SAM Registration

Just about any type of business can be eligible to bid on government contractor jobs, and these can be an excellent way to boost your business. At Federal Contractor Registry, our team can help you get started in the world of government contracting. Here’s a look at what we offer and some additional tips for contracting success.

 

We Provide Fast, Accurate SAM Registration

Before you can bid on any government contractor jobs, you must complete your registration in the System for Award Management. This is the central database, run by the Federal Service Desk, that includes information about all government contractors. Until your listing is active, you cannot bid on federal contracts.

 

The government does not charge you a fee to complete your SAM registration. However, it can take 10 or more hours for a new contractor to complete the registration process, and it can be extremely frustrating. Some people find the process so difficult that they give up, while others simply hire a third party, such as Federal Contractor Registry, to handle the intricacies of registration.

 

Hiring us is just like hiring an accountant to complete your taxes. The government doesn’t charge a fee to file taxes, of course, but the tax code is confusing and any mistakes that you make can be costly. SAM registration also is confusing, and if you make mistakes, it can delay your approval in the SAM database. With a third-party registration service, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your registration will be completed quickly and accurately so that you are approved as quickly as possible.

 

We Offer Several Additional Services

While our main focus is completing SAM registration and SAM renewals, we do offer several additional services for our clients at no additional charge. These services include:

• We help you acquire the SAM Unique Entity ID (this is a new requirement for first-time registrants)
• We help you get started with the Notarized Letter Requirement
• We help you sign up with the Small Business Administration
• We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other Federal Contractors in our FCR network

 

The Unique Entity ID

This is often just known as the UEI number, and it’s a special identifier for your business. In the past, the System for Award Management required registrants to provide their DUNS number for registration. DUNS has been phased out and now the government generates the UEI number for each entity registering in SAM. We can help you complete this process, which will save you some time.

 

The Notarized Letter Requirement

Several years ago, the Federal Service Desk began requiring anyone registering in SAM to provide a notarized letter listing their Entity Administrator, which is the person in your company authorized to make changes to your account. We can provide you with a template for this letter and detailed instructions to make this part of the process a bit easier.

 

The Small Business Administration

While we handle SAM registrations for mid-size and larger Fortune 500 firms, many of our clients own small businesses, and we highly encourage you to take advantage of all of the services the Small Business Administration offers. We can help you sign up for SBA, determine what programs you qualify for, and link your SBA account to your SAM account.

 

SBA Programs

There are quite a few SBA programs for small businesses, and the federal government sets aside a portion of all federal contracting jobs specifically for small businesses in several different categories, which are known as set-aside contracts or set-asides.

 

These include set-asides for a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Small Disadvantaged Business.

 

Additionally, you may qualify for set-asides based on your location. If your business is located in and the majority of your employees live in a Historically Underutilized Zone (HUBZone), you may qualify for HUBZone Program set-asides. These are areas with historically struggling economies, such as poor urban areas, rural areas and Native American reservations, etc. In some cases, if your area was affected by a natural disaster, you may live in a temporary HUBZone.

 

Another helpful program is the 8a Business Development Program. If you qualify for this program, you may be eligible for many set-aside contracts and sole-source contracts. Sole-source contracts are awarded when a government agency believes that a contract can be fulfilled by just one business. 8a contracts can be very profitable, and we can help you with 8a certification.

What Agencies Need Help?

When you think of federal contractor jobs, many people often just think about DOD contracts or FEMA disaster jobs, but there are hundreds of government agencies and they need just about every imaginable type of good or service.

 

No matter what type of business you own, you likely are a match for many government contracts. The government needs supplies such as paper and office supplies; computers and printers; food and beverages; medical supplies; disaster relief supplies and much more.

 

When it comes to services, you might simply think about disaster cleanup and construction, but they also need all types of repair services, security services, janitorial services, veterinary services and more.

