The General Services Administration (GSA) is not just another government agency. It's your business's gateway to the largest client in the world - the U.S. government.
GSA contracts place your business directly in the federal government's goods and services supply chain. The best part? These agreements can last up to twenty years, saving your business time, money, and paperwork.
If you're aiming to secure federal contracts, this article will help you understand key marketing strategies that work. Let's delve into the specifics.
Sculpting Your Presence: Online and In-Person
Your first step is to establish a compelling online and in-person presence. For online, create an easy-to-navigate website detailing your services, achievements, and testimonials. Remember, your marketing materials should comply with government-accepted standards, whether it's your website, brochures, or presentations.
Updated for accuracy as of July 2023, this article reflects the most current Federal contracting information. Always consult a professional for your specific needs.
Government contracts can often originate from ideas, studies, or legislative requirements years before they evolve into tangible bidding opportunities. Hence, establishing an early connection can provide a profound understanding of contract requirements and an invaluable opportunity to develop relationships with the key players. The companies that regularly secure federal awards typically build rapport with the contracting team well ahead of time.
Updated for accuracy as of July 2023, this article reflects the most current Federal contracting information. Always consult a professional for your specific needs.
Breaking into the federal contracting space can seem impossible, especially for small businesses. You've registered for government contracts—bravo! But what's next? How do you ensure your bids are competitive? And what if you lack a track record? Don't worry. This article will guide you through these hurdles and set you on a path to success.
Understanding the financing of federal contracts is vital to your success as a contractor. The federal government only pays for services rendered or products delivered. This means that contractors need to have enough working capital to fulfill the contract and cover business expenses until payment is received.
This article has been reviewed and updated as of June 2022 to ensure accuracy and relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of federal Contracting.
Federal subcontractor reporting is a complex and demanding task. Large companies, otherwise known as Other Than Small Businesses (OTSBs), receiving federal award money are subject to stringent requirements to report on their small-business subcontractors accurately. Ensuring this reporting correctly can be challenging, but alignment with the System for Award Management (SAM) can pave the way to compliance.
There are plenty of great reasons for your business to get started in federal contracting. That's why, in this blog series, we're going to cover them all. So for our first installment of "Why Federal Contracting?" we'll go over how federal contracting can help grow your business.
Figuring out how to price contracts for services and brokering can seem tricky, especially in the complex realms of construction and non-construction industries. One key to solving this puzzle lies in understanding wage determinations. Let's break it down:
The federal budget contains a big chunk dedicated to grants. Whether you're part of a government body, a non-profit organization, or a business, you could get a slice of this pie. All you need is a brilliant idea or solution that benefits our nation, much like what you might have seen on Grants.gov.
Government contracts don't always work on an open competition basis. Sometimes, there's a clear choice for a contract, and it's here that sole-source contracting comes into play.
If your business offers a unique product or service or enjoys a small business set-aside status, you could win sole-source contracts—contracts awarded without competition. There are at least seven scenarios where a contract may be sole-sourced, with some specific to small businesses. Understand these, and you'll find new federal market opportunities and be able to make compelling cases to contracting officers or during bid protests.
