Ariel's River Contracting Group, LLC (ARCG) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in North Potomac, Maryland. Their main products and services include janitorial, pest control, HVAC, flooring, and interpretation services. They won their first government contract within three months of entering the federal marketplace.
ARCG wanted to enter the federal marketplace because they felt they could meet government demands with their janitorial, pest control, flooring, and interpretation services. They also sought to open up a new, consistent revenue stream for their business.
To get started in federal contracting, the business needed to officially certify as an SDVOSB, get registered in the System for Award Management and learn the basics of government contracting.
"Do your homework, know the rules and get as many certifications as you can." - Jean-Max Charles Jr. | President & Sales Director of ARCG
ARCG worked with US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR) Senior Registration & Contracting Specialist Huff Bhatia, enrolling in the Simplified Acquisition Program (SAP) and the Veteran-Owned Small Business Certification.
The first component of the SAP consists of USFCR's SAM assistance service. USFCR's SAM assistance service is an outsourcing solution for getting in compliance for federal contracting. ARCG was provided with a worksheet from USFCR, where they provided key company information. USFCR's Case Management department verified the information and assisted with the registration on behalf of ARCG.
The next step of the process was setting up ARCG's Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) profile, email domain, and online capabilities statement. For this part of the SAP, USFCR's SAP team took the information from ARCG's core competencies and past performance, creating a custom website that was consistent with the company's brand.
With the same information provided, USFCR's Special Services was able to get ARCG certified as an SDVOSB so that they would be eligible for exclusive contracts with federal agencies.
"You don't know what you don't know, so keep asking questions form those more experienced." - Jean-Max Charles Jr. | President & Sales Director of ARCG
Implementing the Simplified Acquisition Program and the veteran certification service was successful for ARCG. With a compliant SAM registration, the company was eligible for federal contracts. By having an online capabilities statement, contracting officers can access the information they need to make a buying decision.
Within three months of starting with USFCR, ARCG won a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs for pest control at the Spokane VA Medical Center. The contract awarded had a value of $65,880.