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.
Near Me, L.L.C. is a certified EDWOSB based out of Fontana, California, but they operate nationally. Headed by Malarie Taylor, the company was founded in 2018. In the private sector, Near Me L.L.C. is known to provide professional landscaping services and residential/non-residential property management. So how did a business with these two focuses sell beans to the Department of Justice?
After doing some work in the private sector, Malarie knew she wanted to eventually open up shop with Uncle Sam. To do so, she received help from US Federal Contractor Registration to get properly registered in the System for Award Management and certified as an EDWOSB.
“Once we got SAM-certified, we started taking the advice to go through the learning centers and watching the videos,” said Malarie. Near Me, L.L.C. received support from USFCR staff members such as Senior Acquisition Specialist Bobby Davis, Training Coordinator Anna Rose, and Case Manager Elizabeth Siniari.
Through USFCR’s educational materials and YouTube channel, Malarie was able to learn the ropes of the federal sector quickly. It was through videos featuring Executive Bid Trainer John Wayne she got the idea of going for opportunities outside of Near Me, L.L.C.’s industries.
“You have to start incorporating your life into it,” said Malarie about searching and bidding on opportunities. Digging through Unison, Malarie scanned through tons of solicitations in the federal marketplace. Just after four months of initially getting registered in SAM, Near Me, L.L.C. reeled in its first federal contract. Although the contract was for providing the Department of Justice with pinto and wax beans, Malarie has an extensive background in delivery and transportation. It’s not what they have done in the past, but their core competencies mean that they can do it.
“I felt excited to provide something like this because I’m connected to food and food makes people happy. I would like to provide it where ever it’s going,” said Malarie. It took Near Me L.L.C. nearly 60 bids before they won their first contract. Although this may sound like a lot, the small business made great time as, on average, it takes businesses 12 to 18 months to win their first government contract. They got theirs in less than four.
“If you’re not bidding, you’re not getting looked at. If you’re not getting looked at, you’re not winning contracts,” she said. In essence, Near Me, L.L.C. is a family business. Headed by Malarie, she considers her son and husband as team members. Both she and her husband work 40 hours per week on top of submitting bids daily. For federal agencies needing to fulfill their quotas for awards to EDWOSBs, Near Me, L.L.C. will be there to deliver.
To speak with a Contracting Specialist, Call: (866) 216-5343
