SAM Registration

Every year, billions of dollars in government contracts are awarded to companies, large and small. Learning how to become a government contractor can seem a bit overwhelming, but we can help. Here’s a quick look at government contracting in general and how we can get you started with the process.

All Government Agencies Offer Contracts
In general, 99% of government agencies need outside help and services from time to time. We tend to think of agencies such as FEMA and the Department of Defense as the main source of contracts, and while these agencies do offer many contracts, they are by no means the only option.

For instance, everyone from the National Park Service to NASA to the EPA and beyond will solicit contractors for a wide range of jobs. These jobs aren’t just related to construction, either. Virtually any type of business might be needed by a government agency.

Think Beyond The Federal Government
While federal government agencies certainly offer tons of lucrative government contracts, state and local government agencies also offer contracts. If you simply limit yourself to federal opportunities, you could be missing out on contracts at the state, county and city level. These contracts sometimes can be easier to win than the federal contracts, so be sure to register with your state and county after you’ve registered with the federal government.

Get Started With SAM
The System for Award Management (SAM) is everyone’s first step in the government contracting process. This is a huge central database that contains information for all government contractors. Before you can bid on any contracts – federal, state or local, you must register with SAM.

Third-Party Registration Services
SAM registration is free if you decided to register your business yourself. So why would you hire a third-party registration service such as ourselves? SAM registration is a very complicated and often frustrating process.

It can take 10 or more hours to complete your SAM registration, and the application is filled with complicated government-speak. Many of our customers call us after they’ve started the process but have become frustrated with the complexities of SAM registration.

We can take all of your information and quickly complete your SAM registration. Every year, we help hundreds of companies, from Fortune 500 firms to small business, complete SAM registrations and renewals quickly and easily.

While we do charge for our services, we find that using Federal Contractor Registry is a bit like using an accountant to do your taxes. The government doesn’t charge you to file your taxes, but the tax code is complicated and it just makes sense to hire a tax expert to handle the process. It’s the same with us. SAM registration is complicated, but we are SAM experts, and can handle the task quickly.

After SAM, What Should You Do?
Once your SAM registration has been approved, you will be eligible to bid on federal government contracts, and you will be assigned a CAGE code, which is a unique identifier for your business. At this point, you can start bidding, but there are some other tasks we recommend you complete before you bid.

1. Sign Up With Your PTAC
A PTAC is a Procurement Technical Assistance Center. These are centers that were created to help small businesses that want to bid on government contracts at the federal, state or local level. To find your PTAC, go to www.aptac-us.org. This is a huge resource, so as soon as you get that CAGE code, sign up with your PTAC.

2. Sign Up With The SBA
The Small Business Administration is another excellent resource for small businesses. Obviously, larger businesses cannot sign up with SBA, but you might be surprised to find that your business qualifies as a small business.

To find out if you qualify, go to https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/. You will need to know your North American Industry Classification System codes. This is something we can figure out for you as we complete your SAM registration. These codes simply identify the type of business you own. Many businesses qualify for multiple codes because they provide multiple services, and we can find all of your NAICS codes.

Additionally, you may qualify for special “set-aside” codes. A portion of all government contracts are set aside from small businesses. Additionally, many prime contractors are required to use subcontractors that qualify as small businesses. Subcontracting can be a great way for a small business to get started with government contracting.

We can determine your set-aside codes as we work on your SAM registration. For instance, your small business might be located in a HUBZone, which is a historically underutilized business zone. You might qualify as a veteran-owned small business, a woman-owned small business or another set-aside code.

3. Create Your Capability Statement
A capability statement is basically a resume for government contractors, but it looks a bit different than the resume you would create for yourself. This document will include important information such as your CAGE code, your DUNS number, your NAICS codes and set-asides.

In addition to your basic company data and contact information, this document will include a section listing your Core Competencies, Differentiators, and Past Performance. Core Competencies are the services and goods your company can provide. Differentiators are the characteristics that set your company apart from the competition, and Past Performance is basically a listing of companies for whom you have provided goods and services in the past.

4. Create A Webpage For Government Contracting
Your website probably already provides a good deal of information about your goods and services. But, it’s smart to add a page just for government contracting. The government is unique in that its goal is not necessarily profitability but rather providing services for its citizens, therefore the approach you use with a government agency differs from the approach you might use with a private sector client.

Obviously, both types of entities want a good value for their money, but while a company might be seeking your help to improve their business, a government agency seek you out to help support an agency or its programs and initiatives. It’s smart to include a webpage that speaks to government agencies, and be sure to add your capability statement on this page, as well.

