Recently I attended a government contracting event and was the lucky winner of a copy of “Win Government Contracts For Your Small Business, authored by John DiGiacomo and James Kleckner. I have found this book to be an excellent guide to helping me stay focused on locating federal contracting opportunities.

Here is a sample of excellent insights into government contracting to get you motivated to “take the plunge”.

  1. Who are the Top 10 Federal Agencies (in number of contracts and total dollar amounts)? Department of Defense. Department of Veteran Affairs. Department of Justice. Department of Health & Human Services. Social Security Administration. General Services Administration. Department of Agriculture. Department of State. Department of Interior. Department of Treasury.
  2. Did you know that 70% of all government purchases are for micro-purchases ( sums under $2,500) and are completed with a credit card? The biggest credit card users are in the Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Affairs, who account for almost $9.9 Billion. Why is this information important to you as a small business owner? You need to be able to accept credit card purchases from your website.
  3. Is there real opportunity for small business owners? Yes, many one-owner companies have gone from modest sales to multi-million dollar sales in niche areas. The SBA 8a program is just one way to get into federal contracting as a small business owner.
  4. Is your company ready to do business as a federal contractor? The book offers a checklist that includes topics such as: Business Size, Financial Capability, Quality Assurance Program, Office Efficiency, EDI and Ecommerce Capability, Internet including a Company Website.
  5. What is the FAR? The FAR or Federal Acquisition Regulation is considered to be the ultimate reference book for all rules governing contracting processes. You should have a basic knowledge of the FAR before attempting to do business with the federal government.

This book contains an extensive glossary, form templates and a comprehensive list of contacts and websites to get you up to speed on federal contracting.

V. Karen Miller is The 8a Mentor, a website devoted to helping small business owners successfully apply for SBA 8a certification. Karen’s company, Design2Train has been SBA 8a certified since 2005. Check out the free resources at http://www.The8aMentor.com

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