Category: SAM Registration

Facts About Federal Award Management: Registration & Renewal

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When you are just getting started with government contracting, it can be easy to become confused about the process and the requirements. You might hear terms such as CCR, ORCA, CAGE Code, federal award management registration, SAM registration and more. But what does it all mean? Here are a few facts to help you get started.

1. SAM Registration Is Required
SAM stands for System for Award Management, and this is the huge database that contains information about every government contractor. In the past, there were different databases, such as CCR (Central Contractor Registration) and ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Application). You will still hear the acronyms CCR and ORCA used occasionally, but these are obsolete, all you need to worry about is SAM registration.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we provide SAM registration and SAM renewal services. SAM registration can be a difficult and frustrating process, and while the government does not charge a fee to register with SAM, it can make sense to just hire someone else (such as our service) to complete the process. SAM registration can take 10 or more hours to complete and it’s full of complicated government jargon.

Once we’ve completed your SAM registration, it will take a few weeks (usually) for your registration to be approved by the Federal Service Desk, which is the agency that manages SAM. Once approved you will be given a unique identifier known as a Corporate and Government Entities Code, or CAGE Code.

2. SAM Renewal Also Is Required
Your SAM registration will expire one year from the date that your initial application was approved. We can provide you with SAM renewal services, but whether you hire us or do it yourself, it’s crucial that you start the process several months before your SAM registration is set to expire.

Every government agency has employees known as procurement agents, and these individuals are the ones that you will deal with when trying to acquire a government contract. If you bid on a contract, but the procurement agent sees that your SAM registration is set to expire in a few months, they might be wary about selecting your company for the contract.

This is because government agencies can only work with companies or individuals with active SAM registration. If your registration expires in the middle of a job, technically, they cannot work with you anymore. While the renewal approval process usually is fairly fast, it’s best not to wait until the last minute. In some cases, it can take weeks for the government to approve your SAM renewal, so it’s always smart to renew two or three months ahead of that expiration date.

3. Sign Up With The SBA & Determine Your Set Asides
The Small Business Administration, or SBA, was created to support small businesses throughout the United States and its territories. They can provide you with business loans and helpful advice, but that’s not the only reason to sign up with SBA.

Every government agency sets aside a portion of its contracting budget for small businesses. For instance, just about any contract valued at $150,000 or less automatically is set aside for small businesses, but larger contracts also can be set aside for small businesses. Additionally, prime contractors, or large businesses that win large government contracts, often are required to use small businesses as subcontractors.

Subcontracting can be a great way to get started with government contractor jobs, as the prime contractor will kind of act as a guide throughout the whole process. You’ll learn a great deal about contracting but still have someone else doing the heavy lifting, so to speak.

At any rate, when you sign up with SBA, you also can determine if you qualify for any special “Set Asides.” For instance, if your business is located in a HUBZone, or historically underutilized zone, you might qualify for the HUBZone set aside. There are also set asides for women-owned small businesses, veteran-owned businesses and more.

If you qualify for a set aside, it can be much easier to earn government contracts. For instance, according to SBA, the federal government hopes “to award at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.” Thus, if 51% or more of your small company is women-owned, you qualify for this set aside.

4. There Are Several Ways To Find Contracts
If you own a small business, you can find many contracting opportunities at https://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm. This database is run by the SBA and includes only contracts designated for small businesses.

You also can head to Beta.SAM.gov, which lists all government contracting jobs, for all types of businesses. There are several ways to search for contracts, such as searching by keyword or by government agency. We find that the easiest way to find contracts is to search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes or your Product Service Codes (PSCs). We can determine which codes apply to your business when we handle your SAM registration.

When you search using your NAICS codes or PSCs, you generate results specific to the types of goods or services you can provide to a government agency. There are NAICS codes for any business imaginable, and if you don’t see any contracts for your specific type of business, keep checking back as new jobs are loaded up often.

Additionally, once you complete SAM registration and get your CAGE Code, you also can sign up with state and county governments to provide goods and services. In the past, state governments also host many events for government contractors where you can learn more about contracting and meet with procurement agents. Obviously, with the current pandemic, in-person events aren’t an option, but there still may be helpful webinars taking place, so be sure to sign up with your state’s procurement system.

We hope this provides you with some basic information about federal award management registration and government contracting in general. If you would like to get started with the process and your SAM registration, contact us at any time, and one of our government contracting specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

5 Fast Facts About Government Contracting Jobs

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Government contracting can be an ideal way to grow your business. Every government agency (and there are hundreds) needs goods and services, and they look to the private sector to fulfill these needs. While it takes some time to learn how to bid on and acquire government contracting jobs, it’s usually worth the effort as this can provide you with a recession-proof stream of revenue. Here are some quick facts about contracting and how to get started.

