Three Steps for Consultants Looking to Land Government Contracts

Have you ever wondered how to work as a federal marketing consultant for the government? There are several prospects for independents because the federal government employs more contractors than any other corporation in the world. Contracts worth billions of dollars are reserved every year for veterans, women, minorities, and small enterprises.

Government contracts are frequently considered by independent federal marketing consultants as an additional avenue for business expansion. To comprehend the procedures, specifications, and resources required to obtain government contracts as a federal marketing consultant, follow these three steps.

What is Needed for Government Contracts?

1. Resources and time

The time and resources needed to pursue and manage a government contract should be understood by independents. For instance, submitting Representations and Certifications is a necessary step in the application process for federal contracts. These laws compel you to represent and certify some statements ranging from environmental rules and compliance to entity size. Representations and Certifications are very specific elements of the procedure that are used to make sure you comply with laws and regulations.

There are legal repercussions as well as the time-consuming nature of document completion. It's advised to get a legal review if you're going through this process for the first time or on your own.

2. Insurance Coverage

There can be extra requirements in addition to the time, money, and credentials needed to obtain a government contract. Similar to many major commercial contracts, government contracts may call for supplementary liability insurance.

3. Special arrangements for invoicing and payment

Standard company contracts may not apply to the terms of invoicing and payment. Government contracts are frequently monthly, net-60, meaning that you might not get paid for 90 days. Any errors could cause a payment delay of several months.

Additionally, there can be unique invoicing needs. When you are working on a government contract, you must monitor your funding and let the government know when you have used up 75% of it. If you don't, you might get fined. Therefore, it's critical to carefully study contracts to make sure you comprehend your obligations as a contractor.

4. Connections

In a market with many vendors and contractors, relationships will make you stand out. Continue to approach government contracts using the same networking and relationship-building strategies you use for other business possibilities.

Gaining Access to Government Contracts

1. File a Business Registration

You must complete some processes to enroll your company in the System for Award Management before you can be awarded a government contract (SAM). A directory of businesses interested in receiving federal contracts can be found on SAM, an official website of the US government. To make your profile searchable, you must register and fill up your profile.

Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) (EIN)

The government does require its contractors and vendors to have an employer identification number, even though some small enterprises opt to operate using the owner's social security number (EIN). You can get an EIN for nothing from the IRS if you need one. Consider this number to be your company's social security number.

Make a physical address public

You must establish a physical address because the government forbids you from registering a P.O. Box in SAM. If leasing office space is not for you, you can either use a registered agent or a virtual office to satisfy this need.

Achieve a D-U-N-S Number

You must first receive a D-U-N-S Number, a special 9-digit identifier for every physical location of your organization, to be qualified to bid on government contracts. You receive this number for free from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) within one business day.

Choose Your NAICS Code

NAICS, or the North American Industry Classification System, categorizes enterprises to gather information on the American economy. For business registration and certain government contract applications, you'll need a NAICS code. Consult the advice provided by the Small Business Administration for more details on NAICS codes (SBA).

A Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code should be established.

Since 2014, a CAGE code has been necessary to conduct business with the federal government as another distinctive identifier for your company that is intended to be made public. Through various payment systems, these codes give the government access to information on corporate ownership and contracting activity. You can apply for a CAGE code on the Defense Logistics Agency website if you're not yet a government contractor and need one.

You are now prepared to finish your SAM registration after completing the aforementioned stages. Before attesting to FAR and DFAR requirements, it is advised to consult an expert. Making false claims to the government might be inferred from errors or inconsistencies, which is illegal.

2. Look into Current Opportunities

You are now prepared to investigate current federal marketing consultant contracting possibilities. You can approach this in a few different ways:

·       To search for and bid on open opportunities, register with Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps).

·       Search the Schedules program of the Government Services Administration (GSA). Federal spending through GSA Schedules totals around $50 billion a year, with a large portion going to small enterprises.

·       Find subcontracting possibilities by visiting SUB-Net.

3. Take Small Business Certifications into Account

You might gain from acquiring 8(a) status if your company is socially or economically disadvantaged. Although these certifications call for a formal procedure with a third party, they might open up more prospects for you.

You must first sign up for SAM to start this process, and after that, you can begin the SBA application process (Small Business Association). You will be eligible to bid on set-aside and sole-source contracts once you have earned your certification. You will also have access to tools like a Business Opportunity Specialist to help you understand the government contracting process, chances to take part in mentorship programs, and management and technical assistance to support executive development. If you're interested in certification, determine if you're eligible by taking the SBA's suitability assessment.

Remember that navigating the world of a federal marketing consultant by yourself can be challenging. Many independents discover they must work through vendors or integrator to gain contractual opportunities since the requirements can be challenging to meet—holding your security clearance, for example.

The conclusion

If you are unfamiliar with the procedure, government contracting can take up a lot of your billable time. Before selecting whether or not to pursue a government contract for a federal marketing consultant, it is critical to evaluate the requirements. Even while the procedure could seem overwhelming, some options might be the perfect fit for you.