Award Management registration is the first step, and once that is complete, you will receive your Cage Code.

If you are just in the beginning stages of your dive into government contracting, here’s a quick look at what you need to do and how to get a Cage Code.

Step One – Gather Up Some Information
Before you can register with the System for Award Management (SAM) database, you’ll need to collect some basic information. You’ll need your DUNS number, your bank routing number, your bank account number and your taxpayer ID number. The three latter ones will be pretty easy to find, just grab a check and a tax form.

For the DUNS number, if you don’t know it, you will need to head over to the Dun & Bradstreet website and check to see if your company is registered. If it is, you can request your DUNS number. If not, simply sign up for free and Dun & Bradstreet will provide you with a number.

One important note: At some point in 2020, the government no longer will be using DUNS numbers. The new system – SAM Managed Identifier (SAMMI) isn’t in place yet, but it’ll be coming up in the near future, so if you are reading this article several months after its posting date, we may be in SAMMI territory already, and you’ll need to go to SAM.gov and follow the steps needed to attain this identifier.

Step Two: Create Your Notarized Letter
The Federal Service Desk (FSD) is the agency responsible for all things SAM. FSD requires that all new SAM registrants send in a notarized letter formally identifying the Entity Administrator for your SAM account.

This is simply the person is your company that is authorized to make changes to your account. There are templates available for this letter at FSD.gov. Just go to the top of the page. Under the tab Top Help Topics, you will find a section for SAM. Under that, click on the Tips for Notarized Letter. This leads you to a questions and answers page about the letter and a tiny link to the templates for the letter.

Step Three: Contact Us
While it’s true that getting a Cage Code and completing SAM registration is free, it’s also very time-consuming (10+ hours) and frustrating. This is why many people turn to third-party registration services, such as Federal Contractor Registry. We can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately, and get you that Cage Code as soon as possible.

We understand each section of the registration process, which includes a plethora of government-speak that can be difficult to understand. If you fill out any section incorrectly, this can delay your application process as you try to figure out how to correct the problem and wait for the folks at the Federal Service Desk to review your updated application. Using our service can prevent any delays due to errors.

Basically, we are just like accountants. You hire someone to complete your taxes because the tax code and tax forms are complicated and if you make a mistake, this can include some dire consequences. While a mistake on SAM registration probably won’t be as dire as a mistake with your tax forms, it’s still a pain to correct, so why not let the experts handle your SAM registration?

Step Four – Research, Research, Research
Bidding on government contracts is far different than what occurs in the private sector. It’s crucial to learn all you can about the bidding process as well as how to bid. If you have a small business, the Small Business Administration can be a valuable resource.

It’s also wise to sign up with your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). The representatives at these centers concentrate on helping small businesses find success with government contracting. They offer plenty of tips, and you schedule meetings with your PTAC rep or attend conferences and training events. To find your local PTAC, go to aptac-us.org.

In the past, you could find government contracting jobs at FedBizOpps.gov, but that website no longer is in existence. Basically, it was merged into SAM, and you can go to beta.SAM.gov to search for contracting opportunities. You can search by agency or by date, but often it’s easiest to search using your North American Industry Classification System codes. These codes identify your specific industry, and we can help you figure out the best codes to use for your business when we complete your SAM registration.

You also can search using “set aside” categories. Set-asides are government contracts that have been “set aside” for specific types of small businesses. For instance, you can search for woman-owned small business set-asides, or perhaps veteran-owned small business set-asides. There also are several other set-asides, and we can help you figure out which ones apply to your business during the registration process.

If you’ve been hoping to dive into the world of government contracting, but aren’t sure what to do, stop asking yourself, “how do I get a Cage Code?” The team at Federal Contractor Registry is here to help you complete your SAM registration so that you can get your Cage Code and start bidding on lucrative government contracts.

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CAGE Code Renewal & Registration: We Can Help

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Frustrated by SAM registration? You definitely aren’t alone. Most of our clients come to us either because they’ve tried to register with SAM and were overwhelmed by the process or they’ve heard from others how difficult it be, but we can help with CAGE code renewal and your initial registration process.