1. Small Businesses Have An Edge
The government spends billions each year on government contracts, and some of these contracts are set aside specifically for small businesses. A company can qualify in general as a small business or it might fit into additional categories, known as Set Asides.

There are Set Asides for woman-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses and several other categories. In general, if your business is located in an underutilized area or you belong to a group that historically has been the target of discrimination, your small business probably qualifies for some type of Set Aside.

When you think about small businesses, you might think of a company with just a handful of employees, but many larger businesses still qualify as a small business. To see if your business qualifies, either as a general small business or for a specific Set Aside, head to the Small Business Administration website at SBA.gov.

2. The Federal Government Isn’t Your Only Option
Every state government and many county and city governments also offer government contracting jobs. Once you’ve completed your System for Award Management (SAM) registration, you will be eligible to bid on all levels of government contractor jobs.

SAM is a centralized database that includes all government contractors. Once you complete the lengthy SAM registration process and are approved by the Federal Service Desk, which oversees SAM, you with be issued what is known as a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. Once you have your CAGE code you can sign up with your state government and work as a contractor for them, as well.

3. There Is Something For Every Type Of Business
No matter what type of business you might own, there are probably at least a few government contracting jobs available. For instance, perhaps you own a farm that produces chickens or eggs. A quick search at beta.SAM.gov (the website where you can find federal contracting opportunities), we recently found several contracting jobs put forth by the Department of Justice to help feed workers and prisons in the federal Bureau of Prisons.

As another example, if you own a company that manufactures printer’s ink, multiple agencies have sought this and related goods, such as the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense. Of course, the government also needs all types of repairs services, as well as medical supplies and supplies to help with disaster relief.

We recommend, before you dive into contracting, to use your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and head to beta.SAM.gov, enter your codes and see what is available. You can find your codes at https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/. These codes describe the specific goods and services that a company can provide.

4. There Are Several Types Of Government Contracts
Federal government contracts often are classified by the negotiated price or the way the payment will be made. For instance, some contracts are Fixed-Price Contracts. With this type of contract, a government agency asks for specific goods or services and sets the price they will pay.

Another type of contract is known as a Time & Materials Contract. For these, the government agency will calculate the cost of materials and calculate a per-hour labor rate that they are willing to pay. These types of contracts tend to be short-term contracts. For instance, FEMA might offer a Time & Materials Contract for supplies or cleanup services needed after a disaster.

The government also offers what are known as Incentive Contracts. These are contracts where the contractor will earn an incentive or award if they can complete a project before the agreed-upon end time. For instance, if you are helping to repair the bridge over an interstate highway, the government understands that these repairs can cause traffic delays and issues for motorists. So, they will provide a financial incentive to the contractor in the hopes that the project can be completed as quickly as possible.

These are just a few types of government contracts, to learn more check out our lengthier blog article about this subject here.

5. Agencies Use Several Methods To Find Government Contractors
When you go to Beta.SAM.gov and look at some of the contracts being offered, you will notice abbreviations such as RFI or RFP, etc. These are terms that are used to categorize the different procurement methods used by government agencies.

For instance, if a contracting opportunity is listed as an RFQ or Request for Quotation, this means that the procurement officer for that agency has specific needs and a set budget. It also indicates that the agency is ready to buy once a contractor is chosen and that only contractors that can meet the budget or price will be selected. Typically, this type of contracting job is $25,000 or less in value and often awarded quickly.

An RFT or Request for Tender is similar, but the procurement officer won’t just look at companies that can meet the budget, they will have a bit more flexibility and can look at qualitative aspects as well as pricing.

On the other hand, if an agency puts out an RFI or Request for Information, this means the procurement agents are not ready to buy but is seeking information about the types of goods and services it can acquire and how much those goods and services might cost. In some cases, an RFI does not materialize into a government contract.

Additionally, you will see terms such as RFP, which means Request for Proposal. With this type of request, the government is sort of somewhere in between an RFI and an RFQ. They can look at many factors before choosing a contractor, and they might not be quite sure the best way to meet their agency’s needs. These types of requests are typically for services, rather than goods.

These are just a few types of bids or requests that you’ll need to research. Learning all you can about the types of contracts and types of requests can make it much easier for you to earn federal contractor jobs. Of course, until you complete your SAM registration, you won’t be able to bid on any contracts so if you want to get started with government contracting, we recommend that you take that first step as soon as possible.

Get Started Now – Fast SAM Registration
At Federal Contractor Registry, we can tackle one of the biggest obstacles between you and government contracting jobs. We are a third-party SAM registration service, and we can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately so that you can get the CAGE Code and start doing business with the government.