 

To get an idea of what’s available, go to SAM.gov and click on the Contract Opportunities tab. Then click on the Advanced Search option and then click on Product or Service Information. Enter your NAICS codes and see what contracts pop up.

 

NAICS codes describe the type of goods or services you can provide to a government agency. If you don’t know your codes, you can find them at Census.gov or we can find them for you during the SAM registration process.

 

GSA Schedules

You may also qualify for GSA contracts, also known as GSA Schedules. The General Services Administration (GSA) offers contracts to businesses that can provide specific types of goods and services for various agencies. If you get onto a schedule, the agency can simply purchase directly from you rather than going through the entire contract and bidding process.

 

With GSA Schedules, you are not guaranteed to have your goods or services purchased, but, many people find these GSA contracts to be highly profitable. It does take time and effort to get on a schedule, but it can be worth considering.

 

Types of Government Contracts

There are four basic types of contracts that you will encounter, including Fixed-Price Contacts, Time & Materials Contacts, Cost-Reimbursement Contracts and IDIQ contracts (Infinite Delivery/Infinite Quantity). Within each of these categories, there are quite a few variations of these types of contracts, so it is smart to learn about all of the different types.

 

You also will need to learn about the bidding process. Typically, the government issues a Request for Proposal (RFP) and then companies submit their proposals by a certain deadline. At this point, the procurement agents evaluate the proposals and eventually award the contract.

 

This whole approval process can take weeks or even months, so patience is the name of the game when it comes to government contracting. Most new contractors don’t earn their first contract during their first year registered with SAM. However, once you do earn that first contract, the process does become easier and easier.

 

Get Started Today!

If you want to bid on government contractor jobs and would like our team to complete your SAM registration, we can help at any time. Just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage, fill out our quick contact form, and a registration specialist quickly will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

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Government contracting can be an excellent way for a small business to boost its income. The first step is to register your business at SAM.gov, and the team at Federal Contractor Registry can help with this process as well as with several other steps you need to take.

 

SAM Registration: Why Hire Federal Contractor Registry?

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the database that includes information about all government contractors. No person or entity can do business with the federal government without completing SAM registration.

 

The government does not charge a fee to complete SAM registration, but they don’t necessarily make it easy to complete the registration process, either. SAM registration can take more than 10 hours to complete, and many people become quickly frustrated by the process and either give up on contracting or hire a third-party registration service such as Federal Contractor Registry.

 

While we do charge a fee for our services, we will complete your SAM registration quickly and 100% accurately. We also are happy to help with the following:

• We can help you procure the new Unique Entity ID
• We can help with the Notarized Letter requirement
• We can help you register with the Small Business Administration (SBA)
• We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other federal contractors in our network

 

The Unique Entity ID

When you (or a member of our team) complete your registration at SAM.gov, you also have to apply for a Unique Entity ID. In the past, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers were required for SAM registration, but as of this year, DUNS numbers are no longer needed.

 

Using a government-generated identification number rather than having to apply on a third-party website for your DUNS number helps to streamline the registration process and, in theory, should make it easier for new contractors, although attaining this number can be a bit confusing and we can do this for you if you hire us for SAM registration services.

 

As a side note, if you have an active SAM account, the government will have assigned you a Unique Entity ID automatically, so you don’t have to worry about this when it comes time to complete your SAM renewal.

 

The Notarized Letter Requirement

A few years ago, the Federal Service Desk (FSD), which is the agency that maintains the System for Award Management noticed suspicious activity in the database. This prompted them to require all government contractors to send the FSD a notarized letter listing their Entity Administrator, which is the person authorized to make changes to your account.

 

As part of our SAM registration services, we can provide you with a template of this letter and also answer any questions you might have about this requirement. The good news is that you only have to send in the letter with your initial registration and not with SAM renewals unless the Entity Administrator has changed.

 

SBA Registration

While we help large and mid-size companies sign up with SAM, many of our clients are small businesses and we always encourage these business owners to sign up with the SBA. We can help you sign up with SBA and also determine if you qualify for any special set-aside designations.