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CAGE Code Registration
For those new to government contracting, you might be thinking, “what is a CAGE code and what about SAM?” Once you complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration, you will be given a Corporate and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, and this code is your link to the contracting world.

Without a CAGE code, you cannot do business with the government. Even state and local government agencies will ask for your CAGE code, so no matter what level of government you plan to work with, this CAGE code is essential.

Now, the government constantly reminds potential contractors that SAM registration is free, and it is, but this doesn’t tell the whole picture. The SAM registration process is difficult and can take 10 or more hours to complete, which is why so many people simply hire a third-party registration service.

We are a third-party registration service and we liken our business to that of an accountant. Filing your taxes is free, but millions of Americans hire accountants to do their taxes. Why? The tax code is complicated, and using a qualified accountant just makes the process easier and ensures that it’s completed correctly.

We are CAGE code and SAM experts, and we not only can relieve you of the burden of SAM registration and ensure that the process is completed correctly. It’s not uncommon for people to spend 15 hours completing their registration only to have the people at SAM email them to correct problems in one or more sections of the application.

It takes the government several weeks to approve you SAM registration in general, if you make mistakes, this can delay approval by several more weeks. We can complete each section of the application quickly and correctly, so that you can be up and running with government contracting as soon as possible.

CAGE Code Renewal: Is It Worth It?
If you currently are in the middle of a government contract or have earned one or two contracts during your current registration year, your answer is probably a resounding “yes!” However, many companies don’t earn a contract during the first year and wonder whether or not, it’s worth the time.

We strongly encourage you to complete your CAGE code renewal even if you’ve not yet earned a government contract. It can take time to earn your first contract, usually at least 18 months. Some people get lucky right out of the gate, but that’s rare, so don’t get discouraged if you have not earned a contract during your first year. Also, government agencies tend to make contracting decisions fairly slowly, so it’s never going to be as quick as working with a company in the private sector.

During that first year, you may be simply learning about government contracting. Hopefully, you are learning a bit about proposals and bids, completing your Capability Statement and signing up for various workshops and webinars.

Don’t forget to dive into contracting at the state and local level, as there are many opportunities from your state government and county governments and possibly even with your city government. To register with a state, just search for the state name and add the work, “procurement.” Find the result with the “.gov” extension and this should lead you to the right place.

When Should You Renew?
CAGE code renewal definitely is not something to leave until the last minute. We highly recommend that you complete your renewal about three months before it is set to expire. It takes a couple of weeks to get approval, so it’s crucial that you complete the process early, and we can handle that task for you.

But why renew three months early? When government agencies are looking for contractors they will make note of the date when your SAM registration will expire. As we said before, it can take time for a government agency to make a decision and choose a contractor. If they notice that your registration is due to expire in a couple of months, they probably will be reluctant to select your company.

This is because government agencies are only able to contract with companies that have active SAM registrations. If your SAM registration were to expire in the middle of a contract, the government agency no longer would be able to continue with the contract and that obviously could be a huge issue.

If you need help with your CAGE code registration or CAGE code renewal, contact us at any time. We can complete the process quickly, and get your registered or renewed before you know it so that you can keep working toward your goal of earning those lucrative government contracts.

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Government Contracting Jobs: 6 Facts You Need To Know

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In the private sector, if a company wants goods or services, they do some research, find a vendor and hire them. With government contracts, jobs aren’t given out quite that easily. In fact, it often can be a very long process, and take weeks or even a couple of months to get approved. Patience definitely is a virtue with government contracts, but the rewards can be great, so it’s often well worth the time invested.

If you’ve been working solely in the private sector, you definitely will find that the world of government contracting to be a vastly different experience. Here are some facts/tips that will help prepare you for this new world of government contracting.

1. Get To Know Your Contracting Officers
In the private sector, if your boss wants you to buy a product, such as copy paper, you probably go out, get a few price estimates and choose the best option and make a purchase. This might take you a couple of hours at most, and your company is all set.

If a government agency wants a new vendor for paper, this process might begin with a supervisor thinking about copy paper, but this cannot simply be passed off to an employee to handle. Only Contracting Officers have the authority to handle aspects of contracting for any given government agency.