While the government does not charge you to sign up with SAM, we do charge a fee for our services. Why? SAM registration is extremely complicated and can take 10 or more hours to complete. We often get calls from people who started the process, quickly became confused and frustrated and nearly gave up on government contracting.

Rather than deal with the complexities of SAM registration, we can complete this process for you. Because we completed thousands of SAM registrations and SAM renewals, it takes us very little time to get through each application. It’s a bit like hiring an accountant to complete your taxes. You could complete your taxes yourself, but it’s far easier to let an expert handle this task.

If you’d like us to handle your SAM registration, you can give us a call at (800) 985-7658 or click on the New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. We will be in touch with you as soon as possible so that we can gather up your information, complete your SAM registration and set you on the path toward earning government contracting jobs.

How To Get A Job With FEMA

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awards thousands of government contractors to businesses every year, amounting to billions of dollars. If you were wondering how to get a job with FEMA, we can help you get started and provide you with some helpful facts.

1. Determine If You Are A Good Fit For FEMA
As the name suggests, FEMA was created to help with national emergencies, which could include tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other types of disasters, such as the terror attacks on September 11, 2001.

When you think about disaster services, you might think about clean up, but FEMA also helps provide food, shelter and medical support during emergencies. FEMA relies on government contractors to provide its goods and services. Some they need quickly during an emergency, while others they stockpile and need throughout the year.

To discover if your company provides goods and services needed by FEMA, you will need to determine your North American Industry Classification System codes or NAICS codes. There are codes for just about any business imaginable, from construction to paper suppliers, from food services to air conditioning repair. To download the most recent NAICS codes, go to https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/.

Once you’ve discovered your NAICS codes, you can head to beta.SAM.gov. This website allows you to search for contracting opportunities using several methods. You can search using your NAICS codes or search using your Set Aside (more about this later in the blog) or search by a government agency.

When we enter “Federal Emergency Management Agency” into the Federal Organizations section of beta.SAM.gov, hundreds of government contracting jobs appear. For instance, FEMA needs someone to provide gate repair, and they need file cabinets and safes. These are contracting jobs that might not immediately spring to mind when you think about FEMA, but if you can provide these to FEMA, you may be able to win a lucrative government contract.

While you might be focused on FEMA, we recommend that you search for contracting jobs using your NAICS codes. This saves you time because you will be searching for contracting jobs that truly match your goods and services. You may find out that, currently, you are a better match with another agency.

2. SAM Registration Is Crucial
You cannot sell to the government without first completing your System for Award Management (SAM) registration. SAM is a government database that lists all government contractors and government contractor jobs. In order to work with FEMA or any government agency, you need an active SAM registration.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can complete your SAM registration for you. The government does not charge you to register with SAM, but it is a highly confusing and often frustrating system and the registration process can take 10 hours or more to complete. Additionally, if you make a mistake, this can delay the approval process significantly. Using a third-party registration service, such as Federal Contractor Registry, can ensure that your registration is not only complete but that it is completed as quickly as possible.

Additionally, we can help you determine the best NAICS codes for your business as well as Product Service Codes (PSCs) and help you figure out if you qualify as a small business, which brings us to the next fact . . .

3. Register As A Small Business
Every government agency sets aside a portion of its yearly contracting budget specifically for small businesses. These are called “set-asides” and there are many different types of set-asides. If you qualify as a small business, you may qualify for additional set-asides, and this can make it easier to earn some contracts. To see if you qualify, head to the Small Business Administration website at SBA.gov.

Some of the specific set-asides include those for woman-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses, but there are set-asides in place for just about any person that is part of a historically disenfranchised group, such as those who might be African-American, Native American or perhaps those who have a disability or perhaps has been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.

Additionally, there is a set-aside for businesses located in HUBZone. There are HUBZones throughout the United States. Some of these HUBZones expire, such as those located in disaster areas. Sometimes a HUBZone will no longer qualify and be redesignated. You can check to see if your business is located in a HUBZone at SBA.gov.

4. Learn All You Can About The Bidding Process
There are many different types of government contracts, and the bidding process is unique for each type of contract. There are some helpful guides to contracting at SBA.gov, but you also should go to APTAC-US.org, which is the main website for the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

This organization helps small businesses learn the ropes of government contracting, and they have tons of helpful information on their website, and sometimes host webinars or post videos about various elements of government contracting. Your first step will be to find your local Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, or PTAC, and sign up.

Additionally, we highly recommend that once you have completed SAM registration, you also sign up to do business with your state government. Simply do an internet search with your state name and the word “procurement” and look for a result with the .gov extension. Once you sign up, you’ll find that your state also will hold helpful seminars and even events (no doubt virtual events these days) where you can meet representatives from various state government agencies and learn more about contracting opportunities.

