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.