Contracting officers are the people that know all of the rules and regulations regarding government contracting, and government agencies are required to follow procedure. So even if you meet up with an agency supervisor and he likes your business and wants to work with you, your company will need to follow the procedures and work with the contracting officer and abide by the restrictions set forth in the contract or bid.

2. But, The End User Can Be Important
While a contracting officer is the person that ultimately makes decisions about government contracting jobs, it doesn’t hurt to get to know the End User, as well. What is an End User? This is the actually office or agency or agency representative that will be using your goods and services.

While the contracting officer is crucial, it’s perfectly fine to talk with an end user, as well. After all, if you do get the contract, you probably will be in contact with this person or persons, so you may as well spark a positive relationship during the contracting phase. In some cases, the end user will have some say in deciding who is awarded a contract, although this is not true in every case.

For instance, sometimes a contract has to go to the lowest bidder or the contract has to go to meet set-aside goals or other factors might be in play. Still, there’s no harm in establishing a relationship with the end user as well as the contracting officer as the contracting officer often consults with the end user or program manager before making a decision.

After all, it’s best when these two individuals work together. The contracting officer understands the contracting procedures, while the end user understands specifically what is needed in their office, department or agency. Just as with the private sector, building relationships with key players is big step toward success.

3. Talk With Each Agency’s Small Business Representatives
With government contracts, jobs often are “set aside” for small businesses. In fact, most federal agencies will have an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to help encourage small businesses to bid on contracting jobs.

Let’s talk about this one for a minute. Even if you aren’t a small business, these reps still might be important. The federal government sets aside a portion of contracts for several categories of small businesses. For instance, if your business is 51% (or more) woman-owned and operated, it might qualify for the Woman-Owned Small Business set-aside.

There are set asides for veterans, Native American organizations and individuals, those who own a business in an area typically known to be under-utilized and so forth. Generally speaking, the goal is to provide extra help to new and emerging small business as well as people who might have faced historic disadvantages, such as discrimination.

As for larger businesses, it often is a requirement of a contract that you subcontract a portion of a job to a small business, so this small business rep can be a valuable resource to help you find some small businesses for subcontracting jobs.

4. It’s Essential To Learn About Contract Types
There are many different types of government contracts and in past blogs, we’ve written about some of the types you might encounter. Each type of contract will have different rules and regulations.

There are fixed-price contracts, cost-reimbursement contracts, time & materials contracts, indefinite delivery & quality contracts, and incentive contracts. Within each of these types, there can be subcategories, as well, and learning a bit about all of these types can make bidding easier.

One single government agency might advertise all of these different types of contracts, depending on what they need. Some contract types are riskier for businesses, while others are riskier for the government agencies, in terms of finances.

5. The Federal Government Is Not The Only Player
In the world of government contracts, jobs aren’t just available at the federal level. While virtually every federal agency needs contractors from time to time, you also can bid on state contracts and local government contracts. These can be very lucrative, as well, so don’t forget to look at what’s available in your area.

To sign up with your state government, simply do an internet search that includes your state name and the word “procurement.” For instance, if you search up “Nebraska” and “procurement,” you will find several entries, but you want to look for URLs that end in .gov to ensure that you end up at the actual government agency that handles procurement.

6. It All Begins With SAM, But Renewals & Updates Are Crucial
At Federal Contractor Registry, we are a third-party registration service that can complete your initial SAM registration as well as any subsequent renewals. Why should you pay us if SAM registration is free?

After reading through this article it’s probably become apparent that while government contracting can be profitable, it also can be confusing, especially at the beginning. SAM registration is no exception. It can take many hours (10+) to complete your registration and if you don’t complete this process correctly, you won’t be approved and you’ll have to make adjustments and continue to wait week after week until you are approved.

We are SAM registration experts, and can quickly and accurately complete your registration, leaving you free to concentrate on running your business. We are similar to accountants because, while you can do your taxes for free, it’s complicated and it’s often best left to the experts.

So, SAM registration is your first step and you cannot become a government contractor for any federal, state or even local government agency without completing this process, gaining approval and being assigned what is known as a CAGE Code. Once we’ve completed the registration and you have your CAGE Code, you can bid on contracts.