In a nutshell, that’s how to get a job with FEMA. Sign up with SAM and SBA and do some research about bidding. Whether you get a job with FEMA or another agency, it takes time to learn the contracting process. Typically, it can take 12 to 18 months to win your first government contract. In some cases, with emergency services or Covid-related services, the government might accelerate the process, but it usually takes time to win that first contract. Still, government contracting can be a lucrative option for most companies.

We hope this article has helped to answer the question regarding how to get a job with FEMA or has provided you with at least enough information to get you started. If you would like our help with SAM registration, give us a call or click on the green New Registration button on our homepage. We can complete your SAM registration quickly and you will soon be eligible bid on FEMA contractor jobs as well as other types of government contracts.

How & When To Renew SAM Registration

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If you want to do business with the federal government (and many state governments), you need an active listing in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. If you’ve already completed this process, it is important to know when and how to renew SAM registration and we can help.

When Should You Renew SAM Registration?
Your SAM registration is active for one year from the day the government approves your initial SAM registration. So you might think all you have to do is renew a few days or a week before the expiration date. However, you should start thinking about how to renew SAM registration several months in advance.

Government agencies can only do business with entities that have an active SAM registration. If a procurement agent (the proper term for a government employee tasked with selecting contractors) sees that your SAM registration is within two or fewer months of the expiration date, they might be wary about doing business with you.

This is because if you are in the middle of a contract and your registration expires, the government is no longer authorized to conduct business with you or your company. This means they won’t be able to receive the goods or services they need and you won’t get paid either.

We highly recommend that you renew SAM registration at least two months ahead of time to ensure that your renewal is approved with plenty of time to spare before that expiration date. This is especially important during the current pandemic, as this has forced the Federal Service Desk to modify its operations. If you head to the Federal Service Desk website (FSD.gov), they also state that the registration and renewal approval process as slowed down due to an influx of new registrations.

The Federal Service Desk is the government agency in charge of managing the SAM database as well as several other government systems, including beta.SAM.gov. This site is a helpful resource for all government contractors as it is basically a search engine allowing contractors to search for available jobs by agency, by date, by NAICS codes and more.

How To Renew SAM Registration
There are two ways to renew your SAM registration. You can go into your current listing and update it yourself or you can hire a third-party registration service to complete the renewal process for you. Renewal is free if you do it yourself, but it can be complicated and time-consuming, so many people just hire a company such as Federal Contractor Registry to handle this task.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can quickly and accurately complete your SAM renewal so that you can be approved as quickly as possible. If your renewal is not completed correctly, this can lead to delays, which can be costly if you have jobs you wish to bid on in the immediate future. Sometimes it’s simply easier to have someone else handle this task for you.

A Word About Notarized Letters
If you are new to the world of government contracting and have not yet completed SAM registration, one of the steps you need to take was completing and sending in your SAM notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk identifying your Entity Administrator, which is simply the person in charge of making any needed changes to your SAM account.

For those who simply need to renew SAM registration, you probably already have sent in a notarized letter with your initial SAM registration. If you already sent the letter, there is no need to send a new one every time you renew your registration. If for some reason, you have not submitted this letter or you are working on your first SAM registration, instructions for this letter can be found as FSD.gov under the Top Help Topics tab.

Other Changes To SAM
Earlier in this article, we referred to beta.SAM.gov, which is a database that lists government contracting jobs. This is a new database and it has replaced FedBizOpps.gov or FBO.gov, so if you were thinking about checking that website, it no longer exists. The new site looks quite a bit different, but it is relatively easy to navigate and find contacts.

We usually recommend that people look for government contractor jobs using their NAICS codes, as this provides results that are a close match to the goods and services that you provide. You also can search by agency, location, set aside, PSCs or even by type of notice.

In addition to the switch from FBO.gov, there will be changes to the DUNS number system coming down the pipe fairly soon. DUNS was managed by Dun & Bradstreet, and when you registered with Dun & Bradstreet, you received what is known as a DUNS number often just called a DUNS.

This is a required number for SAM registration, but the government has awarded a contract to another company and the DUNS numbers will be phased out and replaced with a code called a Unique Entity Identifier or UEI. This change was supposed to be complete by December 2020, but the switch (and 2020 to be frank) has not gone as smoothly as planned. Therefore, this date has been extended to a mystery date in the future. At any rate, if you have heard about this switch and were wondering what to do, the short answer is that you don’t need to do anything at present.

