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227
Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-8901 |
| >> Email Adam |
District
Office
3600 Port of Tacoma Road,
Ste. 106
Tacoma,
Washington
98424
253.896.3775
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Procurement
The U. S. government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and
services, yet the complexity of the federal procurement system often
discourages people and businesses from pursuing government contracts.
We have a very dynamic and diverse business community within the 9th
District, and my office is available to assist you with the information
you or your company needs to expand your business opportunities with
the U. S. government. While I cannot promote an individual company for
an award or direct a federal agency to decide a contract in their favor,
there are many things my office can do: provide information on available
contracts; inquire as to the status of a contract award; provide information
on obtaining General Service Administration (GSA) numbers and how to
get on the “federal schedule”; provide information on Small
Business grants and more. My Procurement Coordinator in my district office
will be happy to answer all your questions as to if and how we can be
of assistance in the area of government procurement. Additionally, my
office holds an annual Procurement Workshop to give local companies the
chance to meet representatives from the military and other federal agencies,
and to hear how they handle procurement and what types of contracts they
have available.
FedBizOpps (Federal Business Opportunities) is a single point of entry
for announcements of federal contract opportunities over $25,000 for
civilian and military agencies. It serves both federal agencies as buyers
and businesses
as vendors to the government. Since the FedBizOpps site
is not an easy site to navigate, do not hesitate to call the toll-free
helpline number: (877) 472-3779.
As a vendor you can search for agency announcements, awards of contracts, and
requests for proposals. In order to search this complicated website well, first
review the Vendors Guide for tips on searching by agency, classification codes,
or award categories. Also, sign up for e-mail notification of announcements of
particular agencies or for activity concerning particular products or services.
For companies wishing to conduct continuing business with the government, apply
to
be a GSA Schedule contractor through a solicitation in FedBizOpps.
- Federal Supply Schedule
(FSS, part of the GSA Schedules Program) gives many businesses, small
and large, further opportunities for multiple awards. The GSA application
and approval process "to get on the schedule" may take considerable time
but may be worth it for future business with government agencies.
- FSS
Center for Acquisitions Excellence offers online training and classroom
instruction on the GSA Schedules Program. Check for GSA course listings
on how to sell to the government and get contract awards, including the
course How to be a Contractor.
A federal contract may be so large that a single company might have
difficulty in providing the products or services required to meet
the terms of the contract. A prime contractor may need to use subcontractors
to complete contractual obligations.
- SUB-Net U.S.
Small Business Administration Subcontracting Network Identify subcontract
opportunities by reviewing the postings of prime contractors.
- Subcontracting Opportunities Directory (SBA) identify prime contractors
through a listing of contractors, with addresses and phone numbers,
by state.
Checking individual federal agency websites can be a valuable first step for
businesses who believe that they have a specialized service or product to offer
to a specific agency. The government's official Web portal, FirstGov, provides
links to the websites of federal agencies, through an A-Z Index. Other useful
websites include:
- The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides
a step-by-step guide for selling to the government, with tips on bidding,
marketing, and competing for government contracts, and links to free online
courses.
- General Services Administration (GSA) -- as the government's chief acquisitions
agency, GSA spends billions of dollars annually on products and services
offered to all federal agencies.
- Doing Business with GSA a
56–page publication which outlines government procedures, marketing
strategies, and bidding procedures for contracts. Also lists important contacts,
such as the 11 GSA regional centers and technical advisors for small businesses.
- Using GSA: How to Sell to the Government describes
how GSA buys from small and large businesses, including an explanation of
how GSA advertises business opportunities locally and nationally, and lists
a calendar of local workshops for businesses wanting to sell to the government.
- Office of Small Business Utilization provides
information on small business programs and publications on procurement; links
to a Subcontracting directory, which lists addresses of GSA contractors with
subcontracting goals.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) located
in every state, these centers advise and train businesses in financial matters,
including certification procedures for small and minority businesses. They
are an excellent first stop for any business, especially those with little
or no previous experience in dealing with federal procurement.
- Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)
- GSA Regional offices the
contracting officers are familiar with the procurement needs of the federal
facilities located in their region.
- Central Contractor Registration (CCR) registers
your company on-line. A company must have a CCR number to get government
contracts. You can review the information on the classification of types
of small businesses. If your business is classified
as a small or disadvantaged business, this certification may lead to more business opportunities.
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