Arranged by GTPAC’s 7 Phases of Government Contracting
(as taught in our “Introduction to Government Contracting” class)
1. Registration in Government Databases
- Employer Identification Number (apply for an EIN online)
- DUNS number (online application to obtain a DUNS number)
- Georgia Secretary of State – Corporations Division (register your businesses, update your annual registration, reinstate your business)
- NAICS codes (guide to the uniform, industry-wide classification system for statistical reporting of all economic activities of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; NAICS codes are needed to register in the government’s vendor database, SAM, for federal contracting)
- NIGP Code Directory (listing of commodity codes developed by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, adopted by more than 1,400 state and local governments; NIGP codes are needed to register as a vendor with state and local governments)
- FSC/PSC search (listing and search engine for Federal Supply Codes and Product Service Codes; needed to complete registration in SAM)
- NAICS code cross-reference with GSA Schedules (how to relate NAICS codes to GSA Schedule contracts)
- Small Business Size Standards (use these tables to determine whether your business is a small business)
- 8(a) program (guide to the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) business development program)
- Net Worth Determination (determine your net worth to qualify for 8(a) program using SBA Form 413)
- 8(a) Mentor-Protege Rules (SBA’s rules on what written mentor-protege agreements must contain)
- Joint Venture Guidelines (SBA’s rules on 8(a) mentor-protege joint venture agreements)
- HUBZone (guide to the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program)
- HUBZone Locator Tool (type in an address to determine whether it is located in a HUBZone)
- WOSB program (guide to the Small Business Administration’s Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program)
- SAM (System for Award Management, includes the centralized, electronic registration process for vendors that want to do business with the federal government, formerly known as Central Contractor Registration, as well as ORCA, the Online Representations and Certifications Application, the primary federal government repository for most of the government-required representations and certifications)
- Scams involving SAM and other government databases
- SAM Quick Start Guide
- SAM User’s Guide (instructions for using SAM, including registering as a vendor and completing ORCA)
- SAM User Help Regarding Small Business Information
- SAM Registration Tips – 2012
- SAM Instructional Video – 2013
- Veteran-Owned Business Registration (the VA’s vendor registration system for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses)
- SDVOSB Joint Venture Requirements (terms required in a joint venture involving a service-disabled veteran-owned small business)
- GT Vendor Registration Form (for doing business with Georgia Tech)
- Team Georgia Marketplace (the State of Georgia’s vendor registration system)
- eVerify (allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S.)
- Georgia Defense Exchange (GDX) (directory of Georgia defense contractors providing detailed company profiles and contract histories)
- USA Gov (the U.S. government’s official web search site)
- FedBizOpps (the place where the federal government announces all of its contracts valued at more than $25,000; register her to conduct advanced searches)
- MERX Supplier Guide (a guide for doing business with the Canadian government)
2. Creating a Marketing Plan
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program (a resource for veteran-owned small business owners, designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business)
- FedSpending.org (a tool to research federal contracting activities over the past several years)
- Considering Subcontracting (GTPAC tips)
- DoD Prime Sub-contracting Directory (a handbook on the Defense Department subcontracting opportunities)
- SBA’s Subcontracting Opportunities Directory (a listing of contractors who have submitted subcontracting plans to the federal government)
- Contracts Awarded by the Dept. of Defense (contracts valued at $5 million or more, many containing subcontracting opportunities, announced each business day)
- Procurement Forecasts (buying forecasts for each federal agency)
- Government Contracting Basics (DoD fact sheet)
- Map of DoD Installations in the U.S. (from Military.com website)
- SBIR (helps small businesses obtain funding for research and development activities)
- Georgia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Center (a program of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute)
- Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) (a Georgia Tech program that helps manufacturers increase top-line growth and reduce bottom-line costs through strategic planning, innovation management, process improvement, ISO standards, sustainability, and energy services.)