If you do need to renew SAM registration, and would prefer to leave this process to SAM experts, we are always here to help and we make SAM renewal as easy and fast as possible. To get started, just click on the blue Renew Registration tab on our homepage. If you can’t remember when your SAM registration expires, just click on the Status Check tab and we will be happy to check it out for you at no charge.

How To Create A Killer Capability Statement

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While there are many tasks that you need to take in order to work with the federal government, one of your first jobs will be to create a capability statement. For government contractors, this important document serves as a sort of resume and provides a quick snapshot of how your company can benefit a government agency. Here are some tips that will help you create a stellar capability statement.

1. Start With A Quick Introduction
Typically, at the top of your capability statement, you will want to create a short intro paragraph talking about your business. This is very similar to the objective section of a resume except that rather than describing your objectives or goals, you just want to give a brief description of your company and what goods or services it provides.

2. Create A Section For Basic Company Info
Aside from a short intro paragraph, a capability statement for government contractors usually includes five main sections – Contact Information, Corporate Data, Core Competencies, Differentiators and Past Performance. The first of these sections, the Contact Information area, is the easiest to complete.

For this section, you will want to include your website address, the name of the person that government procurement agents should contact, as well as the phone and fax numbers for that person. You also will want to include your business’s physical address as well as the contact’s email address.

3. Compile Your Company Data
The Company Data section for government contracting is very unique. You will include your DUNS, your CAGE code, your SBA certifications, your NAICS codes, your NIGP codes, your PSCs and any additional certifications you might possess. You also will want to include your corporation type, as well as the year in which you were incorporated.

Now, you might be wondering what all of that means, so let’s take it step by step. A DUNS is a number given to your business when you register at Dun & Bradstreet. You may already have that number and you can check at the Dun & Bradstreet website. If you don’t possess a number, you can have one assigned to you at no charge. DUNS is actually being phased out and replaced with something else, but this process has been delayed, so for the time being just place your DUNS on your capability statement.

The CAGE Code is a special unique code that identifies your business. It is given to you by the government and must appear on your capability statement. We’ve included further information about the CAGE Code under the final section in this blog.

SBA certifications are applicable only for those companies that qualify as small businesses. SBA stands for the Small Business Administration, and if your business qualifies as a small business, you definitely want to sign up with the SBA and explore any set-asides that might apply to your business. A portion of all federal contractor jobs is “set aside” for small businesses.

Additionally, if your small business is 51% (or more) woman-owned, veteran-owned or perhaps owned by a member of a traditionally disenfranchised group, you may qualify for multiple set-asides. If your business is located in what is known as a HUB Zone, you also might qualify for set-asides for that. SBA government contracting can be very lucrative, so don’t forget to inquire as to whether or not you qualify for SBA set-asides.

NAICS codes are North American Industry Classification System codes. These designated the precise goods and services your company can provide to the government. PSCs are Product Service Codes and these are similar to NAICS codes. NIGP Codes (National Institute of Government Purchasing) are yet another way to classify your goods or services. Government procurement agents might use any of these codes to search for potential contractors, so it’s smart to put all of these on your capability statement.

If you possess any other types of certifications or licenses, be sure to list these, as well, as they can help a procurement agent identify the best possible match for a contracting job. For instance, if you are ISO-registered, add that to your statement. This speaks to the quality of the company in general and can set you apart from other contractors.

4. Describe Your Core Competencies
The Core Competencies section showcases the types of services you provide. NAICS codes and PSCs are just numbers, but under Core Competencies, you can explain in more detail the services you can provide. Typically this is a bulleted list of your services or goods.

5. Add Some Previous Clients
The Past Performance section is a list of your previous or current clients or jobs. You can either create a bulleted list for this or you could use the logos of previous clients if they are fairly well known. This section functions as a references section but you don’t need to put in contact information for the references. You simply list clients or jobs you have completed.

6. Explain What Sets You Apart
The Differentiators section is probably the trickiest to write. In this section, you speak about what sets you apart from your competitors. Perhaps you have many decades of experience, the ability to work in many locations, more areas of expertise than your competitors, a high rate of referrals, etc. It’s basically a shortlist of why your company would be the best choice for a government contracting job.

7. Create A Great Design
As with a resume, the quality of the content is more important than the quality of the design, but a clean, easy-to-read design is your best bet. There are countless examples of capability statement designs on the internet, so take a look at a few and emulate a good design.

Typically, it’s best to stick with just one highly readable font or two at the most. Adding color is fine, but limit the colors to just one or two. Companies usually place their logo at the top of the capability statement and keep the contact information up at the top, as well. Generally, a one-page statement is best, but many companies will create a two-page document, just don’t ramble on to a third page.

