Tag: Small Business
Government Contracts Are A Great Opportunity For Small Businesses
by Evelyn LeGrand on Nov.21, 2009, under Government
If you’re a small business providing certain goods and services, government contracts are a great way to go to develop a great source of recurring revenue. The United States government is one of the largest purchasers in the world, and if you can secure a contract, you can usually rely on it for a good source of revenue. But how, exactly, do small companies get started with it?
There is a process that you need to go through though if you are interested in supplying the government with the items that they need. The good news is that the government has set targets that at least a certain percentage of their purchases should come from small businesses.
Any business that bids on government contracts has to go through a certain process. This includes properly classifying their company by the size and type of industry or business they are in. These standards are dictated by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the SBA size standard.
The government agencies that are offering the contract will need this information. And, since some of the contracts that they award are specified for certain types of business, you should also specify whether or not your company qualifies as a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business, a HUBZone business, or a service-disabled business.
The next step is in getting government contracts is to register your business with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. Many government agencies use this database in order to find out about companies that might be able to provide the goods and services that they need. This requires an NAICS code, the SBA size standard for the company, the company’s DUNS number, Federal Tax Identification number, and Standard Industrial Classification codes.
Once your company is in the CCR database, you will start receiving the various opportunities to start bidding on different contracts. Some agencies may even contact you if they feel like you have the particular products or services they need. However, you shouldn’t wait for offers. You should always look for your own opportunities as well.
There are a number of resources available to help businesses to pursue those opportunities. FedBizOpps.gov is a good example. This is where you can find projects that are worth more than $25,000. This is a good site to frequent, and you will likely find the contracts that are right for your company. Some agencies will also list many smaller projects on Bid Boards or on their websites. These are also good places to look for some starter contracts.
One other way that you can learn about bidding opportunities is to become a GSA Schedule Contractor. Some types of products and services are purchased exclusively through the GSA, so this is a good place to start. Once you can start recognizing all your opportunities you will be able to keep the revenue flowing.
The procedure of adding an application for a request for proposal (RFP) is difficult when not understood clearly. Once understood it is essential to provide well written government contracts. Evelyn has had enough writing practice with construction contracts, government procurement and other similar topics that she understands the process. For additional information, see her other resources.
Getting Your Part Of Government Contracts
by Evelyn LeGrand on Nov.17, 2009, under Government
In a tight economy, all businesses are looking for new sources of potential customers. In a tight economy, businesses are also looking for customers who actually have money to spend. But they may not be looking in the right place. There is a secure one-trillion-dollar source of business in the United States that about eighty percent of all small business people do not attempt to access. Government contracts constitute that trillion-dollar opportunity.
The main thing that holds these companies back from government contracts is the fear of the complexity of government regulations. The government has a reputation for making companies jump through a lot of hoops and deal with tons of paperwork. It can be a little overwhelming to a company that hasn’t had much experience in the industry.
The acquisition process for all federal government contracts in excess of twenty five thousand dollars starts with the Government Services Administration (GSA) office. In addition, the GSA serves as the center for all federal contract activity and offers instruction about the bidding process for the contracts it administers.
The GSA is a ‘one stop shopping’ resource for those who are already involved in government contracts or for those who are interested in getting involved. The GSA web site is a virtual clearing house for all government contract activity, and that means that it is the central location to start the process.
The GSA can be more than just a source of potential contracts, though. They also offer a complete online education that can teach a new bidder everything they need to know to get through the basics of government contracts. Many experienced bidders can also find valuable information here to keep up with the changing industry.
GSA instructional courses are reminiscent of typical online college or training courses and can be completed for continuing education credits. Certificates are also available upon completion of the courses that are suitable for display.
Once a contract has been awarded, it is vital that the successful bidder maintain communication with the end user or agency with whom the contract is established. Again, the GSA office supplies a portal for information gathering and exchange.