However, it is crucial that if you have corporate changes, such as a change of phone number, a change of address or perhaps a change in your NAICS codes, you must make these changes as soon as possible in your SAM account.

Additionally, you must renew your SAM registration every year and we highly recommend that you renew several months in advance, as it can take weeks for renewals to be processed and approved. Meanwhile, government agencies might be wary of doing business with you if they see that your SAM registration will expire in a month or two.

This is because if you do not have active SAM registration, you cannot work with an agency, even if you are in the middle of a job. Be sure to renew early, or contact us and we can handle your renewal quickly and easily. We do, of course, charge a fee for our services, but we can save you a lot of time and, as the saying goes, time is money.

When it comes to government contracts, jobs are plentiful, but it does take some time to get into the swing of things. We hope the information above has been helpful, and if you are ready to deal with SAM registration, we encourage you to contact us and let us handle this arduous process for you so that you can concentrate on more important aspects of government contracting.

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FEMA Contractors: Is FEMA Your Only Option?

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency can be a fantastic source of employment for government contractors. FEMA contractors are needed throughout the year to help with a variety of disaster relief efforts, but if you thought that FEMA was your only or even your best government contracting option, think again. There are many other options to consider.

Register to Become a FEMA Contractor

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1. Look At Other Federal Agencies
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with becoming a FEMA contractor, it’s important to note that there are dozens of other agencies. FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and there are several other agencies just within DHS that offer contracting jobs, including the Transportation Security Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Of course, that’s just within one federal department, you also could consider working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior, etc. Within each of these departments are many agencies and most of these will seek government contractors at one time or another.

One of the best ways to search for opportunities is to search using your NAICS codes. These are part of the North American Industry Classification System, and every type of business has one or more codes that apply to it. Your company might have one main NAICS code and a few other related codes describing different types of goods and services you can provide.

You can head to sites such as FedBizOpps.gov and do an advanced search using your NAICS codes. This will provide you a list of many different agencies that might need precisely the services or goods that you supply.

2. Check Out State Government Opportunities
When you register with SAM, this will make you eligible to bid on federal contracts. But once you get your CAGE code, you also can apply to bid on state government contracts, as well.

Every state has a unique system that they use so basically you just need to search for your state’s department of procurement. For instance, if you want to do business with state government agencies in Wisconsin, you’ll need to register at Vendornet.WI.gov. In California, it’s CalEProcure.CA,gov. In New York, it’s OGS.NY.Gov

Before you sign up with your state, but after you get your CAGE code, consider joining your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). You can find your closest center at http://www.aptac-us.org/. Once you’ve signed up, you can contact this center to get more information about state contracting. Your PTAC also will be able to help you find helpful training workshops and conferences for government contractors, and we highly recommend that you attend a few of these events.

3. Don’t Forget About Local Governments
Your local town or county also will have government contracts available from time to time, so it’s wise to consider bidding on these contracts. Every county and city is broken down into different departments and these departments may have contracting needs.

To find these more local opportunities, do an internet search with your city or county name with the word “procurement” in the search query. For instance, we did a search for “Dade County procurement” which led us to MiamiDade.gov/procurement. From there, we were able to access a link to Online Vendor Registration, Contracting Opportunities and Invitation To Bid.

While FEMA contractors are always in need, there are always other opportunities to consider. Of course, before you start bidding, you must complete SAM registration, and we can help. SAM registration can be quite complicated and time-consuming, so it often makes sense to hire a third party to handle your registration.

If you’ve been wanting to become one of those FEMA contractors (or a contractor for any other agency), but are confused or frustrated with SAM, give us a call at (800) 985-7658 or click on the green New Registration tab on our website. A registration specialist will contact your, collect your information and we’ll quickly get to work on your SAM registration.

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CAGE Codes: Everything You Need To Know

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If you’ve clicked on this article, you probably have been wondering how to get a CAGE Code. These codes are necessary for anyone wishing to do business with the federal government, and we can help you complete the paperwork needed to get your code, but first, let’s talk a little bit about the process in general.