But, SAM Registration Comes First
While you need that capability statement, you cannot start bidding on government contracts until you have completed your System for Award Management registration and received your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. The Cage Code is your unique identifier within the System for Award Management (SAM). This is a database that includes all government contractors.

SAM registration is free, but it can be a difficult and time-consuming task, and the SAM government website can be tricky to use. The application is lengthy and includes quite a bit of “government-speak” which is confusing, to say the least. In many cases, people simply prefer to pay someone else to handle their SAM registration, and this is where we come in. We are a third-party SAM registration and SAM renewal service.

We can complete your registration quickly and correctly and ensure that you are approved as a contractor as soon as possible. We can even help you identify those NAICS codes and PSC codes, and help you identify any set-asides for which you may qualify.

While we are working on your SAM registration, you can work on setting up and designing your capability statement, as well as learning all you can about the bidding process. To get started with our SAM registration services, just head to our homepage and click on the New Registration tab or call us at (800) 985-7658.

4 Instances When You Need To Update SAM Registration

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If you want to do business with the federal government, you must complete SAM registration, and while we can help you with this arduous process, it’s important to understand that there will be occasions when it’s essential to update SAM registration to ensure that government agencies can work with your company. Here’s a quick look at when you need to make changes.

1. Update SAM Registration Before It Expires
SAM registration expires every year, which means that SAM renewal is crucial. We typically recommend that you complete the SAM renewal process several months before your expiration dates, and there are a few reasons to consider early renewal.

The Federal Service Desk (FSD) is the agency or government office tasked with SAM registration approval and renewals. It can take the Federal Service Desk several weeks to approve your SAM renewal, which is why you need to update SAM registration several weeks or months ahead of the expiration date. This is especially true during the current pandemic, as the FSD has had a high volume of new registrations during these last few months, and this high volume can slow down the approval process.

Additionally, if a government agency studies your SAM registration and sees that you are close to your expiration date, they may skip over your company and select another company Most federal agencies can only do business with government contractors that have active SAM registrations, and if your registration expires in the middle of a contract, the agency cannot work with you until your registration is active again. This puts them in the lurch, so to speak, so they may be wary about selecting contractors that are a couple of months or just weeks from expiration. Whether you want to work as a FEMA contractor, a DOD contractor or just about any agency, an active SAM registration is crucial.

We can help with SAM renewals as well as with initial SAM registrations. SAM renewals, while not as complex as that first registration, can be quite time consuming and difficult, and we can quickly and accurately complete your renewal and ensure that your registration doesn’t expire.

2. Address & Phone Number Changes
Covid-19 has changed everything, and it has forced many employers to switch to a remote-work format. In some cases, companies still maintain their current offices and phone numbers, but if your company addresses or phone numbers have changed, you will need to update SAM registration to include these numbers.

Of course, pandemic or no pandemic, any time the physical address, mailing address or phone numbers of your business changes, it is important to update your SAM registration and ensure that everything is current. Additionally, physical address changes might impact some of your small business designations. For instance, if you have moved in or out of a HUB Zone, this could impact your contracting opportunities.

3. Personnel Changes
If your company has changed officers, this will need to be updated, but you also need to make updates if you add or reduce staff. In many cases, the addition of two or three employees or the reduction of just a few employees isn’t critical in regards to SAM. However, if you add or reduce many employees, this could affect your standing as a small business.

Designated small businesses, as per the Small Business Administration (SBA) have some advantages in government contracting because agencies are required to set aside a portion of their business exclusively for small businesses. Your business qualifies if it meets certain size standards, and adding many new employees could impact your status as a small business. SBA government contracting can be lucrative, but you must continue to qualify as a small business in order to bid on small business contracting opportunities.

4. Changes In Goods & Services
Within your SAM registration, there is a section where you list your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These are codes that describe precisely what types of goods or services are provided by your company. Government agency representatives often will search for contractors using these codes, so it is important that your codes are as up-to-date as possible.

If you add services or expand the types of goods you can provide, be sure to update SAM registration and add any new application NAICS codes to your SAM listing. Likewise, if you no longer provide some type of good or service, be sure to update your listing and remove what you no longer can provide to the government.

SAM Registrations & Renewals: Let Us Help!
In general, minor changes are fairly easy to handle yourself. First-time registration and renewals are trickier, which is why it often makes sense to pay a third party, such as Federal Contractor Registry, to handle these services.

The government does not charge you to register, renew or update SAM registration, but registration and renewals can take many hours and, especially with your initial registration, this can 10 or more hours to complete and can be quite confusing and frustrating.

Many people simply hire us to complete the process, as we are highly experienced and can quickly and accurately complete your SAM registration or SAM renewal. It’s a bit like hiring an accountant to handle your taxes. You could fill out tax forms for free, but the tax code is confusing and if mistakes are made on your tax forms, there can be serious consequences, which is why it makes sense to hire a tax expert.

