Innovation Is Key
The government needs to be very careful about how they handle money that is provided by taxpayers. They are tasked with making sure that things go smoothly and no unnecessary risks are taken. This is a great opportunity for a small business that prides itself on finding innovative solutions to age-old problems.
The United States government is open to fresh perspectives and ideas that can streamline their systems or save them money. Do not be afraid to think outside the box when you bid for government contracts. Your new ways of doing things could be just the thing to make you stand apart from the other companies vying for the same opportunity. They are particularly keen to listen to ideas that have been proven in the private sector.
Flex Your Expertise
This is not the time to be shy about your business’s accomplishments. Being a small business does not automatically mean that you are the underdog in the competition.
Bigger is certainly not always better. Small businesses can often prove to be more agile, efficient, and have better response times when compared to their larger counterparts. A larger organization might not have the flexibility to pivot the way you can, which allows small businesses to be able to think on their feet during crises. Smaller companies can also provide more personalized customer services which is something all consumers appreciate.
Narrow In On The Customer’s Needs
At the end of the day, the United States government is a customer just like any other. However, this customer has deep pockets and unlimited needs. A small business can cater to the government by following a strategy in which the customer’s needs always come first. Identify what the government agency’s pain points are and then offer them your innovative solutions to their problems. This type of discipline always wins big points with the government.
Be Precise And Follow Directions
Naturally, the government is a stickler for following rules and regulations. It is shocking how many bids get tossed out because companies fail to follow basic directions. Be aware of deadlines and do not leave anything black when filling out forms. The request for proposals or RFPs has very specific instructions and you must take everything seriously. Just think of it like filing your income taxes and do not take any unnecessary shortcuts.
Be Strategic In Which Agencies That You Target
Covid-19 had not had a major impact on government spending. In 2020, there have been over 1.55 trillion dollars spent on just Covid response efforts. This increase in spending has made the budgets for 2021 higher for several agencies. The Department of Defense has increased its budget by 800 million dollars when compared to 2020. NASA has requested a 12 percent increase in its agency funding and the Veteran Administration agencies have asked for 14 percent more money in 2021. It is a great idea to strategically target agencies that are experiencing this type of budget boom to secure government contracts.
Streamlining and Modernizing Information Technology
Did you know that the Internal Revenue Service, the Veteran’s Affairs Department, Defense Department, and the Transportation Department are operating on computer systems that are over 50 years old? Some are still using 1970 IBM mainframe computers that store information on floppy disks!
This has caused the government to pass the Modernizing Government Technology Act, also known as the MGT. The MGT has authorized that 100 hundred million dollars be allocated to modernizing the federal government Information Technology systems in 2018. Then another 150 million dollars were added to the MGT in 2019. The Consolidated Appropriations Act also then added billions of dollars to upgrade the government’s I.T. systems and update infrastructure.
So small businesses that can help the government reduce redundancies, save money, and streamline government technology have a great chance of obtaining very profitable government contracts in 2020 and beyond.
There Will Be An Increase In IT Spending
The demand for information technology services in the federal government has created ample opportunities for companies in this field. More and more companies are doing away with having local servers and personal devices to handle modern software applications. Now more than ever, companies are relying on cloud computing to maintain multiple copies of the data to mitigate instances of security threats, data loss, and data breaches.
The government is no exception. They understand that cloud computing will lower costs significantly and help them manage their data more efficiently. Small businesses that understand how to utilize cloud computing should be in a very good position to cash in on this new wave of data management architecture.
Cyber Security Will Also Be A Lucrative Field
As the world becomes increasingly higher-tech, security breaches are more likely to be in data management than on the battlefields. The government needs to stay several steps ahead of those who wish to exploit undiscovered vulnerabilities in our systems. This is why cybersecurity will be a very lucrative area for government contractors. This is particularly true in 2020, which will be an election year. Cybersecurity will be used to protect voter databases and voting machines.
Cybersecurity is also going to be a big part of government protection when it comes to cyberattacks on supply chains. Contractors that can help manage these constant threats to government security will be in high demand.
Make Sure You Get A CAGE Code (Commercial and Government Entity)
This code is five characters and unique to your business. It’s your ID code, and government agencies will identify your business using this code. It is a bit like a social security number for your business. If your business includes more than one facility, then you will need multiple CAGE codes. Each location must have its unique code, and each location must be registered separately with SAM.
How Do You Get Started Working With The Government?
SAM stands for System Award Management.
To do any business with the federal government, you must register your business in the System for Award Management. The government will not hire any type of business that has not registered in the SAM directory.
We have an article on our site, Everything You Need to Know About SAM for Small Businesses, that gives you important information about this process.
As a smart entrepreneur, you have already used our site to register in the SAM directory. Congratulations on taking this important first step to becoming a government contractor.