5. Sign Up With Your State & County Governments
Every state has its own unique process for government contracting, so you will need to find the agency that is in charge of state government contractors. To do so, simple do an internet search for your state with the word “procurement.” This will lead you to the website for your state.

Once there, you can register. Keep in mind; you will need to provide your CAGE code, DUNS number, NAICS codes, set-asides and other important information about your business and how much it earns, as well as information about officers, etc. Every state is a little bit different, so it’s hard to completely pinpoint everything your state might ask.

6. Educate Yourself
State governments and your PTAC and even the SBA often host workshops and events to help government contractors. At these events, you can learn about the bidding process and make tons of contacts.

We highly recommend that you take advantage of these special events and attend a few. There also are online webinars that can provide you with helpful information about how to write bids and find job opportunities.

Many of these offerings are free or low-cost, so sign up and start learning how to become a government contractor. If you need help with SAM registration, give us a call at (800) 985-7658 or click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage.

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If you want to dive into government contracting, you probably know that the first step is to register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Every SAM account must have what is known as an Entity Administrator, a person authorized to make changes and manage this account. Your SAM administrator will have several responsibilities, including the following tasks.

1. Complete & Send In A Notarized Letter
For the past year or so, anyone registering in SAM has been required to send in a notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk identifying their Entity Administrator for SAM. This requirement came about due to fraudulent activity in the SAM database, and is meant to increase security within the database.

The notarized letter is a requirement for anyone who is registered with SAM or wishes to become registered with SAM, and this is one of the first tasks you will want to complete. To learn more about this letter as well as to find a letter template, go to the Federal Service Desk at FSD.gov. From there, go up to the top of the page to Top Help Topics. Hover over this tab and you will see a tab for SAM and under that you’ll find a link to “Tips for Notarized Letter.”

2. Complete SAM Registration
Typically, your SAM administrator will be the person tasked with SAM registration. This can be a difficult process, taking 10 or more hours to complete. The good news is that while you do need to appoint a SAM entity administrator, you can hire a third party to complete your SAM registration.

The government does not charge companies and individuals to register with SAM, but it often makes sense to hire a third-party registration service to complete your registration, especially if you’ve gotten started with the process and become frustrated.

Unfortunately, many people give up on government contracting because the SAM registration process is complicated and that’s a shame because there are so many lucrative contracts out there for the taking. If you are daunted by the registration process, contact our service and we can handle your registration tasks.

It’s a bit like hiring an accountant to handle your taxes. Certainly, you could complete your taxes on your own at no charge, but the tax code can be difficult to understand and hiring an expert can save you a ton of time and frustration. We are just like that accountant; except we handle the complexities of SAM registration for you.

3. Register With SBA & PTAC
This task is really only for those who qualify as a small business. If you do qualify, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) will be important resources, and your SAM administrator will want to register with both services.

SBA has resources for starting business, finding loans and grants, government contracting and much more. Your PTAC also can help with many aspects of government contracting, including getting set up to contract with state and local governments, which also offer many lucrative government contracts.

The government truly wants companies to succeed with government contracting, especially small businesses. The government recognizes many different types of small businesses, such as woman-owned and veteran-owned businesses and sets aside a portion of its contracting jobs specifically for these types of businesses. So be sure to take advantage of your small business status.

4. Make Any Necessary Changes
Any time information in your SAM account changes, your SAM administrator will need to update this in SAM as well as with any state or government agency with which you are registered. For instance, if your phone number changes or perhaps your physical address, you will need to update that information as quickly as possible.

5. Complete SAM Renewal
Your SAM registration will need to be renewed every year, and because it takes time for the government to process these renewals, it is best that your SAM administrator completes your renewal well in advance of the expiration date.

If you are within just a few months of expiration, it can be much more difficult to win contracts. We highly recommend that you renew at least three months prior to expiration to ensure that you do not miss out on any lucrative contracts. When a representative from a government agency sees that you are nearing your expiration date, they might be hesitant to proceed with a contract.

After all, if your registration does expire in the middle of a contract, you no longer are authorized to complete the work and everything comes to a standstill, so as a SAM administrator, you need to keep a close eye on your expiration date.

Of course, in addition to helping with SAM registration, we also can process your SAM renewals on behalf of your SAM administrator. If you want to begin the registration process or have questions about how to get started with SAM registration, just click on the New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch with you as soon as possible to help you get started in the world of government contracting.

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Every year, the federal government awards billions of dollars in contracts to prime and subcontractors. While these government contractor jobs are profitable, the federal route isn’t the only route to consider. State, county and local agencies across the country regularly need government contractors and these often can be easier to attain than federal contracts.