The same is true when it comes to SAM registration. If mistakes are made on your initial registration or on your renewal, this can cause your SAM approval to be delayed, which means you could miss out on some lucrative government contracting opportunities.

If you need your initial SAM registration or a SAM renewal, you can click on the registration or renewal tabs on our homepage. If you aren’t sure whether or not your SAM registration has expired, you also can do a quick free status check via our website. If you have any questions about SAM registration or how to update SAM registration, feel free to contact us at any time.

FEMA Hotel Registration: How To Get Started With FedRooms

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When it comes to government contracting, there are opportunities for just about everyone, and this includes the hospitality industry, which has been so hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through the FedRooms program, hotels, motels and other types of lodging establishments can contact and sell rooms to government employees from just about any agency. Here’s how it works.

FedRooms: A Quick Overview

FedRooms is a program managed by the General Services Administration, which is the government agency that oversees all types of government procurement, including government contracting. If you register for FedRooms, your lodging establishment will be able to provide rooms to the government, such as serving as a FEMA hotel or just offering competitive rates for government employees.

When government or military employees travel, they usually book their stays at hotels, motels and other lodging options that are part of FedRooms. Federal government employees also can use FedRooms to book leisure travel. The hoteliers that are part of this program offer lower rates for these government employees, either at or below the government per diem for travel expenses.

A per diem is a government employee’s allowance for lodging, meals and other expenses. The per diem rates vary based upon location. For instance, lodging in New York City is notably more expensive than lodging in a smaller city or town, so the per diem in New York City will be higher than it might be in Toledo or Omaha.

Signing up with FedRooms and offering these reduced rates to government employees can be a great way to increase occupancy, and just about any type of lodging establishment can apply for the FedRooms program. The caveat – FedRooms only accepts new hoteliers once per year during its annual Request For Approval (RFP) process, and the window to sign up typically lasts from about June until August 1.

FEMA Hotel Registration

In order to qualify for the FedRooms program, your lodging establishment must meet certain requirements. One of the biggest requirements is that your hotel or lodging must be FEMA certified. FEMA certification ensures that your lodging establishment is in compliance with the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990.

To register a hotel with FEMA, you will need to go to https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/hotel/. The first step is to head toward the bottom of the page and click on the “Add a new listing” tab. The system will first check your physical address to ensure that you have not already completed FEMA hotel registration. Once it determines that you are a new property, it will allow you to fill out the application.

The application will ask for some contact information and other basic information about your property, but the main focus of this application is to ensure that your property or properties are fire safe.

ADA Compliance

All lodging establishments accepted into the FedRooms program must not only complete FEMA hotel registration, but they also must be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.

In order to be in compliance with the ADA, your facility will need to have a certain amount of accessible parking, accessible entrances and exits, accessible restrooms, accessible guestrooms and more. To view the ADA checklist for lodging establishments, head to https://www.ada.gov/hsurvey.htm.

Your level of compliance depends upon many factors. A large hotel with hundreds of rooms will face different compliance standards than a small motel or a bed and breakfast inn. For instance, a lodging establishment with 25 or fewer parking lot spaces will not be required to have as many accessible parking spots as a hotel or motel with 400 parking spots.

Likewise, an establishment with 25 or fewer rooms won’t need to be able to provide as many accessible guestrooms as a facility with hundreds of rooms. The ADA regulations are meant to be fair so that customers have accessibility without making it too costly or difficult for businesses to comply.

Other Requirements

Additionally, the FedRooms program has several more requirements that you must fulfill to sign up with this program, as per the FedRooms website, including:
• Offering a competitive rate at or below per diem
• Cancellation policy of 4 p.m. day of arrival or later (for domestic properties) and no more than 24 hours (for international properties)
• You must have earned at least 2 crowns
• No deposit or early departure fees
• Monthly production reporting and payment
• Book FedRooms rate when requested
• Compliance with all terms and conditions
• Complimentary guest room internet

To learn more about FedRooms in general, you can visit the website at FedRooms.com. FedRooms also runs a LinkedIn Group where you can ask questions and gain information about the yearly RFP.

SAM Registration: Your First Step Into Government Contracting

As with all other government contractors, if you want to work with FedRooms or complete your FEMA hotel registration or work with any government agency, you must complete your System for Award Management (SAM) application.

All government contractors need to complete SAM registration. Once approved, you will receive what is known as a Corporate and Government Entities (CAGE) Code. This code is the unique identifier for your business, and SAM registration is the first step that all government contractors must take to do business with any government agency.

