Your SAM registration cost you time and paperwork. Now it's sitting there doing nothing while your competitors are winning contracts. Here's how to fix that.
The United States has a long history of being a major contributor of foreign aid. In 2022, 86% of the United States’ foreign aid was allocated to economic support, while 14% went to military support. Ukraine, Israel, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Yemen were the top five nations to receive funding that year. (Haines, 2024). As of 2024, the United States remained the largest donor of governmental humanitarian aid, followed by the European Commission, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway (Donare, 2024).
The U.S. government isn’t launching its own cryptocurrency anytime soon, but it’s already testing and applying blockchain tools across public finance, supply chains, and emergency response. From the state of Wyoming’s own stable token to Navy pilots for parts tracking, crypto isn’t a theory anymore. Its infrastructure is in progress.
Even with political resistance to a central bank digital currency (CBDC), agencies are actively exploring how token-based systems can improve transparency, speed, and verification. These programs aren't just technical experiments. They shape how money moves, how contracts get fulfilled, and how data is trusted.
CUI Compliance 101: What Every New Federal Contractor Should Know
When you’re just starting out in federal contracting, it’s easy to focus on the obvious hurdles: SAM registration, past performance, and finding bid opportunities. But one of the less visible and potentially contract-killing obstacles is something many new contractors overlook: how to handle sensitive government information.
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) isn’t classified, but it’s still considered sensitive by federal agencies. And if your contract involves it, even indirectly, you’re expected to meet strict security standards from day one. For small businesses, especially, ignoring CUI compliance can mean losing contracts, getting flagged during award evaluations, or being shut out of future work altogether.
So what exactly is CUI, and how do you handle it the right way without building a massive IT team? Here’s what it means, what the rules say, and the steps your business should take now to stay eligible and competitive.
Janitorial services are among the most consistently funded and recurring contract categories across federal, state, and local governments. Every year, millions of square feet of federal space need to be cleaned, sanitized, and maintained. That includes courthouses, military bases, post offices, and VA hospitals. These contracts often span multiple years, offer recurring revenue, and present a massive opportunity for service-based small businesses ready to step into the government market.
Smart contracts are self-executing code that follow if-then rules on a blockchain. They do not replace the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); they carry it out automatically. Agencies are already testing how these tools can confirm milestones, release payments, and log every step for easy audits. For vendors, this could cut weeks from payment cycles and provide a permanent record of performance.
What Smart Contracts Are
A smart contract is code that says, “If the delivery is verified, pay the vendor.” Once written, the logic cannot be changed without both parties agreeing. Think of direct deposit: after you enter the correct routing and account number, payments run by themselves.
How Small Businesses Can Win and Manage Requirements Contracts
Winning a government contract can create new growth opportunities, but unpredictable demand makes planning difficult. Requirements contracts solve this problem by guaranteeing that a federal agency will buy all its necessary supplies or services from one vendor, without setting a specific order quantity upfront.
Federal payments may soon go digital, and stablecoins are leading the charge. These digital tokens are pegged to the U.S. dollar and backed by assets like cash or short-term Treasury bills. They combine the speed of crypto with the predictability of fiat currency, making them ideal for real-time payments without the wild price swings of Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Most government contracts focus on detailed work specifications, but performance-based contracts shift the focus to results. Instead of dictating exactly how work must be performed, these agreements reward businesses for achieving specific outcomes.
Natural disasters are occurring more often than ever, and as a business owner, it’s no longer enough to hope for the best. Being prepared for a natural disaster must be a part of your business strategy. According to a 2025 report by the Congressional Research Service, 40% of small businesses never reopen after a disaster, and another 25% fail within a year.1 It’s a clear reminder that having a plan in place before disaster strikes can mean the difference between recovery and permanent closure. You can’t predict when a weather emergency will occur, but you can make sure your business is ready when it does.