Start With SAM
Of course, in order to start bidding on any level of government contractor jobs, you’ll need to complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Once you’ve completed this registration, you will receive what is known as a CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) Code.

You can complete SAM registration for free via SAM.gov, but this process can be very frustrating and time-consuming, easily taking 10 or more hours to complete. This is why many company representatives, including Fortune 500 firms, will hire a third party to complete their registration, saving them valuable time.

This is where we come into the picture. As a third-party SAM registration service, we understand all of the complexities and government jargon associated with SAM registration and can complete registrations and renewals quickly and leave you free to run your business or learn more about bidding on those lucrative government contractor jobs.

Register With SBA & Your PTAC
Once you’ve got that CAGE code, the fun really begins. If your business qualifies as a small business, and many do, you can register with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).

The SBA is a federal agency whose sole reason for existence is to support small businesses. They can help you find information about bidding on government contracts, as well as helping you find funding and grants. If you are just starting a business, they also provide a wealth of information about setting up your business. You can register at SBA.gov.

A PTAC is another resource for those seeking government contractor jobs. In fact, that’s the reason its parent, the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers was created. They provide help for small businesses as well as training for those new to government contractors. Go to Aptac-us.org to find your local center, and be sure to sign up as this is a fantastic resource.

Understand Your NAICS Codes & Set-Asides
As we work on your SAM registration, we will identify your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes as well as identifying any SBA set-asides for which you might qualify.

A portion of all federal contracts are “set aside” for small businesses, especially those that are majority woman-owned, veteran-owned or owned by a person that qualifies as historically economically or socially disadvantaged. If your business is located in a HUB Zone, which is a historically disadvantaged area, you also may qualify for that set-aside.

Qualifying as a small business can be advantage at the federal level, particularly when it comes to subcontracting as Prime Contractors often are required to use small businesses for all or a portion of their subcontracting. It’s also an advantage at the state level, county and local level, as many non-federal government entities also set aside a portion of their contracts for small businesses.

Those NAICS codes are your ticket to determining whether or not you qualify as a small business. As we complete your SAM registration, we will identify your codes and do a quick check to see what set-asides you might qualify for, and this information will be stored in your SAM account. You also will need to provide the NAICS codes and set-asides as you register with your state or local governments.

Sign Up With Your State Government
With the federal government, everything goes through SAM, it’s one central database for all government contractors. Of course, with 50 states (as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.), each of these have their own governments and their own unique processes for attaining government contractor jobs.

To get start, just do a web search for your state name and the word “procurement.” We are headquartered in Nevada, and a search for “Nevada procurement” led us to NevadaEPro. This is Nevada’s version of SAM, and after you register and are approved, you will be able to bid on state contracting opportunities.

Additionally, each state hosts workshops, meet-ups and conferences for government contractors where you can learning about the bidding process and interact with representatives for various government agencies. Many of these offerings are free or low-cost, and it’s a great way to start learning the whole government contracting process.

Develop Your Website
No matter what type of business you might have, a high-quality website is an important marketing tool. Ensure that your website provides a wealth of information for government agencies that might be searching for contractors.

In fact, we highly recommend that you have a separate page just for government contractor. This page should include a link to your Capability Statement. This is basically a special kind of resume that all government agencies will want to see, so you need to design a great statement that expresses your many qualifications. Do a search for capability statements and you will find plenty of great examples and advice for creating this crucial document.

Of course, as we said before, it all begins with SAM registration and we can help. If you like to start bidding on government contractor jobs, and would like us to complete your SAM registration, give us a call at a (800) 985-7658 or click on the green New Registration tab, fill out our quick form and a registration specialist will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

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If you’ve become frustrated with the process of SAM government registration, you might be tempted to just give up and forget about the idea or government contracting. While getting started with government contracting can be confusing, we’ve compiled a list of reasons why it’s well worth your time.

1. There’s A Job For Just About Everyone
Many people mistakenly believe that the only types of government jobs are construction related or perhaps related to FEMA and disaster relief. But that’s simply not true. Browse through the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) booklet and you’ll find that just about every industry imaginable is included.

When you complete your SAM government registration, you will want to add one or more NAICS codes on the application. These codes are identifiers for different types of businesses and government agencies often will search for contractors using these codes.

While there are certainly plenty of codes that relate to construction projects and engineering projects, you also find codes for taxi and limousine services, as well as for scenic and sightseeing transportation via land or water. There are codes for businesses that handle many different types of food services, for advertising companies, for book publishers, video production companies, notary services and even interior design services. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

2. There’s Tons Of Support Out There
Once you get past the completion of your SAM government registration (and we can help with that), then it’s time to start looking for contracting jobs, subcontracting jobs and learning how to deal with bids and RFPs (Requests for Proposals). This might all sound overwhelming, but there are people out there who spend every working day helping people with government contracting.

