Doing Business With the Government

Federal Procurement Resources

Entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in federal government procurement opportunities may want to review the resources listed below to get a better sense of doing business in this unique marketplace.    

U.S. Small Business Administration

The resource page (provided through the link below) has important information that can help you position your company for contracting opportunities. It will help you understand the basics of selling to the government, show you how to get started and pursue opportunities, and provide resources that will give you the knowledge and skills you need to help you succeed. Just click on the link "For Small Business Owners." The Basics on Doing Business with the Federal Government

General Services Administration

GSA Schedules:  Find detailed information about GSA Schedules.  Vendors interested in becoming GSA Schedule contractors should review the Getting on Schedule page, in order to understand the process involved in obtaining a GSA Schedule contract. The Center for Acquisition Excellence offers an online training course, "How to Become a Contractor -- GSA Schedules Program," which provides valuable information for all prospective Schedule contractors.  The GSA Schedules Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide a variety of information regarding the GSA Schedules Program and the use of GSA Schedule contracts.

Doing Business with GSA GuideBook

GSA Subcontracting Directory:  Large business prime contractors receiving federal contracts valued at over $1 million for construction, $550,000 for all other contracts, are required to establish plans and goals for subcontracting with small business firms (Small Business Act, as amended by Public Law 95-507).  GSA has a directory of contractors with subcontracting plans and goals. Companies are listed alphabetically by name within each of the eleven GSA regions. Each listing contains the company's name, products or services, address, and the name and telephone number of the small business contact within the company, in that order.

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

CCR is the primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions. Click here to learn more about CCR Policy and Background. According to the FAR 4.11, prospective vendors must be registered in CCR prior to the award of a contract; basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement.

Federal Business Opportunities

FedBizOpps.gov is the U.S. government's virtual marketplace where commercial vendors and government buyers are invited to post, search, monitor, and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire federal contracting community.

Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

According to the Federal OSDBU Directors Interagency Council, "The OSDBU is tasked with ensuring that each Federal agency and their large prime vendors comply with federal laws, regulations, and policies to include small business concerns as sources for goods and services as prime contractors and subcontractors. Some Federal Departments and entities may have offices in their organizations that are not designated as OSDBU but have similar responsibilities. The goal of the OSBDU and each of these offices is to advocate for and manage the small business utilization programs for their organization."

Here are links to each OSDBU office in the federal government. The OSDBU pages will have such information as doing business with each agency or department, opportunities for small business contracting, outreach events, programs and how to set up an appointment with an OSDBU representative.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) form a nationwide network of procurement professionals dedicated to providing you - at little or no cost -- an understanding of the requirements of government contracting, and the know-how to obtain and perform federal, state, and local government contracts.    

 See "Government Contracting Assistance" for more specific information on the types of help
that PTACs provide.

SBE Council's February 18, 2009 Growth Without Barriers Webcast

A successful CEO discusses how he navigated the federal procurement process, and found opportunities to provide solutions to the government.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Protecting small business, promoting entrepreneurship