tips and tricks from a newbie contractor
DESCRIPTION
Are you new to the government contracting arena? Well, so are we; relatively new, that is. After jumping in feet first a little less than a year ago, we've experienced some successes and some failures. In this presentation, we'll share it all; the good, bad, and the ugly with the hope that you can get on your feet a little faster.TRANSCRIPT
Michael Babb – President
Kimberly Shockley-Babb – VP of Operations
Assessment and Testing Services, LLC
Tips and Tricks from a
Newbie Contractor
THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UGLY
Getting Certified by the
Center for Veterans Enterprise
Getting on Schedule (relatively fast)
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100611
GSA Schedule Tools
https://eoffer.gsa.gov/
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advantage/login/eBuyLogin.do
When to Work with Government
Contracting Service Providers
(and when not to)
Award
Eagles
Finding Opportunities
We Can Actually Perform
Which Tools?Tool Purpose Link
FedBizOpps Find opportunities, awards,
teaming partners,
subcontracting opportunities
www.fbo.gov
FedBidSpeed Find opportunities, proposal
management and response
http://www.fedbidspeed.c
om/?_obo=XMTHRO
FedBid Find and bid on opportunites.
Reverse Auction site
www.fedbid.com
GSAAdvantage Competitive research, market
research, marketing
www.gsaadvantage.gov
USA Spending Competitive research, market
research
www.usaspending.gov
Mining the Data to Find Marketing
Opportunities
Responding to
Sources Sought Notices
Seeking Small Business• New solicitations are published as
“Sources Sought” notifications
• 1,100 (average) new Sources Sought
solicitations every month
• General Rule:
– If 2 or more capable small businesses are
found – the solicitation must be set aside
Why it Matters• Chances of winning are dramatically better
• Both business development and marketing
• Buyers are captive and interested
• Establishes active communication early
• Get your company in front of the buyer when
they are getting ready to buy
• Request a set-aside (total or partial)
What’s the Catch?• #1: Time
– We know, you’re too busy working on “real” bids
• #2: You have to qualify
– Different NAICS have different “size standards”
• #3: You have to be responsive
– Read the solicitation – answer every question
– Watch the page limit – typically 10 pages or less
Sub-Contracting
a Means to Past Performance
How Do We Organize Our Lives in the
Government Contracting Space?
A primer on our productivity tools
Questions
FedBidSpeed Response Workflow1. Find Sources Sought within your
capabilities.
2. Add it to your watch list
3. Write your response
4. Run the response wizard
5. Check draft of response with Send To Me
6. Send to Buyer
7. Follow up
Assessment and Testing Services, LLC
303.988.5134
Michael Babb
Kimberly Shockley-Babb