Federal Government Contract Bid Information
The U.S. government is the world's largest buyer of goods and services. Government agencies buy just about every category of commodity and service available, from paper clips to janitorial services to vehicles used in space exploration. In addition, the federal government seeks to contract with small businesses in order to ensure that small-business owners are thriving throughout the country. If you are a small-business owner seeking government work opportunities, all you need is a little guidance and you are well on your way to securing contracts with the federal government.
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CCR
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In order to be part of the contractor database and have opportunities to bid for government jobs, you must first be registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR). CCR is the primary registrant database for the federal government and collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions.
You will need four things in order to complete registration with CCR:
- A D-U-N-S number
- Tax/employee identification number (TIN/EIN)
- Statistical information about your business
- Electronic funds transfer information (EFT).
D-U-N-S
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A D-U-N-S is a nine-digit number that is unique to your business. It is the universal standard in recognizing more than100 million businesses worldwide. Having a D-U-N-S increases credibility for your business and allows you to bid on contracts with the federal government. It also enables potential customers, suppliers and lenders to easily identify and learn about your company. In addition, you must have a D-U-N-S to apply for federal grants that may be available to your business.
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Marketing Your Business
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Marketing your business with the federal government is very similar to marketing with the private sector. Once you have registered with CCR and obtained a D-U-N-S, you will need to promote your business to prospective agencies. Be sure you understand an agency very well and how your business fits its needs before bidding. When contracting with the government, you can focus on selling the merits of your products or services.
Contracting Goals
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Regulations have been enacted by law in order to ensure that businesses are treated fairly when it comes to government bids. Federal government contracting goals help to establish guidelines so that a certain percentage of contracts go to companies under these categories:
- 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses.
- 5 percent of prime and subcontracts for women-owned small businesses.
- 3 percent of prime contracts for HUB Zone small businesses.
- 3 percent of prime and subcontracts for service-disabled veteran-owned small businessesWhile these government-wide goals are not always achieved, they are important because federal agencies have a statutory obligation to reach out to and consider small businesses for procurement opportunities. If your business fits into one of these categories, be sure to indicate that in your CCR registration.
Resources
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If you are a small-business owner and want to contract with the federal government but you are confused as to where to begin, the Small Business Administration is a very informative resource available to you. This website outlines the registration process for CCR and D-U-N-S as well as tutorials and tips for getting started with government contracts.
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