Once you’ve completed SAM registration and have your CAGE code, sign up with your local PTAC. But what is a PTAC? This stands for Procurement Technical Assistance Center. If you head to the APTAC (Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers) website at http://www.aptac-us.org/, you can find the local PTAC for your area.

The representatives at your PTAC can answer many questions about government contracting, and it’s free to sign up. According to their website, in 2017 alone, PTAC clients were awarded more than 180,000 contracts worth $20 billion. Be sure to look around the APTAC website and take advantage of the helpful information on this site, such as info about upcoming workshops and training sessions for those new to government contracts.

If you qualify as a small business, don’t forget to use the resources available at the Small Business Administration. Head to SBA.gov, and you can sign up and take advantage of all of the information and guidance this group provides for all types of small businesses.

3. Federal Jobs Are Just One Piece Of The Pie
With SAM government registration, you can take advantage of federal contracting jobs, but there also are jobs available from state, county and local governments as well. After you get your CAGE code, be sure to sign up with your state (or any states where you do business) as well as your county governments. States hold conferences and workshops all of the time to help government contractors find work and learn more about the bidding process.

These workshops typically are very affordable, and you often have an opportunity to learn about the many different agencies in your area that need contractors. Even if you never end up bidding on a federal job, you’ll still need to register with SAM before signing up with your local and state governments.

4. Government Income Has Its Advantages
When you bid on government jobs, you don’t always get paid on a weekly or monthly basis. Sometimes it might take a set amount of time to receive payment, but at least you can rest assured that the government is one client that is definitely going to pay you for your services.

Haven’t we all had the nightmare of a client that either doesn’t pay or pays their fees late or perhaps declares bankruptcy and leaves us in a lurch? With the government, this isn’t going to happen. The payment schedule might be a bit different than what you are used to dealing with, but you will get that check and it definitely will clear the bank.

Obviously, a government shutdown can cause payment delays, but these aren’t that common, and they also don’t necessarily affect your payment, especially when it comes to state and local governments.

Getting started with government contracting can feel like a slow process, but the rewards can be fantastic. At various workshops and training sessions, you also come into contact with people from the private sector along the way, and increase your network of possible clients.

But first one must deal with SAM government registration, and if you aren’t looking forward to this task, just hire a company such as Federal Contractor Registry. We are a third-party registration service that can handle all SAM registrations and renewals.

We do charge for our services, but it can be well worth the expense to have a SAM expert handle the registration process. It’s complicated, often frustrating and it can take 10 or more hours to complete the registration process.

We are a lot like an accountant. Sure, you could fill out all of your tax forms on your own, but they are complicated and frustrating, so it’s just easier to pay an accountant and focus your precious time on running your business.

If you need someone to handle your SAM government registration, give us a call at any time or click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage.

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If you are thinking about starting the SAM.gov registration process and diving into the world of government contracting, you might be a bit overwhelmed with the whole process. We can help with the registration process, and also offer some advice about getting started in government contracting in general.

SAM (System for Award Management) is the database for all government contractors and subcontractors, and you must complete your registration, get approved and receive a CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity) in order to start bidding on government jobs.

We can handle the registration process for you, saving you a ton of time and frustration. Typically it takes between 10 and 20 hours to complete SAM registrations and the application can be quite confusing. Technically, SAM registration is free, but time is money, so we highly recommend that you hire a third-party service, such as ourselves to handle your SAM.gov registration.

It’s just like hiring someone to do your taxes. Sure, you could file them yourself for free, but the tax code is complicated, so it just makes sense to hire a tax expert. We are SAM experts, and using our service can be a great timesaver. At any rate, you will have plenty of other tasks to handle, including the following.

1. Get Your Letter Notarized
Every potential and current government contractor must complete a notarized letter and send it to the Federal Service Desk. This letter states the name of your Entity Administrator for SAM.gov registration. This is simply the person that is authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

To find this letter, go to FSD.gov. At the top of the homepage, you’ll find a tab that states “Top Help Topics.” Hover over this tab, and you’ll see a heading that is marked “New Registration – Notarized Letter Requirement (Domestic).” Click on this section, and it will take you to a page that includes templates for the letter.

Follow the instructions on the template exactly, get the letter notarized and send it to the Federal Service Desk as soon as possible. In the past, you needed to have this letter approved in order to have your SAM.gov registration approved, but this is no longer the case. Still, this is a requirement for everyone who is registered or wishes to become registered with SAM.

