You can get started setting up your DUNS number here http://fedgov. dnb. com/webform/pages/CCRSearch. jsp DUNS numbers are free to obtain. A DUNS number will be nine-digits long.
Signing up with SAM is free. You can easily track the status of any business you are trying to register on the SAM website. SAM has combined the coverage of previous systems such as CCR, ORCA and EPLS.
Your NAICS code will likely be necessary when bidding for services. NAICS codes are used for tax purposes. You can search for your code here https://www. census. gov/eos/www/naics/
It is not necessary to have a GSA contract before doing business with the federal government. Your company will need to have been in business for two years and must be financially stable. Your company may need to meet other criteria, based on its individual nature. You’ll need to submit a proposal and wait for up to a year before your business is granted a GSA contract.
Competition will be high. It’s important that you find a niche for your company to work in. You should know which agencies will be most likely to buy your products. You should know which areas of government are spending money on products like yours and how much they spend. You should be aware of who might already be working with your target agencies and the nature of their contracts. There are many online search tools that you can use to learn more. Try visiting http://usaspending. gov/ or https://www. fpds. gov/fpdsng_cms/index. php/en/ to learn more.
Large contractors may actually be required to subcontract. You can visit http://www. gsa. gov/subdirectory to look for subcontracting options.
You can visit the site by going to https://beta. sam. gov/ You can narrow down your searches by agency, keywords or codes. If you need additional help searching on FBO, visit this page https://beta. sam. gov/search?index=opp
Having a lower price isn’t always better. Demonstrating past experience is usually the key to successfully bidding. Being able to show your past successes and having great client references can be a big help. You’ll want to target the agency’s needs, goals and history to demonstrate why your business is the best for them. You may need to give an oral presentation before finalizing the contract.
It’s important that your business perform well, as this will allow you to obtain a government reference. Your contact will be able to work with you to finalize any details or planning.