 

A portion of all government contracting jobs is “set aside” for small businesses. In some cases, it might be for a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or an Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or perhaps a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).

 

There are several other set-asides that a business might qualify for, as well as 8a certification. The 8(a) Business Development Program was set up specifically to boost profitability for businesses owned (51% or more) by U.S. citizens that are socially or economically disadvantaged. We can help you sign up for this program as well as other set-asides for which you may qualify.

 

Other Important Tasks

While SAM registration is the first step, it is by no means the only step new government contractors need to take. For instance, you will need to create a capability statement, which is basically a resume that you will provide to government procurement agents when you bid on government contracting jobs.

 

Additionally, you should learn all you can about the different types of contracts and the different bidding processes you might encounter. You also could research whether or not it might make sense to apply for GSA contracts, known as GSA schedules.

 

GSA schedules are managed by the General Services Administration, and if you can get your business on a schedule, you become an approved vendor for whatever goods or services you provide. Government agencies can use your company’s goods or services without having to go through the government contract bidding process.

 

These are just a few tasks to add to your to-do list. It also can be smart to sign up with your state’s procurement system as state governments also offer many lucrative contact opportunities. If you are a small business, you also could look for opportunities as a subcontractor at the SBA’s Subnet website. Subcontracting is an easy way to get started with contracting because a Prime Contractor will handle all of the interaction between the government agencies.

 

Get Started Now!

Whether you decide to register on your own at SAM.gov or use our SAM registration service, we hope this blog has provided you with some helpful information. If you would like to use us for SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch quickly to gather your information and get started on your registration.

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If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), the central database for all government contractors. If you have a listing and need to complete your SAM renewal, here are a few facts that you need to know.

 

1. SAM Renewal Needs To Be Handled Early

You probably know that to bid on federal contracting jobs with any federal agency, you must have an active SAM listing. But did you know that if your SAM profile expires in the middle of a contract, an agency cannot and will not pay you?  Until you renew your SAM profile and it’s approved and reinstated as active, all payments will cease, and this can seriously affect your business.

 

In general, we recommend that you handled SAM renewal a couple of months before your SAM profile expires. There are two reasons for this recommendation. One, some agencies will be hesitant to select your company if they notice that your expiration date is coming up soon. After all, while they can’t pay you if your listing is expired, they also might not be able to acquire the goods and services that are part of your contract, and this leaves the agency in a lurch.

 

Additionally, SAM renewal approval can take several weeks, depending on how busy the Federal Service Desk is at any given time. We’ve seen approvals handled in a matter of days, but we’ve also seen it take several weeks, you just never know. This is why it’s wise to give yourself extra time for the approval process. Of course, you also cannot bid on any government contracts if your listing has expired, and this also can impact your profitability.

 

2. DUNS Numbers Are Now Obsolete

In the past, your SAM listing included your Data Universal Number System (DUNS) identifier, but DUNS is now obsolete. This number has been replaced with the Unique Entity ID, which is generated by the System for Award Management rather than an outside corporation.

 

For people completing their first SAM registration, attaining this number can be a little complicated. The good news, however, for those with existing SAM registrations, is that your new Unique Identity ID was assigned to you automatically, so you don’t have to go through the process of attaining this ID. Still, we do recommend that you make a note of this change and update your records and add your Unique Identity ID to your capability statement.

 

3. Notarized Letters Might Not Be Needed

A few years ago, the Federal Service Desk, which is the agency that manages SAM, required that all entities send them a notarized letter indicating the Entity Administrator for their SAM account.

 

This was a bit of a hassle, but the good news is that you don’t need to send in a new letter if your entity administrator has not changed. If you are changing the entity administrator, you should send in a notarized letter listing the name of the new entity administrator, and this also will need to be updated in your SAM profile. We can help with this requirement if you decide to use our firm for SAM renewal.