CAGE stands for Commercial and Government Entity, and this is a unique identifier that is given to every business or individual that has complete System for Award Management registration. Once you have this code, you will be able to bid on government contracts.

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a database that includes all of the government contractors. This used to be several different databases (CCR, ORCA, FBO and more), but a few years ago multiple databases were consolidated to form one universal database.

This consolidation process has not been without its hiccups, but having a centralized database was definitely a smart move by the General Services Administration, which is the independent government agency that oversees SAM.

The First Step – DUNS
As you may have noticed, government entities seem quite partial to the use of acronyms and aside from CAGE and SAM; there are several others that you will need to know. The first of which is DUNS, which stands for Data Universal Numbering System. When searching how to get a CAGE Code, you may note that acquiring your DUNS number is the first step.

SAM registration can take many, many hours to complete, and we can do that for you, but you will need to register for your DUNS number before handing over SAM registration to us. Fortunately it takes to just a few minutes to apply for your DUNS number. Just go to the Dun & Bradstreet website and sign up.

It’s possible that your business already has a DUNS number, and you can check on that as well as the Dun & Bradstreet website. If you don’t, then the system will ask you some questions about your business and in a few days provide you with this number. There is no charge to receive your DUNS number.

The Second Step – The Notarized Letter
This is a fairly new requirement for SAM registration. Due to some fraudulent activity in the SAM database, the government decided to require businesses to complete and send in a notarized letter listing the Entity Administrator for the SAM account. This is the person at your company that has the authority to make any changes to your SAM account.

There is a template for the letter at the Federal Service Desk website at FSD.gov, which is yet another component of the General Services Administration. Once you get the Federal Service Desk homepage, if you look at the very top of the page, you will see a tab called “Top Help Topics.” Click on this tab, and a page opens up with categorized help topics. The first box includes “Tips for Notarized Letter,” if you click on that and then click on the blue “Template” button, it will lead you to the template for this notarized letter.

Just download the letter and follow the instructions exactly. You will need your DUNS number as well as your legal business name and physical address (not a PO Box). Be sure that the legal name is 100% correct; it should match what is on your DUNS account.

You can send in your letter as soon as you have it completed and notarized. You don’t have to wait to complete your SAM registration. In the past, you actually couldn’t be approved in SAM until after your letter was approved, but that ended up being a logistical nightmare for the government, as many contractors’ SAM registrations expired before their letter was approved.

SAM registration must be renewed every year. When your registration expires, the government no longer is able to do business with you, and many contractors were left in a lurch, mid-job, without a paycheck in sight and government entities were left with half-finished jobs. So the powers that be at GSA decided to allow registrations and renewals to continue without requiring letter approval first. Still, you do need to complete that letter and send it in right away so that it can be approved and filed away.

The Third Step – SAM Registration
If this all seems a bit overwhelming, get ready for the truly time-consuming part of how to get a CAGE code. Once you’ve got your DUNS and sent your letter, you can head online and start filling out the SAM application. While it is free to sign up, the process can be frustrating and confusing, and can take as many as 10 hours to complete.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can handle this part of the process for you. While it’s true, we do charge for our services, we can save you the time and frustration associated with SAM registration. We quickly can complete the application, and accurately fill out each section. Many of our clients get about halfway through the process, throw up their hands in frustration and contact us for help.

Still more people just give up entirely on government contracting, and that’s a shame. The government offers billions of dollars in contracts every year, and these contracts can be quite lucrative. If you qualify as a small business, some of these contracts are set aside specifically for small and emerging businesses, as well as woman-owned and veteran-owned businesses. You can miss out on some amazing profits if you give up on SAM.

So, if you are worrying about how to get a CAGE Code; let us help. Think of Federal Contractor Registry just as you would an accountant. The tax code is very confusing, and while you could do it yourself for free, it’s usually just easier to hire an accountant and let this expert handle the chore. With us, we can handle the chore of SAM registration and help to get that CAGE Code and get you on the way to government contracting.

