How to Bid on Federal Contracts

Small businesses that perform a service in tasks overseen by the federal government can bid for government contracts.

If your small business performs a service that can help in construction, cleanup, safety, or other tasks overseen by the federal government, you may be able to earn government contracts. When it comes to federal contracts, every small business has an equal opportunity for work, as long as you have the necessary tools and skills that are needed on a specific government project. All of the tools to sign up as a government contractor and bid on federal contracts are available online.

Instructions

1. Classify your business according to the company divisions created by the United States Small Business Administration. The North American Industry Classification System used by the Small Business Administration was last updated in 2007, and can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau website. To view the list, click the “html” link next to “Code list, full hierarchy.”

2. Consult the Small Business Administration’s “Table of Business Size Standards” to determine if your business is considered a “small business” for purposes of federal government contracts. To read the table, use the code that you got from the North American Industry Classification System to find your business type in the list and match it up amount of profit your company makes or the number of employees.

3. Register your small business with the Central Contractor Registration. To register, go to the Central Contractor Registration website. Click the “Start New Registration” button on the main page of the CCR website and enter all of the requested information for your small business.

4. Add your company to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration database if your company specializes in the cleanup or transportation of hazardous materials. To register, go online to the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hazmat registration page. Registering as a Hazmat company must be done yearly and carries a yearly renewal fee.

5. Find government projects on the Small Business Administration’s Subcontracting Network. To view the contracts available in a specific category, click the link for the category from the main page of the website to display the lists of contracts available.

Tips & Warnings

• At the time that you apply for government contracts, your business profit or number of employees cannot surpass the profit or number of employees listed on the Table of Business Size Standards.

References

• Small Business Administration: Classifying Your Business
• Small Business Administration: Register Your Company

Resources

• Census Bureau: North American Industry Classification System
• Small Business Administration: Table of Small Business Size Standards
• Central Contractor Registration
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Registration
• Small Business Administration: Subcontracting Network