USFCR Blog

In the federal marketplace, there are loads of opportunities across every industry imaginable. You don’t know what you’ll find or what you will even be working on. That’s because there are plenty of businesses that will jump on opportunities that are outside of their own industries. This may sound impractical or even impossible from an outside perspective, but it’s more common than one would think.

One recent example of a business finding success in the federal marketplace by reaching out of its normal spectrum of work is Near Me, L.L.C.

Federal contracting is a highly competitive sector. Getting your foot in the door is a whole feat of its own. However, a true indicator of a contractor’s prowess and quality of work is when Uncle Sam chooses to build a working relationship with their business. Such is the case with RTG Building Services Inc. (which has held previous contracts under LP Custodial) winning their rebid on a janitorial contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After a 10-year contract, the Army has once again solidified its trust in RTG Building Services Inc. with this recent award.

June 1st marked the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane season. These past few years, the United States has endured waves of devastation from Maria to Michael. Then, in the West, there have been numerous wildfires, with the Camp Fire being one of the most destructive in recent memory. Although it seems as if a disaster is inevitable, what’s also inevitable is that there will always be contractors who will answer the call to help. With a recent Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) award from the U.S. Forest Service, B&G Forestry, LLC will be there to answer the call and provide aid.

On April 16, A&E Haberdashery, LLC was awarded its first federal contract. Valued at $13,184.55, the certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) will provide feminine hygiene dispensers for the VA hospital in Portland, Oregon. A&E’s recent win is just one of many examples of how a small business set-aside can truly open up opportunities with the federal government.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

So you’ve done your homework and learned about the immense benefits of government contracting. Uncle Sam is a customer who has billions to spend every year, is always looking to buy, and will spend more in recessions. Plus, there are exclusive opportunities just for small businesses.

Naturally, you will want a piece of that pie and get registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Here it is. Everything that government contractors ask about the Dun and Bradstreet number (aka DUNS number) is in this quick, and easy-to-read guide.

March 8, 2019 marks the 109^th annual observance of International Women’s Day (IWD). On top of that, March is also recognized in the U.S. as Women’s History Month. So in the spirit of IWD and Women's History Month, let's talk about the various certifications and resources that are exclusively available for female entrepreneurs. Mainly, we'll be talking about the Woman-Owned Business Certification and the Woman-Owned Small Business Set-Aside.

Are you a business owner who previously served in our nation's armed forces? Perhaps you're a veteran who's interested in taking the entrepreneurial plunge. Either way, you need to know about the various programs and initiatives offered by Uncle Sam to help your business succeed.

On Dec. 18, 2018, Strategic Centric Solutions, LLC was awarded its first federal contract. The purchase order, valued at $39,546.10, was for 500 tablets and 700 tablet cases for the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. The tablets will be used at the Academy of Police Patrol in Kyiv, Ukraine. To ensure the quality of the delivery, CEO Jason Tautfest will visit the site for inspection.

You're probably familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It's pretty much the rule book for federal contracting on both sides of the table. If you're looking to set up shop with the Department of Defense (DoD), you're going to want to get familiar with a supplement of FAR called DFARS and learn how to maintain DFARS compliance.