Small businesses interested in pursuing federal contracts have many options available to represent their company to potential buyers, to research the federal marketplace for available opportunities, and understand the competition. To prepare your business for federal contracting opportunities, it is important for you to understand these resources.
If you are ready to bid on federal contracts, it’s necessary to submit your business profile to the primary database that federal agencies use to locate contractors. To send your business “resume” to the government, register a business profile with the System for Award Management, also known as SAM. Agencies can search for your business based on several factors, including capabilities, size, location, experience and ownership.
The Small Business Administration maintains the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database. As a small business registers in the System for Award Management, there is an opportunity to fill out your small business profile. The information provided populates DSBS.
Federal business opportunities for contractors are listed at FedBizOpps: Federal Business Opportunities. Federal agencies are required to use this site to communicate available procurement opportunities and their vendor requirements to the public and interested potential vendors for all contracts valued over $25,000.
USASpending.gov is your source for information about government spending through contracts awarded by the federal government. The website is a searchable database that contains information for each federal award.
Many federal agencies have what is known as an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization or an Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). These offices work within their agencies to identify opportunities to incorporate small businesses as vendors to their agencies. Each agency releases a forecast of anticipated procurement activities that includes potential small business opportunities.