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Government Contracting: 5 Tips For Success

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Every year, the hundreds of agencies within the federal government, offer a myriad of government contracting opportunities. These jobs can be financially rewarding, but it does take some research and extra work to learn how to appeal to government agencies and win bids. Check out a few of our helpful tips that might make the process easier.

1. Learn How To Market Yourself

While you already might know how to market yourself for the private sector, the government is another ball of wax altogether. For instance, perhaps you’re an IT consultant and you typically advertise using terms such as “boost your ROI,” or “reduce downtime by 40% or more.”

While reducing downtime definitely can be beneficial for government agencies, boosting the ROI is not really a concern. After all, these agencies are not for-profit businesses, they simply want an IT company that can streamline their IT systems and keep it as secure as possible.

You have to think like a government agency when you design marketing materials. What does this agency truly need from you? Whatever the need, make sure your marketing brochures, information sheets and other materials clearly showcase how you can help meet their needs.

Learning how to create a competitive bid is crucial, but it’s important to keep in mind that many agencies actively search through the System for Award Management (SAM) database for possible contractors. If an agency rep finds you through SAM, it’s crucial that your marketing materials and your website be top quality. It’s not just about the bid, it’s also about how your market yourself.

2. Evaluate Your Website

Does your website provide a user-friendly experience? You need to ensure that your website is well-designed and easy to navigate. Do the web pages load quickly? Does your site work well on mobile devices as well as on desktops? A great website can set you apart from your competitors, both with your government and non-government clients.

Government representatives need to quickly identify your services and qualifications. It would be smart to design a page devoted to government contracting, so that an agency rep quickly can find information about your core competencies, your CAGE code, DUNS number, set-aside codes and so-forth.

3. Create A Top-Notch Capability Statement

Most government agencies will want you to provide a Capability Statement, which is a bit like a resume, although the information that you need to include looks a bit different than a resume.

Still, government agencies sift through hundreds or thousands of these throughout the year, so yours does need to stand out. You need an eye-catching, easy-to-read design, but more importantly, you need to provide the type of content that the agency representatives are seeking.

This statement will include a list of your core competencies, which is basically a quick list of the types of services you can provide. You also need to list past experiences, which should include a list of clients you’ve served along with their contact information. Additionally, you will want to include a short list of differentiators, and this is a list that showcases how your company stands out from the pack.

The last section of this document includes your company data, including basic information about your physical location and perhaps your founding date, as well as your DUNS number, your CAGE code, your Socio-Economic Certifications, your NAICS codes and any additional certifications that might be of interest to a potential employer.

4. Attend A Workshop Or Class

Learning how to write bids can be tough, but there are some helpful resources available, particularly if you qualify as a small business. As part of the SAM registration process, we can help you find out if you do qualify as a small business, and then you’ll be able to use all of the resources available through the government-run Small Business Administration.

If you don’t qualify as a small business, there are still plenty of classes, online tutorials and even third-party services that can help you write your bid or proposal. Not only do you need to learn how to write a bid, you also need to learn about the different types of bids.

A government agency might issue a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Tender (RFT) or perhaps a Request for Quotation. There are also Invitations for Bids (IFB). Each of these is slightly different, and it’s important to understand these differences so that you can find the best opportunities for your company.

For instance, an RFP or RFT typically is issued for contracts with a value greater than $25,000 and for contracts where the supplier will be chosen based on several factors, and not just for offering the lowest price point. An RFQ is typically awarded very quickly, and the value of these contracts is less than $25,000. An IFB typically has a value greater than $100,000. These bids are competitive, and the lowest bin will win the award.

5. Keep Your SAM Registration Current

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can help you get started with government contracting by completing your SAM registrations for you. We also can help with SAM renewals, and it’s important to get your SAM renewals completed well before your expiration date.

SAM registration expires every year, and you must update and renew your listing. It can take several weeks for this renewal to be approved, so it’s essential that you renew months before your actual expiration date. If an agency sees that your registration is going to expire in two or three months, they might be wary of using your company.

This is because if your registration expires in the middle of a job, they can no longer use your services because you aren’t legally able to do business with the government unless you have a current SAM registration. We highly recommend that you renew about three months before you expiration date, and we also encourage you to keep your information up-to-date. If a phone number changes or your address changes, immediately update this information in SAM.