 

4. SAM Renewals Aren’t As Complicated As New Registration

SAM registration can take 12 or more hours to complete and can be quite frustrating to handle. However, in many cases, completing your SAM renewal might only take a few hours. However, if you are making changes to your SAM account, this can make the process a bit trickier. Certain changes, such as phone number changes or changing the number of employees, are relatively easy to handle.

 

However, if you are dealing with changes to sections pertaining to Federal Acquisition Regulations or making several changes to your account, this can be trickier, and making any mistakes will delay your SAM renewal approval. This is why some companies will hire a third-party SAM registration service to complete their SAM renewals.

 

The federal government does not charge a few for SAM registration or SAM renewals. However, if you don’t have time to handle the renewal process or you simply want to ensure that the process is handled correctly the first time, hiring a SAM expert can be a good option to consider.

 

It’s entirely up to you, but we can process your renewal quickly and accurately and ensure that your listing doesn’t expire. Additionally, we can help small businesses sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and check and see if they qualify for any of this agency’s business development programs. We also can introduce you to Super 8a contractors in our FCR network.

 

The SBA offers many helpful programs for small businesses, as well as grants and loans, and we always encourage small business owners to take advantage of these programs. For instance, if your business is located in a historically underutilized business zone, or HUBZone, you might qualify to bid on special government contracting jobs that are set aside for businesses in these zones.

 

There are also options for woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and several more. Let us know if you need help determining whether or not you qualify for SBA set-asides as we are happy to help you sign up for these programs.

 

Need Help With SAM Renewal? Contact Federal Contractor Registry

At Federal Contractor Registry we’ve handled thousands of SAM registration and SAM renewals every year. If you want to bypass the complicated renewal process, just click on the blue Renew Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A renewal specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to get started on your SAM renewal.

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The System for Award Management (SAM) is the central database that includes information about all government contractors. If you wish to bid on government contracting jobs, you’ll need to keep an active listing in this database, and we can help. First, though, let’s discuss a few important facts about SAM.

 

1. SAM Registration Is Required

No one can do business with the federal government without an active SAM listing, which means that SAM registration is your first step into the world of government contracting. You can either complete registration on your own or you can hire a third party to complete your SAM registration.

 

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, the registration process is frustrating and often takes 12 or more hours to complete. If you make any mistakes on the application, this can delay your approval into the database. For both of these reasons, many people choose to hire a SAM expert to complete their application.

 

Once your application is approved, you will receive what is known as a CAGE code, or Corporate and Government Entities code. This code is one of the unique identifiers for your company in the SAM database. When you apply for government contracting jobs at any government agents, the procurement agents will ask for your CAGE code to ensure that you have an active SAM listing.

 

2. New Applicants Must Complete Extra Steps

Several years ago, the Federal Service Desk, which is the agency in charge of SAM, started requiring companies or entities to send in a notarized letter listing the Entity Administrator of their SAM account. This is simply the person or persons at your company authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

 

New SAM registrants need to send in a notarized letter within 30 days of completing their SAM registration. Typically, the Federal Service Desk will send you an email after they have received and processed the letter, but it can take several weeks before this agency emails confirmation to you. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of a few business days, but you never really know the timeline, so we recommend sending in the letter as quickly as possible.

 

The second change involves the previous requirement to submit your DUNS number when applying for SAM. In the past, you were required to list this number on your SAM application as well as in the notarized letter. However, this has been replaced recently by a new identifier, the Unique Entity ID.

 

This new identifier can be acquired at SAM.gov, and you will need to register for this identifier prior to SAM registration. However, we do include attaining this new ID as part of our SAM registration service, so if you choose to use Federal Contractor Registry, this will be one less step you need to take on your own.

 

3. You’ll Need To Renew SAM Every Year

As we stated above, you must have an active SAM registration in order to do business with any government agency. So, whether you plan to bid on FEMA disaster jobs or DOD contracts or work with another agency, they need to see that your SAM listing is active so you will need to renew your listing every year.