2. Register With Your PTAC
The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers provides a wealth of information about government contracting for small businesses. While this is a national association, they have broken down their offices into regional offices known as PTACs (Procurement Technical Assistance Center).

To find your PTAC, go to www.APTAC-us.org., and at the top left of the homepage, you’ll find a map of the United States. Select your state and you’ll find a list of your state’s PTACs. Simply select the PTAC in your area and register with this center. Your PTAC reps will be some of the most helpful people you will meet in the world of government contracting.

Additionally, the APTAC website has tons of information about government contracting in general. If you look under the Government Contracting Assistance tab, check out the PTAC Training Events tab and the APTAC blog about government contracting. These training events and conferences can be a huge help for new government contractors.

3. Register With Your State
In addition to the many, many federal government contracting jobs, state and local governments also need contractors all the time, so it’s crucial that you register with your state, as well. Each state has a slightly different process for government contracting registration.

For instance, in Texas, you would register for the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). To find this application, you’d need to go to Comptroller.Texas.gov. In California, you’d register with www.CalEProcure.ca.gov. If you aren’t quite sure how to find the website for your state, a Google search for “bid on government contracts (state name),” should work.

Just be sure that the website you click on has the “.gov” extension on it, so that you know it is an official government website. If you still are having difficulty, contact your PTAC rep, as this person should be able to help you find the correct website for registering with your state.

4. Build Your Capability Statement
Marketing to the government is a bit different than marketing to your typical clients. One of the items you’ll need to have in your government contracting arsenal is a solid Capability Statement.

This is a one-page document that lists basic information about your company, as well as sections regarding your core competencies, differentiators, past performances as well as tons of important facts about your company. This Capability Statement needs to appear on your website, and it’s something that you will submit with every government bid, whether you are bidding on a federal, state or local government job.

You might be wondering what each of these sections means and what to include. There are plenty of examples online regarding Capability Statements and how to create them. Basically, your Core Competencies are the types of skills or jobs you can provide, while your Differentiators are what set you apart from other businesses.

You’ll also want to include any industry certifications that you possess, as well as listing your DUNS number and CAGE code and contact information. It’s also crucial to list your NAICS codes and PSC codes. These are the codes that identify the types of services or goods you can provide. These codes also will be listed in your SAM.gov registration. When agencies look for potential contractors, they often search using NAICS codes.

To find these codes, you can go to www.NAICS.com/search or we can help you determine these codes if you use our third-party SAM registration services. There are literally hundreds of codes, and narrowing down the right ones for your business is crucial.

5. Determine Your Set-Aside Status
If you qualify as a small business, you may find it easier to win contracts. This is because the government sets aside a portion of government contracts specifically for small businesses.

Your first step should be to determine whether or not you qualify as a small business, and, if so, what type of small business. There are general small businesses, as well as Emerging Small Businesses, Woman-Owned Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and more. Not only are government contracts set aside for these types of businesses, many Prime Contractors are required to use small businesses as subcontractors in order to win a bid. Working as a subcontractor is a fantastic option for small businesses as they are just getting started with government contracting.

The Prime Contractor will handle all of the dealings with the federal agency, and act as a kind of mentor to you as you provide them with goods and services. We highly recommend that you look into subcontracting, which can be profitable and easier than working as Prime Contractor.

Again, if you need help with SAM.gov registration, contact us at any time. While you can register on your own, we can save you a great deal of time and frustration, and make it easier for you to get started bidding on those lucrative government jobs.

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If you are a small business that’s getting ready to register with the System for Award Management (SAM), you’re probably excited about bidding on government contracts. For those just starting out however, subcontracting actually can be your best option, and here’s why.

It’s Easier
If you’ve been having any trouble figuring out your System for Award Management registration, you aren’t alone. Just getting registered to do business with the federal government can be tricky, but learning how to bid on contracts is even more complicated.

Subcontracting can be much easier for newbies, because the Prime Contractor is the one bidding on the job. You simply complete one portion of it, but you will learn a great deal along the way.

Lower Risk
With subcontracting, you actually are working for the Prime Contractor. This main contractor is the one that who is truly responsible to the government and it’s likely an entity that has worked with various government agencies before. It’s not uncommon for a beginning contractor to make a few mistakes along the way, but if you subcontract, you’ll have a sort of guide and mentor in the form of your Prime Contractor.

It’s Ideal For Small Businesses
If you qualify as a small business, it’s important to note that the government sets aside a portion of government contracting jobs just for small businesses. Prime Contractors also often are required to use subcontractors that qualify as small businesses.

