Tips for Entrepreneurs to Gain a Foothold in the Lucrative Federal EEO Contracting Business (Part 1)

Are you looking to start a new business, looking for a new career path, or maybe enhancing the path you are currently on? The federal government offers a plethora of opportunities to pursue your passion or take your business to the next level. All levels of government, federal, state and local, offer businesses the opportunity to sell billions of dollars in products and services. The Small Business Administration Office of Government Contracting & Business Development works with federal agencies to award at least 23% of all government contract dollars to small businesses and help federal agencies meet specific statutory goals for small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small business, and other under-utilized businesses. Let’s explore the steps necessary to get qualified as a recognized small business. Follow our tips for entrepreneurs below.

• Image is everything! Be professional in every way, right down to your email address and social media presence. Your business email address should contain your business name. The body of your email correspondence should contain a professional signature line displaying your business name and contact information. Avoid fancy fonts and font colors difficult to read. Put your best face forward.
• Do You Qualify as a Small Business? First, obtain classification confirmation that you qualify as a small business. Small businesses must first meet the size standard by way of NAICS codes and the SBA’s size standards tool. Once you’ve confirmed your business is classified as ‘small,’ you can register as a federal contractor and apply to be certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration for special designation as an 8(a) or economically small disadvantaged women owned small business, etc., to begin bidding on government contracts or having contracts set aside specifically for your company.
• Find your NAICS Code. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies to classify a business for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. NAICS codes are also used for administrative, contracting, and tax purposes.
• Obtain Your Company’s D-U-N-S Number. Provided by Dun & Bradstreet, the D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number is a nine-digit identifier unique to each physical location of your business that is required to register with the Federal government to bid on contracts. There is no cost to obtain the D-U-N-S number. Just follow the on-line instructions to apply.
• Register Your Company with SAM. Also known as, the System of Award Management (SAM) is a primary database housing information about all vendors doing business with the Federal government. SAM is a result of a consolidation project of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Federal Procurement Systems in an effort to streamline processes and eliminate data redundancies. Hopefully, it means less paperwork for you. There is no cost for this registration. You will be required to setup a user account for access.
• Past Performance Evaluations. If you plan to use the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule for contracts, an Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation is required. It is an independent audit of customer references and survey responses and then calculates a rating based on statistical analysis and performance data. A report is created that assesses the supplier performance relative to peers in the same industry and is often requested as part of a vendor bid process. Fees do apply. Use your Dunn and Bradstreet user login information for access.

Once you’ve completed all the necessary tasks to qualify and register as a small business, finding and biding on government contracts is the next step. Stays tuned for our next blog and learn where to find the government contracts that align with your business initiatives, using online resources and advanced search methods.

For more information, tips for entrepreneurs, or training on the lucrative business of federal EEO contracting, contact us at information@preemptcorp.com. Also, stay tuned for PREEMPT’s upcoming podcast on the Lucrative Business of Federal EEO Contracts.