Expand Your Business by Working for the Government

Every year government departments and agencies offer thousands of opportunities for private companies to expand their business. Despite the massive size of the U.S. government, there’s no way it can handle every need on its own. Everything they don’t handle in-house gets outsourced to the private sector.

Securing government contracts used to require a lot of red tape, and finding information on opportunities was extremely difficult. Advanced search systems like BidSync now make it much easier to find available contracts that are well suited for your business. All the information is compiled in one location and updated regularly. You can search for contracts, create proposals and respond to government RFPs all in one place.

Owning your own business and being your own boss means you’re responsible for finding work that generates revenue. Working for the government is one more way to get a steady paycheck for you and your employees. Keep reading to learn how to tap into this revenue stream.

Opportunities at All Levels of Government

Many business owners make the mistake of thinking that all contracts are for the federal government and are only open to large companies with lobbyists in Washington. That might help you win certain contracts, but it certainly isn’t necessary.

Opportunities exist at all levels of government:

• Local – city and county
• State
• Federal – abroad and overseas

If you own a small business it may be best to start with contracts from your local government. But if your company offers a highly specialized service or a product that’s hard to find, this could help you win contracts at the federal level. You’ll just have to prove you can meet the demand.

Products and Services Outsourced by the Government

So, what exactly is the government outsourcing to private businesses? The short answer is a lot of things. The government contracts out for both goods and services. However, they’ll only buy goods and services from suppliers that meet qualifications.

Your company may have already sold goods or services to the government without knowing it. Around 70% of government procurements are what’s called “micro-purchases”. These are purchases for $3,000 or less that are made with a credit card. There’s no contracts or bidding involved, and the government official doesn’t need approval to purchase.

Examples of goods and services that are procured by the government include:

• Office supplies
• Janitorial services
• Construction and materials
• IT-based solutions
• Aircraft components
• Transcription services
• Photographic equipment

As you can see from this short list of examples, the opportunities are across the board. However, anytime highly-specialized goods or services are involved, the government will almost always use a contracting-by-negotiation process that involves bidding.

The government will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP), which opens up bidding to contractors. No matter what type of procurement process is used, the government officials must follow the buying procedures and regulations outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Getting Started With Government Contracts

First and foremost, you need to find out what government procurement opportunities are available. That’s where a service like BidSync comes in. It’s much easier and quicker to navigate than government websites. It also allows you to take the next steps in the process and monitor your bids.

If your business meets the qualifications and can fulfill the procurement contract, you’ll need to submit a proposal. After submitting you have to carefully track your proposals, because if an agency responds you need to be responsive or they might move on to another vendor. The procurement officer will select the business that meets all the requirements and bids the lowest price for completing the job.

From there, a contract and agreement will be drawn up that specifies the details. Your business will need to look over the paperwork carefully and sign off on everything before the contract can become official.

QUICK TIP: If you are a female business owner or veteran let it be known. Preference is often given to business owners that fall into those two categories.

At any given time there are tens of thousands of government contract opportunities open to any and all businesses in the U.S. Don’t miss out on a chance to grow your company by working with the government.