There are plenty of subcontracting jobs available, and if you qualify as a woman-owned small business or veteran-owned small business or another type of small business, you may have an easier time acquiring a subcontracting job.

Before you get started with the System for Award Management process, here are a few helpful facts about subcontracting:

1. Many Prime Contractors Must Use Subcontractors
For certain contract awards, a Prime Contractor must use subcontractors, specifically small businesses. Typically, if a Prime Contractor is trying to win a bid of $650,000 or more, they will be required to use subcontractors.

Why? Because the government truly wants to help small businesses succeed and grow, so requiring small business subcontracting helps to support these businesses. It also tends to improve the quality of a project as these subcontractors provide expertise in a niche industry.

2. Subcontracting Regulations Are Less Stringent
Prime Contractors have to jump through quite a few hoops in order to score a government contractor, but subcontractors typically do not have to meet the same regulations and it’s often easier for subcontractors to arrange their payment plans. After all, a small business is less likely to be able to wait as long as a Prime Contractor for payment.

3. There Are Many Sources Of Subcontracting Jobs
Once you’ve handled your System for Award Management registration, you’ll want to start looking for possible jobs. For subcontracting jobs, there are several places to look. For instance, the General Services Administration (GSA) has a subcontracting directory, as does the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The FedBizOpps.gov website is another source, and you can search for all types of contracting jobs in many different ways. There are also third-party services that can help you find subcontracting jobs and even help you learn how to write bids and RFPs (Request for Proposal).

4. State & County Contractor Jobs Are Available
After you are registered with the federal government, don’t forget to register with your state and county governments to do business with these agencies, as well. There are many contractor opportunities, including subcontractor jobs, to be had at the state, county and local level.

Additionally, many state governments will host free or low-cost workshops and events for government contractors and these can provide you with a wealth of helpful information. You also will want to find your area PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center). These centers help small businesses in many ways, not just with government contracts, but they definitely can help you in those early stages, when you are learning the ropes.

Understanding The System For Award Management
Before you can dive into the world of government contracting, you’ll need to register with the System for Award Management. This is a centralized database that includes all approved government contractors. Even if you want to try to win a subcontracting job, you will need to be registered in this database.

This is where we come in. We are a third-party registration service that handles System for Award Management (SAM) registrations and renewals for all types of businesses. Whether you are a small business with just a few employees or a Fortune 500 company, we can handle the arduous registration process.

SAM registrations can take 10 to 20 hours to complete, and few business owners can spare that amount of time to wade through the mire of government-speak one finds during the registration process. Rather than deal with the difficulties of SAM registration, our team of registration experts quickly can handle the process for you.

To get started, simply click on the New Registrations tab on our home page, and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will contact you as soon as possible, and we’ll get started on your System for Award Management registration.

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Central contractor registration via the CCR database used to be one of the main ways contractors could register and then bid on lucrative government contracts. But the CCR no longer exists, and these days everything is all about SAM.

SAM is the System for Award Management, which is a centralized database for all government contractors. Before SAM’s creation in 2012, there were several independent databases, including CCR and other systems, such as Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) to name a few.

Now everything is part of SAM, so if you want to become a government contractor, you no longer complete central contractor registration, now you will need to complete SAM registration. The downside is that while centralizing all of these systems makes good sense, it’s still not any easier to complete SAM registration.

It can take about 10 hours (or more) to complete the application, and it’s full of confusing government-speak that tends to frustrate many users. At Federal Contractor Registry, we’ve had years of experience with SAM registration (and CCR and ORCA in the past), and can complete your SAM registration or renewal and save you the time and trouble.

SAM registration is free, and we do charge for our services, and sometimes people become confused about this issue. Basically, we are a third-party registration service that can handle the burden of SAM registration quickly and easily, much like an accountant serves as your third-party tax preparer. It’s certainly free to do your own taxes, but it takes up a ton of your valuable time, so that’s why you hire the accountant.

It’s the same for us; we’ll handle the complexities of SAM registration, and leave you free to concentrate on running your business and learning all you can about government contracting.

If you have a small business, we highly recommend that you utilize the Small Business Administration and all it offers. For instance, did you know that the federal government sets aside a certain percentage of its contracts just for small businesses? These are known as “set-asides” or “set-aside codes,” and you’ll want to include any qualifying set-asides in your SAM registration.

For instance, if 51% or more of your business is owned by a woman, you can qualify as a woman-owned business. If your small business is located in a HUBZone, which is a historically underutilized area, you might qualify for HUBZone set asides. There are other options as well for veteran-owned businesses, Native American-owned businesses and more.

