How Long Can a Government Contract Be Extended?

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Many U.S. companies find lucrative concern opportunities by condign government contractors. Federal, state, and local governments buy goods and services from contractors in about every field and industry. To become a government contractor, y'all must kickoff register. You too take the choice of having your business certified equally a small business, which will open the door to more opportunities.^[1]

1. i

   Discover your NAICS classification. The federal government uses the Northward American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to classify U.S. businesses for the purposes of gathering statistics on the U.South. economic system. These codes besides are used to allocate contracts.^[ii]

   • The most current edition of the NAICS transmission is bachelor at https://www.census.gov/eos/world wide web/naics/. Use it to find the code or codes for your business.

2. two

   Gather information nearly your business. In addition to your NAICS nomenclature codes, at that place are other codes and numbers related to your business that you'll need to annals as a federal contractor.^[three]

   • You'll demand the federal tax ID number of your business, every bit well as your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes.
   • You may accept other codes, such as a federal supply code or product service codes. If you don't accept these, don't worry nearly it – but if you lot do, they may come in handy.

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3. three

   Become a DUNS number. The federal authorities uses a unique, nine-digit number issued past Dun & Bradstreet to identify contractors. You tin get a number complimentary of accuse if y'all are registering as a government contractor.^[4]

   • To starting time the process, visit http://www.dnb.com/us and consummate the online class. Your number will exist issued within 48 hours.

4. four

   Create an account with the System of Award Management (SAM). SAM is the main database yous'll use to manage your regime contracts and do business with the federal government. You must register here before you can accept whatsoever government contracts.^[5]

   • Get started by visiting the SAM website at www.sam.gov. Create your user account, then register your business. If you take more than ane business, register each of them separately under the same user business relationship.
   • Include as much data about your business organisation besides. Use SAM equally a marketing tool then government agencies tin can find you. Agencies often search based on size, location, ownership, and other factors.

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1. 1

   Brainstorm as before long every bit possible. The certification process can take anywhere from three months to a yr. In the meantime, your business may end up spending tens of thousands of dollars just to earn your commencement government contract.^[vi]

   • Once you're certified, you lot'll be eligible for smaller regime contracts that are fix bated for specific types of minor businesses.

2. 2

   Review the qualifications for certification. The Small Business concern Association (SBA) certifies businesses in three different areas, each of which has its ain requirements. You may qualify under more than i certification area.^[7]

   • You tin be certified if you have a woman-owned business, have a business in sure urban or rural areas, or accept an extremely small business that is disadvantaged in another respect.
   • Visit the SBA website at sba.gov to review the requirements for each of the certifications and detect out if whatever of them use to your business organization.

3. 3

   Evaluate the set-bated rules and limitations. Before y'all go through the procedure of having your business concern certified as a small business for government contracting purposes, you need to brand sure your business actually could benefit from small business set up-asides.^[8]

   • The certification procedure is long and involved, and so if you don't see any benefit to your concern in getting the certification, there's no point in doing it.
   • By using SAM, you can self-certify in some areas, such as the size of your business or whether your business concern is veteran-owned.

4. 4

   Apply for certification. If yous believe your business qualifies for one of the more specific set-aside programs, complete an application with the SBA to begin the certification process. You may be contacted by an SBA official.^[nine]

   • Proceed all of your certification materials in 1 place, and make copies of everything you send to the SBA so you lot take information technology for your business concern'southward records.
   • If any of the information changes while your certification is still being processed, contact the SBA every bit soon as possible to improve your application.

5. 5

   Employ the size standards tool. Many contracts set aside for small businesses simply require your business to have fewer than a specific number of employees. That number varies based on what industry your business is in.^[10]

   • The SBA uses the NAICS to prepare size standards. Go the NAICS classification codes y'all constitute for your business organisation.
   • Blazon your code into the SBA'south size standards tool, available on the association'south website at https://www.sba.gov/tools/size-standards-tool.

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1. one

   Search for open federal contracts online. Open contracting opportunities are listed on the FedBizOpps website, located at https://www.fbo.gov/. The website is operated by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the federal agency that oversees all contracts and authorities procurement.^[11]

2. ii

   Check for smaller state and local contracts. Particularly if you lot're waiting for small-business certification, you may want to go your feet moisture by bidding for a few state or local contracts before you jump correct into federal contracts.^[12]

   • Each state has its own process to register as a state government contract. The information you need to become started shouldn't be any dissimilar than what y'all needed to annals equally a federal contractor.
   • To observe out the registration requirements and open up contracts available in your state, visit the website of your land's procurement part or Secretary of State.

3. iii

   Enquiry authorities agencies. If you want to contract for a particular agency or department, get to understand their budget and operations. This will give you a better thought of how high or low to bid to get a contract.

   • You'll also find up to date information on regulations and safety standards that may employ to your business if your bid is accepted.

4. 4

   Network within government contracting and procurement programs. You want to cultivate the government as a customer just as you would whatsoever other. Get to know the people in departments, especially local contacts.

   • Talking to people in authorities agencies helps you lot get a improve sense of what the agency'southward needs are, as well as their budgetary restrictions.

5. v

   Attend authorities agency events. The SBA and government contracting agencies host conventions, workshops, and other events that allow contractors to better connect to the staff in unlike government agencies.

   • Y'all also tin nourish events focused on your detail industry that are hosted by a company in the individual sector. In addition to individual networking opportunities, government procurement experts frequently attend.

6. 6

   Find a mentor. If you're a modest-business concern owner just getting started as a authorities contractor, you may want to take part in i of the two mentor programs sponsored by the federal government.

   • The mentor programme run by the GSA connects you with a larger and more experienced regime contractor in your industry. They help you navigate the bidding procedure and get you on your way to winning your first regime contract.
   • If you were certified as a socially or economically disadvantaged business under the SBA's viii(a) program, there's another mentor programme you lot can employ that will connect you with a successful federal contractor.

7. 7

   Train your squad. When yous work on a federal contract, your business and your team may be field of study to federal laws and regulations that wouldn't accept applied to your operations otherwise. Your team should exist up to date on these requirements so there aren't any problems.^[xiii]

   • Some contractors must complete a mandated preparation process before they tin can begin work on a contract. Even if grooming isn't required for your employees, at that place typically will even so be specific regulations and policies they need to know about.

8. 8

   Market place towards government agencies. When you answer to bids and write proposals, you are advertizing your company. Put your research to piece of work by drafting proposals that clearly identify the needs of the authorities agency and how your business organization is best-situated to meet those needs at the best toll.

   • Looking at previously successful proposals also can requite you a good idea of how to structure your proposal and the kind of language to use.
   • If you accept a formal mentor, talk to them almost marketing toward specific agencies. Even if you don't accept a formal mentor relationship, experienced contractors typically will exist willing to share their knowledge with you lot.

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