Federal Contracting

The federal government provide contracting opportunities to minorities businesses and small businesses through set-asides.  This means that a portion (usually 3%) of all contracts are designated for minority owned businesses.  The term minorities include veterans and disabled veterans.  You may also qualify as a minority if you’re a woman, African-American, Asian, etc. or are on social security disability.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines Most manufacturing companies with 500 employees or fewer, and most non-manufacturing businesses with average annual receipts under $7.5 million as a small business.

To be qualified as a minority-owned business you will need to be certified as such.  At the federal level certification is done by the SBA.  Review the federal requirements and get your business certified.

Your business will need these things in order to qualify for federal contracting:

-Articles of Incorporation 
This comes from the state in which you register your business.

–NAICS
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. The products you sell must have this code assigned to them. Get NAICS Code.

–Tax ID
You get your Tax ID (EIN) by registering with the IRS.  You can register online and get it instantly. 

–Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
This is a 12-character, alpha-numeric.  You get this when you register with SAM.  The acronym SAM stands for “System of Award Management”.

–Register with the SBA
Register with the SBA as a minority or small business.

–FAR
Be familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

–CYBER SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
Meet these cyber security requirements. 

Find Federal Contracts
Before exerting the effort to participate in federal contracting lookup the federal database to see what contracting opportunities are available and if they fit with the goods and services your business provides: 

Contracting Assistance

Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization:
Contracting opportunities with the government, business financing, etc.

Veteran Contracting Assistance Programs:
Learn about federal programs that help veteran-owned small businesses access federal contract awards and surplus personal property.

Office of Veteran Development:
See veteran specific programs to assist you in gaining access to federal contracting.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC):
Assistance with small business counseling, contracting and financing.

Veteran Institution for Procurement (VIP):
Provides training on how to do contracting with the government.

National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC):
Provides veteran owned business certification.

Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert):
Veteran-owned small businesses can use this application to be certified by SBA to compete for federal contracts.