Navigating the labyrinth of federal government contracting can seem daunting, yet it holds a trove of opportunities for businesses eager to expand their horizons. With billions of dollars in contracts awarded annually, the federal government is a lucrative client for companies of all sizes. But the big question is – how do you find these federal government contractor jobs?
Step One – Unlock Your “Codes”
The government purchases much of its goods and services from the private sector, and they need just about every product or service imaginable. The federal government has classified all types of products and services to create the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Every type of business can be identified using NAICS codes, and looking up your codes is the first step to determining whether or not there are government contracting opportunities that are a match for your business. To find your codes, go to Census.gov and click on “Find NAICS Codes.” From there, you can download or view the latest version of the NAICS manual and look up the codes that best describe the goods or services you provide.
For instance, let’s say your company produces cleaning equipment including brooms and mops. This would fit NAICS code 339994. So you would want to make a note of that code, as it will help you with the next step.
Step Two – Determine If You Fulfill A Need
Once you have your NAICS code or codes, head to SAM.gov and click on the Contract Opportunities tab. From there, click on the Advanced Search and go to the section that says “Product or Service Information.” You can enter your NAICS code into that box and this should generate a possible list of contract opportunities.
Entering the code above “339994,” which is the category for Broom, Brush and Mop Manufacturing yielded several results. This indicates that government contracting might be a good match for your business. In general, this search engine at SAM.gov is one of the main resources that companies will use to find government contracts.
Step Three- Sign Up With The System For Award Management
Once you’ve determined that various agencies do need your goods or services, you will need to register in the System for Award Management (SAM). This is the central database for all government contractors, and you cannot do business with the federal government until you have completed SAM registration and been approved.
With SAM registration you have two options – you can complete the application on your own or hire a third party. The government will not charge you a fee for SAM registration, but, of course, a third-party registration service will charge a fee. So why would you hire someone to complete this application?
To be honest, the government doesn’t make it easy to complete SAM registration. It can take 10 hours or more to fill out all of the sections, and each section is difficult to understand and filled with confusing government-speak. Many business owners find the process too overwhelming or time-consuming, so they simply hire a pro.
This is similar to hiring an accountant to handle your taxes. You could complete the tax forms on your own, but tax codes are difficult to understand, and mistakes are costly. With SAM registration, mistakes can delay your approval and force you to miss out on lucrative contracts while you struggle to complete SAM registration correctly.
At Federal Contractor Registry, we can help you with this process. We complete hundreds of SAM registrations and SAM renewals every year and will handle your registration quickly and 100% accurately, leaving you free to handle the day-to-day tasks associated with running your business.
Step Four – Search On SAM.gov & SBA.gov
As we outlined earlier, SAM.gov is one of the main sources of government contracting jobs, and you just need to enter your NAICS codes to find options. You also can narrow down the search to a specific area (Place of Performance) or a specific federal agency (Federal Organizations) or by set-aside type, just to name a few search options.
Set-asides are special contracts that are put aside specifically for those who own small businesses. If your business qualifies as small, you can register with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and this allows you to bid on certain set-aside contracts as well as allowing you to take advantage of all of SBA’s resources for small business owners. As part of our SAM registration services, we will help you sign up with the SBA and determine which set-asides best match your business, if applicable.
There are multiple set-asides that you may qualify for, such as the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set aside or the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set aside. You also could consider working toward HUBZone certification or 8a certification.
A HUBZone is a Historically Underutilized Business Zone, and these can be found throughout the United States. 8a certification is part of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. This is a program for business owners that qualify as part of a group that has been historically disenfranchised due to gender, race, creed, religion, etc.
At any rate, if you qualify as a small business, not only can you look for contracts at SAM.gov, but you also can use the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS). This database can help you find opportunities specifically set aside for small businesses, including subcontracting jobs. This can also be a tool for larger contractors to find potential small business partners for subcontracting opportunities.
Subcontracting can be an excellent option for small businesses to consider. It’s an easier path into government contracting as you don’t have to go through the whole bid process. The Prime Contractor handles all of that as well as serving as the direct liaison to the federal agency. You can learn a great deal about contracting without all of the hassles if you work as a subcontractor, and you still will be building a solid contracting resume.
Step Five – Explore Agency-Specific Procurement Websites
Many federal agencies have their own procurement websites or sections within their main websites where they list contract opportunities or information about how to do business with them. For example, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), NASA, and the Department of Energy (DOE) all have dedicated portals for contractors.
Keep in mind, that it’s not all about federal government contractor jobs. Every state purchases goods and services from the private sector, so it’s also wise to sign up with your state’s procurement system. These contracts can be just as lucrative as federal contracts and can be easier to attain in some cases. Many state procurement agencies also host workshops and conferences where you can learn more about government contracting and network and build relationships with procurement agents, prime contractors and other players in the government contracting world.
Ready To Become A Contractor? We Can Help
If you are ready to take the plunge and start bidding on federal government contractor jobs, we can help. If you would like us to handle your SAM registration, just click on the New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our contact form. A member of our team will be in touch quickly to gather your information and get started on your SAM registration.