It’s been said that the best things in life are free, but that doesn’t really seem to apply to SAM registration and renewal. While the government often stress that SAM registration is free, is it really?
On the one hand, the government doesn’t charge you to go to SAM.gov and sign up to become a government contractor. On the other hand, they also don’t tell you how long it can take to complete SAM registration or how frustrating it can be.
In fact, dealing with SAM registration & renewal can be so frustrating that many people, particularly those with smaller companies get frustrated with the whole process and simply give up. That’s a shame because there are tons of lucrative government contracts to be had and these can serve as a great way to build up your company.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to spend 10+ hours wading through the SAM application, it can make sense to hire an experienced third party to complete registrations and renewals for you.
As a third-party registration service, we handle SAM registrations & renewals for a wide range of companies, some are small and some are huge Fortune 500 firms. While some might wonder why we charge for our services, we actually aren’t much different from accountants.
Anyone can file their tax forms at no charge, but the tax codes are extremely complicated and frankly the way the government explains things isn’t always particularly clear. This is why so many people hire accountants to complete their taxes. Sure, they charge for their services, but they are tax experts that can ensure that your forms are filled out correctly.
It’s exactly the same with us. We are SAM experts, and we will ensure that your registration is completely quickly, but more importantly, that it is completed correctly. People often make small mistakes with their registration and then it’s denied and you have to go back and fix the problem and then wait a few weeks to see if you are approved.
With Federal Contractor Registry, we can complete your SAM registration in a matter of days, which can save you tons of time, allowing you to focus on running your business. When it comes time to renew your SAM registration, we can handle this process as well.
It is crucial that you renew your SAM registration several months before it actually expires. Failing to do so can lessen your chances of winning contacts. For instance, if a government agency representative is considering your company for a job, but sees that your registration is expiring in less than a month, they probably won’t do business with you.
This is because government agencies are only allowed to do business with companies or individuals that have active SAM registrations. If your registration expires in the middle of a job, then you no longer can work for that agency. This is a lose-lose because the agency doesn’t get its goods or services and you don’t get paid.
We highly recommend that you contact us for SAM renewals several months in advance. It can take a few weeks for the government to process your renewal, so it’s always best to get your renewal started as soon as possible.
SAM registration & renewal is not just your ticket to federal contracting, it also is your ticket to state and local government contracting. Just about every agency in your state will need contractors from time to time, so never forget to look for these more local jobs, as they can be very lucrative.
When you complete your SAM registration, you will be given an identifier known as a CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) Code. While this code will be needed for federal contracting opportunities, all of those state and local agencies will want to know your CAGE Code, as well. So SAM registration truly is your first step into government contracting.
Once you get that CAGE code, we have a few helpful hints to make the contracting process a bit easier, especially for smaller businesses:
1. Sign Up With SBA
The Small Business Administration was created in 1953 to help small companies grow and develop. The SBA can help people just starting up a business, and they can help small businesses with federal contracting. A certain percentage of government contracting is set aside for small businesses, so don’t forget to check out what SBA can do to help your small business.
2. Sign Up With APTAC
The word “procurement” is going to become a big part of your life as a new government contractor. The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers was created to help companies succeed with government contracting.
APTAC has centers across the country known as PTACs (Procurement Technical Assistance Centers). If you sign up with your PTAC, you will have regional representative that you can contact with questions or concerns, and APTAC often offers webinars and training regarding government contracting.
3. Sign Up With Your State Procurement System
If you want to bid on state government contracts, simply head to the internet and do a search for your state with the word “procurement” next to it. This will lead you to your state’s government website for contracting and procurement. There are tons of contracts available at the state level, so be sure to do this as soon as you get that CAGE code.
Again, if you need help with SAM registration or renewal, Federal Contractor Registry is here to help so give us a call or click on the green New Registration or the blue Renew Registration tabs on our website. We look forward to helping you get started with government contracting.