The GSA is responsible for making sure that any vendor that won the contract will deliver on their promised services and prices. They really do want to make sure the project is completed satisfactorily, and so they will do what they can to assist rather than hinder a company. What that means is you won’t have to be afraid of government contracts.
When submitting for government contracts it is important to have a well written RFP. Evelyn has a little writing knowledge with construction contracts, government procurement and other similar topics. For more information, see her other articles.
Procurements Request for Proposal Process
by Greg Jorgenson on Oct.19, 2009, under Government
If there comes a time when my company needs to deal with a third party to deal with some part of the business, we turn to the procurements department to deal with the point of contact and to get the proposal process started. There are also a number of companies this can be outsourced to, depending on the companys needs.
The procurements department would then be responsible to review the possible companies and make the best possible recommendations. If one of the companies passes this initial screening test they will be asked to submit a formal proposal. In the past, we never worried about the format of the proposal, we just looked for the answers to certain questions.
However, I just informed my procurement department that I was looking for a new, third party vendor to handle our inbound data. They asked me which format I wanted potential companies to submit their responses in. I had a choice between an EOI, RFP or RFT.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) ” an EOI is ideal for a company requesting help with a certain problem without knowing exactly how to solve the situation. Basically, you have a problem that needs to be fixed, but do not know what it will take to fix it. An EOI will provide solutions to your problem and provide the cost associated for fixing it.
A Request for Proposal (RFP), on the other hand, is what you should use when you plan on purchasing goods and services straight from a third party. A quality RFP will also include more than one solution to your problem, and offer some pricing options with them. This way you will have some flexibility in how you choose to solve your problem and youll be able to do more or less as the situation dictates. You will see this kind of proposal in the consulting industry or communications technology fields.
RFTs, Requests for Tenders, on the other hand, are used to provide a specific solution to a specific problem. There is one problem in question, there is limited room for flexibility, and the price is not likely to change. This format is usually used in the building or construction industry. An example would be the addition of a bathroom to a house. There may be some differences in materials and labor, but each proposal is for the same project.
For my particular problem, Im going to need a lot of flexibility before it is solved. Thats why, in the end, I decided to ask the procurements department to gets requests for proposals from all the top contenders.
It might take some time for a company to complete an RFP, depending on how detailed the projects is. By collecting a lot of RFPs, though, you will have a better chance of getting the best deal possible.
When submitting a request for government contracts it is critical to comprise a well written RFP. Greg has had ample writing experience with construction contracts, government procurement and other topics that he understands the procedure. For further information, see his other resources.
The Details Of A Government Procurement Code
by Gregory Stevenson on Oct.16, 2009, under Government
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Procurement Code was created to encourage confidence in international government procurement processes and to develop healthy competition between companies and contractors. This code also ensures that all procurement procedures are conducted in fair, impartial, and transparent methods.
Many different governments adhere to the GATT Procurement Code, and as such they have accepted the rules that it outlines. Then, about a decade ago, the United States negotiated some tighter regulations to go along with those rules. This way the Procurement Code will cover construction contracts and other goods or services and open up new government procurement export opportunities.
When any government procurement process follows this code, you can rely on the transaction taking place in a secure manner. It will also allow many different US companies to take part in an international arena. The first step, though, is to realize there is a need that can be fulfilled.
Once the need has been established then the consumer will then begin a search for possible services, contractors or products they deem necessary. The government procurement code allows them search internationally to find the best available company and price. This allows United States based companies the opportunity to compete with international companies to secure potential jobs.
Due to government procurement, consumers from all over the world are able to evaluate vendors, companies or contractors on an international basis. In this way, consumer will be able to compare a multitude of companies or vendors until they find the few that can offer the specific needs they are searching for and then make further choices based on cost and efficiency.
Finally, once the consumer has decided on one specific company, regardless whether it is United States based or not, they then can make arrangements to receive the services or products they desire. During this step of the government procurement process, monies will be exchanged and satisfaction of services or products will be confirmed.
