Each of us has a story of how we got into the wonderful world of government contracting. In this month’s blog post, I reflect on how lucky I am to be in the government marketplace. Follow me as I share my encounter and romance with this multi-trillion dollar industry.
Why do we still celebrate Black History Month? What is the intersection of Black History and government contracting? Wait, don’t bypass this article because at first glance you think it doesn’t connect to you. It is worth reading. We all stand on someone’s shoulders in our life’s journey.
Subcontracting is an excellent pathway for businesses to enter the government contracting arena. Did you know that when a large prime contractor wins a contract over $750,000, or $1.5 million in construction, they are required to award 35% of that contract to small businesses? This
The government market is a vast and complex landscape, offering lucrative opportunities for
businesses of all sizes. However, winning government contracts is not as straightforward as
submitting a proposal and hoping for the best.
Big changes may be coming to the 8(a) Certification Program known as 8(a) Business Development Program. It is part of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is designed to assist small businesses that are economically and socially disadvantaged in gaining access to government contracts. For businesses currently in the 8(a) Certification Program or those planning on applying for entrance into the 8(a) Program, there are some potential major modifications on the way.
"Follow the money" is a catchphrase popularized by the 1976 docudrama film All the President's Men, which suggests political corruption can be brought to light by examining money transfers between parties. While the term was popularized in the 1970s, the premise behind the statement has been around for over a century. In Latin, the term Cui bono? means "to whom is it a benefit?"
Relief for DoD contractors due to inflation may be on the way. The proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2023, which is Congress' annual budget for the Department of Defense (DoD), includes a provision that would grant the DoD more discretion to allow inflation relief for DoD contractors. The NDAA would amend 50 U.S.C. § 1431 to give the DoD more discretion in allowing adjustments to contracts to account for inflation, although this allowance would only be temporary, lasting from when the NDAA is signed by the President until December 31, 2023.
The White House plans to significantly increase the share of federal contracts awarded to Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) by 50% by 2025. This ambitious goal translates to awarding an additional $100 billion to SDBs over the next five years. Currently, the target for SDBs is set at 5% of federal contracting dollars, but recent data shows that federal agencies have been exceeding this goal, awarding an average of 9.8%. The new goal aims to raise this share to nearly 15% by 2025.
Teaming and joint venture agreements are powerful tools often utilized by successful businesses in the government market. Although each agreement may seem straightforward, there are significant differences between them. The SBA has recently implemented new rules applicable to both agreements, so contractors should be aware of these essential differences.
When a company launches its business, many professional advisors suggest that entrepreneurs find a need and focus on that one niche, offering a solution to fill that demand. They are sought after when they are considered specialists in that one vertical*. This strategy works well, especially when there aren't many competitors and they can capture a larger market share.
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Only 22% of federal contracting dollars are awarded to small businesses. Our goal is to be an agent of change by helping businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans to get their fair share of the opportunities in the government market.
