Business Insights

As a small business, there are several types of certifications that you can obtain that can help you qualify for more government contracts. By registering with the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program, you could become eligible to bid on certain contracts that are subject to little or no competition. Applying for certification with the Business Development Program is free; companies simply have to take the time to apply. Obtaining this certification is certain to help small businesses find more contract opportunities in the public sector.

As a business owner, if you have ever thought about pursuing government contracts but made the decision that you just don’t have the resources to be a prime vendor, there is still a way you can participate in the federal contracting market - you can become a subcontractor. Subcontracting offers many great opportunities for vendors of all sizes, but is especially suited to small businesses that are looking to try their hand at government contracting.

These days, it seems like every time you turn on the news you hear about another cyber attack on a government database in the United States. With technology evolving every day, it’s not easy for government to keep up with mounting cyber threats, and frankly it seems like they are always one step behind. Whether cyber attackers are infiltrating infrastructure to gain information, cause damage, or just to demonstrate how easy it is to mount an attack, these events are creating a legitimate fear among the American people that our information is not safe and that our government needs to do something to stop these threats.

In 2014, many of us watched or read the news stories about the outbreak of Ebola virus that devastated Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and other West African countries. In the United States, health authorities were aware that this deadly disease was affecting many people in Africa, and that outbreaks were costing thousands of lives, but few people in North America considered it a danger because we hadn’t yet experienced an outbreak on our shores. That all changed last year, when our own citizens started coming home from West African nations infected with Ebola. A few American citizens lost their lives, but others were able to recover. Why was that? The answer is that in America, we are fortunate to have access to clean water, effective sanitation systems and medical care, all of which prevent the spread of deadly diseases. In addition to these vital pillars of public health, American companies have the ability to produce effective vaccines and distribute them quickly to those who are at risk of infection.

So you have made the decision to start bidding on government contracts – great! Now you may be wondering just what type of bids to pursue: should you start with state and local contracts, or “jump in the deep end” and go for the more lucrative federal bid opportunities? The decision can be challenging, and the answer will depend on what type of business you operate, where you are located, and the resources and manpower you have at your disposal. The best way to determine which bids are right for your business is to create a business map of your company that details what you do, how much work you can handle during a given timeframe and how you would like to see your business develop in terms of growth. Once you answer these questions, you will be one step closer to determining the government contracts that are a good fit for your business.

President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” This quote is very inspiring, but in practical terms it can be a difficult question to answer: what can you do for your country?

Every year, the federal government endeavors to award 23 percent of all federal contract dollars to small businesses. For small janitorial and cleaning service providers, it would be a missed opportunity if they did not take advantage of the many government contracts that are available to them.

Getting Certified



Why Certify? Businesses that are certified as minority-owned are subject to different laws and regulations than other businesses, and as such are very different entities from typical enterprises. Unlike a standard business license or registration, a minority-owned business enterprise certification is not required to run a minority-owned business, although certification can provide many benefits for a company - especially in regards to government contracting. 

Opportunities can arrive unexpectedly, via many different avenues, and businesses should always be prepared for these unexpected opportunities. Having a marketing strategy ready for if and when an opportunity knocks will be helpful for you in terms of selling your services and reassuring potential clients that you meet. For example, you may run into the head of a local government agency at your child’s soccer game or at a social gathering with friends. As any salesperson can tell you, one personal face-to-face interaction is worth a thousand online interactions; therefore, being prepared to market your business effectively in an instant will leave a lasting impression on whomever you have the chance to meet.

When searching for government contracts to bid on, small businesses must keep in mind what types of contracts are available within the government-contracting sphere. The two main types of contracts that small businesses will come across are fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contracts. No matter what kind of product or service a business is offering to the government, it’s helpful for small businesses to learn about the various contract types that exist before bidding on any local, state, or federal RFPs.