 

We recommend that every federal contractor renew their SAM entity registration several months in advance of the expiration date. In some cases, the Federal Service Desk has a backlog of registrations and renewals, which can delay approval. For this reason, it’s best to renew early because if a government agency sees that your expiration date is fast approaching, they may hesitate to award a contract to your business as they can no longer work with you once the registration expires.

 

In addition to SAM registration, we can provide you with SAM renewals, as well. SAM renewals can be less complicated than your initial registration, but if you do need to make any changes, it can be smart to hire a third-party registration service to ensure that all changes are completed correctly.

 

If you have had an active listing in the System for Award Management (SAM) in the last few years, you won’t need to worry about either the notarized letter requirement or the DUNS number change. This change was made automatically when they moved over to the new identification system. We do recommend, however, that if you have an existing SAM account, go into the account and find your Unique Entity ID and make a note of it for your records.

 

4. Use SAM To Find Contract Opportunities

The System for Award Management isn’t just a database listing all government contractors, it’s also a great source for finding federal government contractor jobs. Just head to the SAM.gov website and click on the Contract Opportunities page. Then click on Advanced Search and you have many ways to search for jobs that might match your goods or services.

 

We typically recommend that you search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes as these describe the exact goods and services you provide. If you aren’t sure of your NAICS codes, we can identify them for you during SAM registration or you can browse through the codes at Census.gov.

 

If you are a small business, we also recommend signing up with the Small Business Administration and taking advantage of the many programs they offer small businesses. We can help you sign up for SBA programs as part of our SAM registration system.

 

SBA also has a search engine for subcontracting called SubNet, and this can be a great way to find subcontracting jobs. Subcontractors work with larger companies to help fulfill these large companies’ government contracts and it can be a great way to get your start in government contracting.

 

Get Started With Government Contracting!

If you want to bid on state or federal contracting jobs, we can complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration quickly and accurately. To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist soon will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

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SAM registration is required for any company or entity that wishes to bid on federal contracts or wants to receive many types of federal funding, including grants and government loans. Because we know many new potential contractors have questions about the SAM registration process and contracting, we’ve compiled a handy list of answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

 

What Is SAM Registration?

To do business with the federal government, you must have an active listing in the System for Award Management (SAM). This is a central database that includes all entities, both individuals and companies, that hope to bid on government contracting jobs.

 

SAM registration is the process by which you become listed as “active” in this database. The online application for entity registrations is a lengthy document that can take 10 or more hours to complete, and it will include all pertinent information about your company and the type of goods and services you can provide for the government.

 

Who Is Required To Register In SAM?

Anyone that wants to bid on contracts with any federal agency must have an active listing in SAM. Whether you want to bid on DOD contracts, FEMA disaster relief jobs or jobs with any government agency, you cannot bid on the contracts without providing the procurement agents with your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. This is the unique code that you will receive once your SAM registration has been approved.

 

If you want to apply for government grants, loans and other types of government assistance, you also will need to complete SAM registration and wait until you are approved and have your CAGE code before applying for assistance.

 

Is SAM Registration Free?

The government does not charge a fee for SAM registration. That said, while there is no SAM registration fee, the process is time-consuming and often difficult to understand, especially if you have no previous experience working with the government and don’t understand Federal Acquisition Regulations, NAICS codes, etc.

 

How Do I Complete Sam Registration?

With SAM registration, you have two options. You can complete the process on your own or you can hire a third-party registration service. There are some tutorials available at SAM.gov, but many people find the tutorials confusing. Often, people choose to avoid the hassles of SAM registration and simply hire a SAM expert to complete the process.

 

While a third party does charge a fee, they tend to complete SAM registrations much more quickly than a business owner could and they also don’t make mistakes on the application form.

 

If you make a mistake on your SAM registration form, the application will not be approved and you will have to figure out what was completed incorrectly, fix the error and re-apply for approval, which can delay your ability to bid on contracts or apply for loans and grants.