At Federal Contractor Registry, we complete hundreds of SAM registrations each year for hoteliers as well as many other types of companies. SAM registration can be extremely time-consuming, taking 10 or more hours to complete; so many people simply hire services such as ours to complete this lengthy and confusing registration document.

Once we complete your SAM registration and submit it to the government, it usually takes just a few weeks to get approval and receive your CAGE code. While we work on your SAM registration, you can work on FEMA hotel registration and learning all you can about the FedRooms RFP process. While all of this can be complicated, once you make it into the system, your efforts can be well worth the time spent to expand your guest list to those government employees.

Procurement Agents: 5 Facts For Government Contractors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How To Find & Win Federal Contractor Jobs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAM.Gov Registration: Sign Up Now & Sell To The Government

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In these uncertain times, many companies are looking for ways to boost their businesses. Government contracting can be a lucrative option and one that is often recession-proof or durable during economic crises. In order to work with the government, your first step is to complete SAM.gov registration, and we can help.

SAM.Gov Registration
Registering with the System for Award Management (SAM) can be a complicated process. The government doesn’t charge companies a fee to sign up, but the registration application is lengthy and complicated. It easily can take 10+ hours to complete the process, and you may find yourself frustrated along the way.

However, don’t let this dissuade you from completing your SAM.gov registration. As a third party SAM registration service, we can handle this task for you, quickly and efficiently. We process hundreds of SAM registrations every year, as well as SAM renewals and fully understand all the intricacies of the process.

Of course, we do charge a fee, but it’s much like hiring an accountant to handle your taxes. You could complete your personal or company tax documents yourself, but it’s often highly complicated and frustrating, so millions of Americans pay an accountant to handle the process. We are basically the same, as we relieve you of the frustrating task of completing your SAM registration, freeing you up to keep working on your typical daily tasks and ensuring that you are ready to contract with the government as quickly as possible.

Contracting During The Current Pandemic
The government, especially agencies such as FEMA, have immediate needs from government contractors. If you provide any type of support relating to medical care, such as making surgical masks, manufacturing disinfectants or hand sanitizers, providing hospital equipment or anything that can help FEMA support the COVID-19 relief efforts, now is the time to get registered with SAM and start bidding on contracts.

However, the government, including FEMA, needs many other goods and services. Some of these are related to COVID-19, while others are simply general needs. You can take a quick look at the types of contracts available by searching Beta.SAM.gov. You can search by agency, keyword and several other ways, although we recommend that companies search using their NAICS codes.

These codes identify the precise goods or services provided by your company, and it’s usually the easiest way to find potential contracts using the Beta.SAM.gov website. You also can search using your PSCs, or Product Service Codes. If you aren’t sure which NAICS or PSC codes to use, we can figure that out for you as we complete your SAM.gov registration.

Contracting: Can It Weather A Recession?
Diversifying into government contracting is a great idea for many types of businesses. While your other clients may be affected adversely by economic downswings and recessions, the government still has to purchase goods and services. Unlike the private sector, they aren’t profit-driven, but rather are there to serve the needs of the citizens.

This means that even during a recession, the impact felt by various government agencies may not trickle down to contractors. In some cases, budgets may be cut and this certainly can affect contractors, but generally there will be plenty of contracting opportunities, even during times of economic instability.

What About Government Shutdowns?
Government shutdowns can affect government contractors, but not always. It depends upon the type of contract and several other factors. For instance, if you provide an essential service, there may still be funding in place to continue paying your contract.

In some cases, a government shutdown can be a problem for contractors, but it’s important to note that in the last 40 years, there have only been 10 government shutdowns. Four lasted only a day, while two others only lasted 3 days and once lasted just five days.

One shutdown in 1995-1996 lasted 21 days, while the 2013 shutdown lasted 16 days. The most recent shutdown in 2018-2019 was the most detrimental to government employees and contractors, alike, lasting 35 days. Still, not all federal agencies were affected by this shutdown. For instance, the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and the Department of Education were not impacted among others.

Government shutdowns tend to be brief, so this should never really serve as an argument against government contracting. They certainly have the potential to be a problem, but they are fairly rare and usually of short duration.

Get Started Today!
If you haven’t yet completed SAM.gov registration, give us a call or click on the New Registration tab on our homepage. We will get right to work on your registration and have you ready to start bidding on government contracts. As soon as your registration is approved, the government will send you a CAGE code, which is the unique identifier for your business in the SAM database.

Once we complete your SAM.gov registration, we also highly recommend that you sign up with your state’s procurement. You will need to go through the SAM registration process and receive a CAGE code for state procurement, as well, as their registration systems will ask for your CAGE code, NAICS codes and usually your PSCs.