If you go to the Small Business Administration website you’ll see a tab at the top for Federal Contracting. Click here and you will find tons of resources for small business owners who wish to contract or sell to the federal government.

Once you’ve registered with SAM, you can start bidding on federal contracts, but don’t forget about your state government. These entities also need contractors, so it’s wise to register with your state so that you can take advantage of the contractor opportunities. Every state has its own database of approved contractors. For instance, in California, you can head to CalEProcure.ca.gov to register. In Wisconsin, you can register at Vendornet.wi.gov. In New York, the go-to website is OGS.NY.gov. Every state is a little bit different, but there definitely are some lucrative state and local contracts in all 50 states.

To reiterate, if you’ve been googling “central contractor registration” and coming up with nothing, that’s because what you really want to search for is SAM registration. If you’d like us to handle SAM registration (or renewals) for you, we are happy to get started at any time. Just head to our homepage and click on the New Registration tab and a registration specialist will be in touch with you soon.

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When you sign up to become a government contractor at the SAM.gov website, you will be asked about your set-aside codes. Understanding these codes and taking advantage of the opportunities they can provide is crucial to successful government contracting. Let’s take a quick look at set asides and what it all means.

The United States government has 15 departments, as well as a myriad of independent agencies, commissions and boards. Virtually all of these entities will need government contractors at some time or another. Most of these agencies, particularly the departments, such as the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Education, try to “set aside” a portion of their contracting jobs just for certain types of small businesses.

Are You A Small Business?
Before we do a deep dive into these small business set-asides, it’s important to note that you first need to discover whether or not your business qualifies as a small business. The government has specific requirements, based upon your number of employees and earnings, which you must meet in order to qualify.

To check to see if your business qualifies, go to the Small Business Administration’s webpage at https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards and click on the Measure My Business tab. From there you will need to know your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These are codes that identify the exact type of goods and services you provide.

There are more than a dozen set-aside codes and your business may qualify for one or more of these codes, which include:

Competitive 8(a) – These are small businesses that are owned by people or entities that are found to be socially or economically disadvantaged. These are persons that, according to the United States government, have been subjected to racial, ethnic or cultural prejudice. This includes a wide range of persons, from women to Native Americans to those with certain physical disabilities.

In order to qualify, your business must be at least 51% owned by someone is economically and socially disadvantaged, and be owned by someone with a personal net worth of $250,000 or less, someone with assets of $4 million or less and there are several other criteria.

Woman-Owned Small Business & Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business – These two set asides are a bit easier to understand. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned by a woman. Obviously to qualify for the economically-disadvantaged set aside, you will need to prove that your income and assets are within the limits set forth by the government.

Veteran-Owned Small Business & Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business – Again, this one is fairly straight-forward and these set asides are simply meant for business that are 51% or more owned by a veteran or a veteran that was disabled during their years of service in the military.

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises & Indian Economic Enterprises – If your business or organization is 51% Native American-owned, there are many resources available to you and two set-aside codes. This can be a small business owned by an individual that is Native American or a small business owned by a tribe, band or nation.

Partial HBCU/MI & Total HBCU/MI – For this set aside, the HBCU stands for Historically Black College or University, while the MI stands for Minority Institution. These are set asides for qualifying colleges and universities that are seeking government grants or contracting jobs.

Emerging Small Business – These are set asides to help newer businesses get their start. Typically, these businesses must be 50% smaller than the small business standard set by the SBA and your NAICS codes. For instance, perhaps your business counts as small business if you have 100 employees or less, but you only have 40 employees. In this case, you may be eligible as an emerging small business.

Very Small Business – If your business size and profits are well below the SBA requirements as a small business. Typically, the contracts you would bid on would be fairly small, ranging from about $2,500 up to $50,000. Of course, if you are a small firm with just a few employees, this amount of money might not seem that small.

HUBZone – In some cases, your small business might be located in what is known as a HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zones) or have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone. These zones are found around the United States and the SBA has map showcasing all of these zones on its website.

It’s definitely smart to head to the SBA’s HUBZone Map to see if your business is located within one of these zones, as at least three percent of all government contracts are set aside for qualifying HUBZone businesses. That might seem like a small number, but if you are competing against other businesses for a contract and your business has a set-aside code, the agency may be much more likely to select your business.

But what does all of this have to do with the SAM.gov website? Well, when you register with SAM and add your set-aside codes, agencies looking for contractors may search for businesses that qualify for these codes so it’s crucial that you know which codes apply to you.