 

Do You Need A DUNS Number To Register With SAM?

No. In the past, you would need to provide your DUNS number. This stands for Data Universal Numbering System, and it was used for many years as part of SAM registration and before the System for Award Management existed, it was used for Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and ORCA registration.

 

CCR and ORCA have been phased into SAM and now the DUNS number requirement also has been phased out. Instead, the government now has its own new Unique Entity ID and new government contractors must also apply for this ID as well as complete SAM registration.

 

How Long Does SAM Approval Take?

SAM approval times vary, but since the beginning of the pandemic, it has taken a bit longer for companies to gain approval once registration is complete. In the past, it would take about 8-10 business days, but if the Federal Service Desk becomes bogged down with a plethora of new registrations, this can delay your approval.

 

Likewise, if you (applying as an individual) or your company doesn’t yet have a taxpayer identification number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN), you will need to apply for this first and wait until you have that number before completing your SAM registration and this can take several weeks.

 

If you are an individual applying for SAM registration (not a company) and you have a Social Security number, this would serve as your Taxpayer Identification Number. All companies must be able to provide an EIN. If you are registering as an individual, but cannot attain a Social Security number, must have a TIN before applying.

 

Does A SAM Number Expire?

Yes. While your SAM account won’t just disappear, it does expire every year and you will be required to renew SAM registration. We do provide SAM renewal services whenever you need them.

 

We always recommend that entities complete their renewals about two months before the expiration date. Usually, it doesn’t take long to gain approval for a renewal, but if there is a backlog, this can delay the renewal process therefore it is smart to renew ahead of time.

 

In some cases, if a federal agency representative sees that your SAM registration will expire soon, they might be hesitant to approve to award a contract to your business. This is because if you are in the middle of a contract, but no longer have an active SAM registration, the government agency can no longer do business with you.

 

Why Should I Complete SAM Registration?

While you might be uncertain as to whether or not government contracting jobs are a good fit for your business, there truly are lucrative contracting opportunities for just about any type of business. No matter what goods or services you offer, you are likely to be able to fulfill the needs of some government agency.

 

If you head to SAM.gov, you can search for contract opportunities using your NAICS codes or keywords related to your goods and services. This will give you an indication as to whether or not, your goods are services are in demand. Keep in mind, that once your complete SAM registration, you also can bid on state government contracts, as well, and these can be just as lucrative as the federal contractor jobs.

 

Government contracting can be an excellent way for small businesses to grow and become more successful. The government sets aside a portion of all government contracting jobs specifically for small businesses. You do need to sign up with the Small Business Administration to be eligible for these special “set-asides,” but we highly recommend that all small business owners sign up and take advantage of what SBA has to offer.

 

Let Us Complete Your SAM.gov Registration!

We know that contractor registration can be frustrating and time-consuming, but we can help. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately, so that you gain approval and can bid on government contract opportunities as quickly as possible.

 

While we do charge a fee, we also include extras that many other third-party registration services do not provide, including:

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

Is Your Business Small?

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SBA Set-Asides

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

 

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

 

Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

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

 

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

 

Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

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

 

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

 

Small Disadvantaged Business

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

 

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

 

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

 

The HUBZone Program

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

 

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

 

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

 

 8a Certification

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

 

Let Us Help With SBA Government Contracting!

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

1. Determine If You Fill A Need

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2. Study Various Government Agencies

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

 

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

 

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

 

3. Create A Capability Statement

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4. Sign Up With The Small Business Administration

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

 

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

 

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

 

5. Gather Your Necessary Information

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SAM Registration: Should You Hire An Expert?

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

1. DOD Doesn’t Just Needs Tanks & Airplanes

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2. Security Clearance Is Not Always Needed

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

 

3. SAM Registration Is The First Step

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4. Study Up On Contracting Rules & Regulations

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5. Check Out The DOD Website

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

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

 

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

 

Get Started Now!

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

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