It’s a relatively simple process to find federal contracting opportunities. However, it can be complicated and time-consuming to review individual solicitations and submit bids. Consider working with a contractor during your first few bids until you get to know the system. Take the following six steps.
Register as a Government Contractor
Your first move is to register as a contractor to do business with the U.S. government. In the past businesses used the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) to register. This stage has been turned into the Sam.gov.
You need your business information and a DUNS number to sign up. Dun and Bradstreet supply DUNS numbers free of charge. Once you register for your DUNS number, the company may recommend that you buy credit services. You don’t have to buy anything or charge anything at the time of writing to get the DUNS number.
Look for opportunities
Searching for opportunities is your next step. You can search online at Beta.Sam.Gov. Searching is relatively easy, but due to the sheer number of opportunities it can be daunting at first. Use the “Advanced Search” tab and pick specific options such as location, sort, organization, and keyword to narrow results.
It is best to start with a limited quest and broaden from there when looking for opportunities.
Review opportunities
You will notice that there are very extensive solicitation documents in most opportunities. Such reports can be lengthy, and specifics of the incentive can be written out. You’re going to spend a lot of time reading these documents, so make your choices selective.
But, in order to understand what the government wants to buy and under what conditions, you need to read these fully.
Decide if you will submit a bid
Prepare your bids once you’ve picked the opportunities you’re interested in. Remember, the government is always looking to buy items and services at the lowest price possible, so you have to be successful. Nevertheless, the products and services must also be priced so that the transaction is profitable for you. At first, this pricing can be difficult, but as you gain experience, you will improve.
The “Notices Zone” has a section called “Interested Vendors List” that gives you an idea of who your competition is. It lets you assess the quality of your pricing.
Submit a bid
Follow the instructions in the solicitation package when you choose to submit a bid. When submitting a bid, be very careful. Just submit a bid if you are willing and able to meet it fully. Therefore, before submitting the bid, you must include all the pricing, financial, and logistical details. You don’t want a deal you’ve won to be unable to satisfy. This situation would be harmful to your image and could have legal consequences.
Get educated
The process of government procurement is complex, and can’t really be summarized in six simple steps. You need to know the system inside out if you want to become a successful vendor for the government. Most of the information can be found on government websites. Additionally, you can contact the nearest Small Business Administration (SBA) office. They often have workshops on seeking and receiving government contracts.