- Small Business Development Centers (a resource network across the state of Georgia, especially valuable for start-up companies)
- SCORE (training events sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives)
- The Edge Connection (programs to aid micro-entrepreneurs and small business owners in their efforts to launch, sustain, and expand businesses)
- Georgia Microenterprise Network (organizations that help small businesses in Georgia)
- Georgia Dept. of Economic Development (state support for small businesses)
- Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (state support for farm and food businesses)
- The First Stop Business Information Center (central point of information about Georgia regulatory requirements for operating a small business)
- Evaluating Your Business Idea, Business Plan On-Line Guide, SBA’s How to Prepare a Business Plan, and Sample Business Plans (each of these links contain resources to help you develop, refine and improve your business plan)
- International Trade Center (helps Georgia businesses in international exports)
- Federal IT Dashboard (a website enabling federal agencies, industry, the general public and other stakeholders to view details of federal information technology investments)
- Creating a Capabilities Statement (GTPAC tips)
- Tips for Attending a Government Expo or Trade Show (how to prepare, what to do, how to follow up)
- Developing and Delivering an “Elevator Speech” (GTPAC tips)
- Responding to “Sources Sought” (GTPAC tips)
3. Knowing the Right People
- Business USA (resources, events, and government programs for for small businesses and exporters)
- Federal SADBU (links to programs available throughout the federal government for small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Commerce
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Defense (DoD)
- Defense Logistics Agency Small Business Specialists
- Small Business Specialists and Contractors’ SBLOs, U.S. Dept. of Energy
- Small Business Specialists, General Services Administration (GSA)
- Real Estate Services (contracting performed by GSA for 8,600 federal properties)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of the Interior
- Small Business Specialists, NASA
- Procurement Center Representatives and Commercial Market Representatives, Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Small Business Specialists, Dept. of Transportation (DOT)
- Small Business Liaisons, Georgia public colleges and universities
- Contracting Representatives for all State of Georgia agencies
- Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Navy Exchange (NEX), Marine Corps Exchange and the US Coast Guard Exchange (for sale of retail items to military posts)
- Army Morale, Welfare & Recreation and Navy Morale, Welfare & Recreation (for recreation, sports & physical fitness activities, child development & youth programs, hospitality and retail shopping opportunities)
- Georgia Military Bases (map showing all military bases in Georgia)
- Georgia Military Commanders (listing of all base commanders in Georgia, including contact information)
- How to Approach Small Business Specialists (GTPAC tips)
- When and How to Contact a Contracting Officer (GTPAC tips)
4. Developing a Reference Library
- History of the Small Business Administration (SBA) (an independent U.S. government agency tasked with providing support to small business owners and entrepreneurs)
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agency FAR Supplements (maintained by Hill Air Force Base)
- Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (online guide to all rules published in the Federal Register by departments and agencies of the federal government)
- U.S. Code (consolidation, and codification by subject matter, of all general and permanent U.S. laws)
- Federal Register (the official daily publication of federal agencies’ rules, proposed rules, and notices as well as presidential executive orders)
- Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP is responsible for all contracting and procurement policy for DoD)
- Georgia Vendor Manual (a guide designed to assist vendors in doing business with the State of Georgia )
- Government Contract Forms (searchable database of all federal contracting forms)
- Construction Web Links (comprehensive listing of web-based construction industry information, presented by Howrey LLP)
- Resources on a Range of Government Contracting Topics (from GTPAC)
- The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (professional education programs and services offered through Georgia Tech’s Professional Education unit)
5. Searching for Opportunities
- FedBizOpps (the single government point-of-entry for Federal procurement opportunities over $25,000)
- DLA’s Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) (web-based application for quoting on supply items purchased by the Defense Logistics Agency; registration here)
- Procurement Gateway (DLA’s online bidding system)
- DIBBS Pocket Guide – updated June 2018 (an overview of DLA’s Internet Bid Board System — DIBBS — and brief instructions for its use)
