Starting Government Contracting

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Getting a government contract for your small business could be a huge opportunity to grow in so many industries. They offer stability, consistency and, most importantly, money for your company.

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The financial risk is generally low and can be a profit increase that betters your business for years. Although the opportunity is great, actually getting a government contract for a federal project can be difficult and time consuming. Follow some of these guidelines to get you started:

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Steps to Get Government Contracts: How to Start

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• Before you fully commit to the idea of bidding on a government contract, you first need to complete a few steps. First, you’ll need to make sure your company can be defined as a “small business” in the government’s terms. These guidelines will vary depending on the industry you’re in and determine what code your business falls under from NAICS, and match it to the Size Standards Table.

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• Next, you’ll need to get a D-U-N-S number. It is used to determine the reliability of your business and financial stability. It’s free to get your DUNS number, so there is no need to purchase anything else through Dun & Bradstreet, unless you wish to. You can get the number as quickly as in one day, but it is needed to register your business with the government.

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• Then you will take your DUNS numbers and register your business in the System for Award Management. SAM is basically a database for any government agency that is searching to fill a contract and businesses who are seeking government contracts. It’s basically like the job board for government contracts and can even be used as a type of marketing for your business because you fill out a company profile for free. This step automatically adds your business to the database, called the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS), for contractors to find your business.

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• Finally, try to have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself and your company into. The U.S. Small Business Administration has a learning center dedicated to government contracting information. Look for opportunities on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) listings.