Contracting to sell their goods and services to the federal government agencies for thousands of small businesses opens the doors to growth, opportunity, and, of course, prosperity.
But you or your business must be registered as a government contractor before you can bid on and be awarded government contracts. There is a four-step process for registering as a government contractor.
Obtain a D-U-N-S Number
First, you’ll need to get a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S ® Number, a unique nine-digit identification number for every physical location of your business. D-U-N-S Number allocation is free of charge for all organizations required to register for contracts or grants with the federal government. To register and learn more about the D-U-N-S system, visit the D-U-N-S Request Service.
Register Your Business in the SAM Database
The System Award Management (SAM) tool is the federal government’s list of goods and services vendors doing business. Often referred to as “self-certifying,” SAM registration is for all prospective vendors under (FAR). Registration of SAM must be completed before any government contract, basic agreement, specific order agreement, or purchase agreement can be granted to your company. SAM registration is free of charge and can be done online.
As part of the SAM registration process, you will be able to record the size and socioeconomic status of your company, as well as all requirements and certifications needed by FAR. Such certifications are clarified in the FAR’s section on Representations and Certifications of the Offeror-Commercial Products.
Furthermore, SAM registration is a valuable marketing tool for government contracting companies. Federal agencies regularly search the SAM registry for prospective vendors based on supplied goods and services, size location experience, ownership, and more. Similarly, SAM informs companies that are certified under the 8(a) Development and HUBZone programs of the SBA.
Find Your Company’s NAICS Code
Chances are you’ll need to find your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) file, even though it’s not necessary. The NAICS codes classify businesses by sector, industry, and location. Many companies may fit under multiple NAICS industry codes, depending on the products and services they offer. Be sure to list all of its applicable NAICS codes when you register your business in the SAM database.
Obtain Past Performance Evaluations
If you want to register for a lucrative General Services Administration (GSA) contract — and you should like it. You must get a Past Performance Evaluation Report from Open Ratings, inc.Open Ratings performs an independent evaluation of customer references and determines an assessment based on a statistical analysis and questionnaire responses to different performance results. While specific GSA applications for promotions include the Open Rating past performance assessment application form, vendors must directly send an online request to Open Ratings, Inc.
Items You Will Need for Registration
Here are some of the things you will need when registering your business.
- NAICS codes
- DUNS – Data Universal Numbering System number
- Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN or EIN)
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes
- Product Service codes (optional but helpful)
- Federal Supply Classification codes (optional but helpful)
Obviously, all these codes and certifications help in finding; they are adaptation of your business by federal purchasing and contracting agents to their specific needs.
This blog was written by Linda Rawson, who is the founder of DynaGrace Enterprises (dynagrace.com) and the inventor of WeatherEgg (weatheregg.com). She, along with her daughter, Jennifer Remund make up the mother-daughter duo of 2BizChicks (2Bizchicks.com). For further information, please connect with Linda on LinkedIn, or contact her at (800) 676-0058 ext 101.
Please reach out to us at GovCon-Biz should you have any questions.