- NASPO (listing of all 50 states’ procurement officers compiled by the National Association of State Procurement Officials)
- FirstGov.com (the official gateway to all U.S. government information)
- Sub-Net (postings of subcontracting opportunities by prime contractors)
- GSA Subcontracting Directory (listing of GSA contractors with subcontracting plans and goals)
- GSA/FSS Home Page (the Federal Supply Service provides federal customers with products, services, and programs)
- GSA Schedules (GTPAC tips on figuring out whether they are right for you)
- Georgia state government procurements (the home page of Dept. of Administrative Services, the “purchasing department” for the State of Georgia )
- Georgia Procurement Registry (listing of bidding opportunities valued at more than $10,000 with agencies of the State of Georgia; more than 200 cities, counties and school boards also list their bid opportunities here)
- Doing Business with VA Medical Centers (Veterans Administration contract opportunities)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (contracting opportunities at Atlanta ‘s airport)
- MARTA (contracting opportunities at Atlanta ‘s rapid transit system)
- Gwinnett County (how to do business with Gwinnett County )
- Fulton County (contracting opportunities with Fulton County )
- DeKalb County (contracting opportunities with DeKalb County)
- Clayton County (contracting opportunities with Clayton County)
- City of Atlanta (contracting opportunities with the City of Atlanta )
- Atlanta Public Schools (contracting opportunities with Atlanta Public Schools)
- Cobb County School District (contracting opportunities with Cobb County Schools)
- City of Kennesaw (contracting opportunities with the City of Kennesaw)
- Kennesaw State University (contracting opportunities with KSU)
- iSearch Tool (tutorial and link to GTPAC’s powerful government contracting research tool)
- Tips for Identifying Federal Contract Awardees and Probable Bidders (GTPAC tips)
6. Bidding and Performing
- Bid Opportunity Listings with State & Local Governments (links to over 1,200 government procurement databases, sorted by state)
- Links to contracting opportunities with Canadian, European, and Asian governmental units
- Glossary of Acronyms and Terms (list of links to federal glossary of government procurement terms and acronyms)
- Seeking Out Bid Opportunities (from www.business,gov)
- Proposal Preparation Tips (from GTPAC)
- Bid Proposal Preparation Tips (from NASA’s acquisition office)
- Tips for a Successful Bid/RFP Response (from the State of Nevada)
- Marketing to the Dept. of Defense (DoD fact sheet)
- DoD’s Subcontracting Plan (DoD fact sheet)
- Doing Business with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) (20-page handbook)
- DLA’s Training, Knowledge and Opportunity (TKO) Seminars (describes processes and requirements for doing business with DLA)
- Doing Business with Fannie Mae (supplier diversity, registration instructions and more)
- Doing Business with Freddie Mac (vendor and supplier information)
7. Marketing to State and Local Governments
- How To Do Business with the State of Georgia
- How To Do Business with Georgia Tech
- How To Do Business with Georgia DOT
- How To Do Business with the City of Atlanta
- How To Do Business with Albany – Dougherty County
- How To Do Business with the City of Augusta – Richmond County
- How To Do Business with the City of Columbus
- How To Do Business with the City of Gainesville
- How To Do Business with the City of Macon
- How to Do Business with the City of Perry
- How To Do Business with the City of Savannah
- How To Do Business with the City of Tifton
- How To Do Business with Athens – Clarke County
- How To Do Business with Bibb County
- How To Do Business with Carroll County
- How To Do Business with Chatham County
- How To Do Business with Clayton County
- How To Do Business with Cobb County
- How To Do Business with the Cobb County School District
- How To Do Business with Columbia County
- How To Do Business with DeKalb County
- How To Do Business with Douglas County
- How To Do Business with Forsyth County
- How To Do Business with Fulton County
- How To Do Business with Gwinnett County
- How To Do Business with Hall County
- How To Do Business with Houston County
- How To Do Business with Paulding County
- How To Do Business with Rockdale County
- Georgia Small Business Resources (State government resources for small businesses )
- Georgia School Districts (a list of web links to all public school systems in Georgia )
- Georgia Counties (a list of web links to all county governments in Georgia )
- Georgia Cities (a list of web links to all major cities in Georgia )
- Georgia Police Departments (a list of web links to police departments in Georgia )
- Grady Hospital (Grady Hospital ‘s purchasing web site)
- University System of Georgia (the University System of Georgia’s purchasing web site)
- Atlanta Housing Authority (the Atlanta Housing Authority’s purchasing web site)