In addition to adding these codes when you register at the SAM.gov website, you also should register as a government contractor in your state. These set-aside codes don’t just apply to federal contracts; they also might help you acquire contracts from state government agencies, as well.

Of course, you can bypass the SAM.gov website and let us help with SAM registration. We can help you identify whether or not you qualify for any set-aside codes, and we can handle your entire SAM registration. The SAM registration process can be very time-consuming and frustrating, and we help hundreds of companies every year complete the initial registration process and the renewal process.

Rather than struggling for hours on the SAM.gov website, consider contacting Federal Contractor Registry and let us do the work. To get started, just go to our homepage and click on the green New Registration tab.

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If you are getting ready to complete your SAM registration and start bidding on government contracting jobs, you probably would love to know which agencies are out there seeking contracts. The truth is there are hundreds of agencies and just about all of them need contractors. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find when you start looking for opportunities.

FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency constantly offers government contracting jobs. Every time there’s a flood, a spate of tornadoes, a hurricane, an earthquake or any other type of disaster, people need help and FEMA aims to provide it. In order to do so, however, they need the help of government contracting jobs. These jobs range from debris cleanup up services to security services to providing trailers and temporary housing and even providing bottled water and shelf-stable food.

Keep in mind, as you search, that FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and when you are doing a search at FBO.gov, you may want to start your search by typing Department of Homeland Security into the Agency box. This will trigger a list of many different agencies within DHS that are in need of help. So while you might be thinking about FEMA opportunities, there could be other DHS agencies that could benefit from your skills and services.

Department of Defense
Did you know that more than $400 billion in contracts are awarded every year by the United States government? A good portion of this money was paid out by the Department of Defense (DOD). When you think about DOD contracts, you probably think these are mostly huge contracts awarded to massive companies that build tanks, rockets and other related items.

While these types of huge contracts are common, that doesn’t mean that a small business can’t take a piece of the DOD contracting pie. It’s not all about military equipment and weapons systems. The DOD needs people to print materials, provide custodial services, repair copiers and other machinery, provide educational materials and much more.

In many cases, especially with DOD or Homeland Security, it can be a great idea to work as a subcontractor for a Prime Contractor. Prime Contractors are government contractors that typically have a good deal of experience with government contracting. Some Prime Contractors also are required to offer subcontracting jobs as part of their contract with an agency.

Becoming a subcontractor can be a smart for anyone just getting started with government contracting. In fact, the DOD has a goal to award more than 20% of its subcontracts to small businesses, so when it comes to government contracting jobs, there’s room for everyone.

USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) might seem like it only needs agriculture-related companies to bid on contracts, but that definitely is not the case. While there certainly are opportunities for these types of companies, there are plenty of other jobs that USDA needs completed.

For instance, if you search for contracting jobs for the Forest Service department of USDA, you’ll see road maintenance jobs, janitorial services, housekeeping services, construction jobs and requests for the sale or leasing of various types of equipment and vehicles and these are just a few of the jobs we saw that were available.

Other Agencies
Of course, these are just three of the places where you might look for government jobs. In addition to the DHS and FEMA, DOD and USDA, there are 12 other departments of the federal government. Within these departments are hundreds of agencies and most, at one time or another, will offer government contracting jobs. There are also independent agencies and commissions that might need contractors, such as the United States Postal Service, the Social Security Administration and even the Peace Corps.

How To Search
We highly recommend that you become familiar with the FBO.gov (also known as FedBizOpps.gov). This is a centralized location where you can find all sorts of government contracting jobs from just about any federal agency.

When you head there, you will notice that there is a basic search area where you can select opportunities by posted date, set-aside code, state or territory, agency, type and using keywords or actual solicitation numbers. However, you also can click on the advanced search to really dive deep and find government contractor jobs that are a good fit for you or your company.

In the advanced search menu, you can search using the same criteria as above but set multiple criteria to come up the contracting jobs most suited to your business and business type rather than searching by just one criterion. For instance, you can create a search within a specific state from a specific agency and with your specific set-aside code. This may yield better results than simply searching by agency. You also can search by NAICS codes, which are the codes specific to your type of business.

How We Can Help
Of course, you cannot bid on government contracting jobs until you complete your SAM registration, and this is our area of specialization. While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, this process can be extremely time-consuming and it can be quite frustrating to wade through all of the government-speak and understand what to do.

As a third-party SAM registration service, we do charge a fee, but we can handle all of the intricacies of SAM registration for you, saving you time and eliminating frustration. Basically, we are to government contracting what an accountant is to the IRS. We make it easy for you to get registered and start looking for government contracting jobs. To get started, just head to our homepage and click on the green New Registration tab.

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