While the government does not charge for SAM registration, it can be an extremely frustrating experience, and can take 10 or more hours to complete the application. If you wish to save some time and ensure that your registration is completed correctly, we can help. We are a third-party SAM registration service and we’ve helped thousands of companies, large and small, get started with government contracting. To get the process rolling, simply head to our homepage and click on the green New Registration button and one of our registration specialists will begin working on your registration as quickly as possible.

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Federal Contractor Jobs: Creating A Capability Statement

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There are thousands of lucrative federal government contractor jobs out there, and when you are putting yourself out there and bidding on jobs, one of the items you’ll need is a top-notch capability statement. Here’s a quick look at this statement and some tips to make yours stand out.

What Is A Capability Statement?

In some ways, a capability statement is a bit like a resume. It’s meant to be brief, usually just a single page and never more than two, and it provides a quick glimpse at your company, the services it offers and exemplifies what makes your business a good contender for federal government contractor jobs.

Typically, your Capability Statement will include an introduction followed by four main areas:

The Introduction – At the top of the page, simply use the word “Capability Statement” and include your company logo. You might also include contact information at the top of the page. After adding this information, you’ll want to write a short paragraph introducing your company and quickly describing your services and experience.

Core Competencies – This is where you would list your areas of specialization, but not necessarily every service that your offer. Basically create a quick list of your most valuable services, or the services that best match what you will provide as far as federal government contractor jobs go.

Experience/Past Performance – In this section, you will want to list some past customers and include contact information for those clients. If you’ve done work for state and local government agencies, this is definitely something to highlight, as this makes you more attractive to federal agencies.

Differentiators – Basically, this area is a sales pitch for your company. For this section, you’ll want to identify how your business can better serve a government agency than another company offering services similar to your own. If you aren’t quite sure what to say, consider reading over some reviews or surveys from previous clients. What did they find distinguished you over another service? What factors did they use to select your company over a competitor?

Company Data

In this section, you will want to highlight all pertinent information regarding your business. You can begin by listing your DUNS number and CAGE code, as well as your physical address and an email and phone number, as well as the name of the contact person in charge of your federal government contractor jobs and bidding.

Additionally, you will want to list any “set-aside” types. The federal government sets aside a portion of federal government contractor jobs specifically for certain types of small businesses. For instance, you might be a woman-owned small business, or a veteran-owned small business, or both. Be sure to list your set-asides in this section, which you can label as Socio-Economic Certifications.

You also will want to list all of our NAICS codes. NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System, and there are thousands of these codes, and each one identifies a specific type of service you might provide.  You can simply list the numbers here, and you don’t have to include a description, as representatives from government agencies already know which codes they need to see.

You also can list additional certifications that your company has earned, and your license numbers, if this applies to your type of business. If space permits, you can even list any industry awards that you might have won. 

Some Additional Tips:

1. Edit, Edit, Edit – Ensure that there are no grammar and spelling mistakes, and be sure to double-check your contact information as well as the contact information for any of the companies with whom you’ve worked previously.

2. Keep A Consistent Style – Stick with just one or two typefaces at the most, and ensure that all of your bulleted lists are in the same style with the same margin sizes. Keep it clean and crisp so that the person reading it will be focusing more on the content than any weird design inconsistencies.

3. Look For Style Examples

If you are still stumped, there are many good examples of attractive Capability Statements on the internet. Take a look at how others have designed their statements to give you some good ideas about what to do. You also can hire an outsourcer to create and design your Capability Statement.

At Federal Contractor Registry, our piece of the government contracting pie is helping you with SAM registration, which must be completed before you bid on any federal government contractor jobs.

While you can complete SAM registration on your own, at no charge, the process is long and often confusing and frustrating. Hiring an experienced third-party registration service can make the process easier. Additionally, as we fill at your registration, we also can provide you with helpful information, such as researching your set-aside types and finding your specific NAICS codes, which then can be added to your Capability Statement. To get started with SAM registration, just head to our homepage and click on the green New Registration tab. This leads you to a quick contact form, and once you’ve filled it out, one of our registration specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

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