However, if for some reason those goods or services to not measure up to the level that was specified in the contract, there are a couple things you can do to seek compensation. First, you can work with the company until everyone is satisfied with the outcome, or second, you can return your merchandise for a refund or reimbursement.
The government procurement code has made it possible for the United States to do business overseas and develop some very valuable contracts. When everything is done right, the procurement process can build jobs and provide some economic security.
When submitting an application for government contracts it is essential to comprise a well written RFP. Greg has had sufficient writing practice with construction contracts, government procurement and other topics that he understands the process. For additional information, see his other resources.
How Can I Understand Procurement Services and How Can They Help Me?
by Brent Jorgenson on Oct.15, 2009, under Government
When someone talks about procurement, what do you think about? In a very basic sense, procurement is simply the act of purchasing goods and services at a cost effective price point. You could say it is to gain, acquire, or purchase items. A procurement service, then, is a company you hire to make purchases for you.
The procurement process doesn’t just involve the buying of needed commodities, but it’s also a system of checking for quality and quantity. Making sure that you’ve bought enough of what you need and that it’s in good condition. What happens most often is that the procuring company, the one doing the buying, will have a list of suppliers that they use regularly, this helps to promote a smoother business relationship since the company knows they can trust the supplier.
Procurement processes differ from company to company because they all have different needs, and methodologies between government agencies and private companies have different regulations. Procurement is still beneficial to both when they are purchasing items in bulk and on a regular basis.
The actual step of acquiring the merchandise a company needs will differ according to the product being gained, and as such the procurement services will differ as well. For example, health care equipment needs to be reliable and efficient and so the procurement process is carried out far more meticulously than with a non-health care company so that faulty merchandise is not acquired.
Of course, in the technical sense, procurement happens on the individual level too. Whenever you purchase something, whether online or in person, you?re acting as your very own procurement department. Hopefully you?ve taken the time to find the most affordable item or service and are working with providers you trust.
There are some companies that just don?t have the ability to track their spending and procurement without help. They can turn to outside services or create an internal department specifically designed to deal with the problem. This way they can always have an accurate analysis of the current spending patterns and ways they can become more efficient.
As a company or organization, how you decide to use procurement services is completely up to you. There are those that choose to completely outsource the procurement departments to a dedicated company, but other companies cannot do this simply because of the nature of the merchandise they need to acquire. It is important to note that every organization is unique and so each use of the service will differ.
Always do your research if you?re going to use a procurement service. There are many out there to choose from, and you want to make sure you have the best company possible working for you. Take a look at their history. Have they been around for a while? Do they have a good reputation? Make sure they understand your company and what you really need.
Government Contracts
by Sunny Emmerwitz on Aug.15, 2009, under Government
Today, small businesses are doing its best in order to keep up with daily competition. They are trying to do a lot of promotion and even developing their products in order to match the needs of the customers. A lot of them also are trying to get government contracts for their businesses.
Government jobs are not always the most profitable jobs, but it ensures that you have work. There is job security when working with these government contracts. When the jobs are in, the money is soon to follow.
However, how is it going to be possible for a business to bid for these contracts? There are a number of things that you can do to be able to bid for government contracts.
First and foremost, it is important for you to know the rules and regulations in terms of bidding. You can check for them online through searching them on the search engines. At the same time, there could be some local offices located to your area that may give you additional information about bidding regulations.
Keep in mind that this is a game. This is a competition between you and a lot of companies. With this, you have to make sure to put your game face on even if you are just expecting a very small amount of profit. You have to properly condition yourself or else once the amount of profit sinks in, you might just let go easily of a very good working opportunity from the government.
Another thing you will need to do is register you business and you can do this through Central Contractor Registry. This is required by the government in order to apply for a job. A valid website is also something you will need.
Lastly, you need to know how the bidding process goes. Knowing this will keep your business stable in these tough times. You will also be able to establish a relationship with them.
Having continuous government contracts will mean continuous work for you business. Your business will grow into what you wanted it to be when you first started.