Working in the public sector can be a great opportunity for your business. It could help grow your business financially and provide stability, allow you to expand into other territories, and give you opportunities to partner with other companies. If you’re new to government bidding it can seem very overwhelming at first. You may not know what to do to get started in the public sector or what’s even required to be able to bid on a contract.
In this article, we will provide you with simple steps to help you get started working in the public sector.
Step 1: Register Your Business and Obtain a D-U-N-S Number
The very first thing you’ll want to do is to register your business with your state; you will not be able to bid on any opportunities until you do so. Most state procurement websites will provide you with the information you need to register your business to begin bidding. If you plan on bidding in other states, you will need to register with them as well.
The second thing you’ll want to do is to register for a D-U-N-S number. The D-U-N-S number is a nine-digit unique identifier for your business, it stands for Data Universal Numbering System.[i] It allows both the government and other businesses to easily identify your business across the globe and provide access to pertinent information about your company.
Step 2: Get Certified
If you happen to be a small business, MWBE or disadvantaged business, you’ll want to get your business certified as such. There are certain requirements needed in order to get certified. The Small Business Administration (SBA) can provide you with the eligibility requirements and forms needed to get your business certified. They can also help assist you with the process of getting certified. Many states have local SBA offices to help business begin their journey into government bidding.
Many state agencies also have programs for small businesses and MWBEs that can provide your business with assistance. They can help teach you about running a business successfully, the eligibility requirements, provide you with the right forms and documents you need to fill out to become certified, and help you understand the laws and requirements to bid on government contracts. Agencies can also help explain the different forms and documents required during bid submissions. Check out your state’s procurement website to see if they have certain programs for certified businesses. It would be most beneficial for your business, especially if you’re new to the bidding process.
Step 3: Determine Your Category Codes and Locations in Which You Would Like to Bid
The government uses product and service category codes to help businesses determine which opportunities are suitable to bid on. It is important to determine which codes relate to your line of business. This is not only required when registering your business to bid, but it can help you when searching for appropriate opportunities. Using the correct codes allows you to find more targeted opportunities and creates a more efficient and quicker way to find the right bids for your business.
You’ll also want to determine the locations in which you can do business. Will you only be able to bid in your city or state? Or can you expand your business into multiple states? Being able to work outside of your immediate area will provide you with more opportunities and can give you a better chance at winning a contract. It will also allow you to grow your business, create new partnerships or connections, and allow you to build your reputation as a successful and reliable business.
Step 4: Decide Which Level of Government You Would Like to Find Bids For
The government issues bids at the local, state and federal level, across the entire nation. Before you begin bidding, you’ll want to determine at which level you want to find bids. If you want to start out small and get your feet wet, then finding bids at the local level might be the best start, especially if you’re a new small business and don’t have a lot of resources to give to this endeavor. Don’t be afraid though, to go to the state level, the government issues all sort of bids for different products and services. They can range from smaller contracts such as providing a one-time purchase of pencils to more lucrative contracts asking for services such as on-call electrical work that can last for a term of 5 years, with an option to extend. If you’re confident in your company’s ability to fulfill the terms of any contract and can complete a larger project, then take a chance at bidding on opportunities at all levels of government. You can also decide to just bid on federal contracts; however, these contracts may require different rules and regulations than your state and local contracts, although they often tend to be more lucrative contracts as well.
Step 5: Know the Rules and Regulations for Working with the Government
Bidding on opportunities in the public sector can be a bit different than bidding in the private sector. The government has many rules and regulations when it comes to bidding. It would be wise for your company to learn these regulations before you begin bidding to determine whether you can actually bid on and fulfill a contract. Most state agencies can provide you with these rules, regulations, and laws when it comes to bidding on their contracts.
Step 6: Make Connections
One of the best ways to help your business win more government contracts is to make connections. Get your name out there, contact agencies you would like to work with, connect with procurement officers to learn more about their agency or department, and what kind of bids they tend to issue, create partnerships with other businesses that could allow you to work on subcontracting opportunities if allowed. It is always a great idea to network and make your company known, let these people know what your business does, what kind of services you offer, the products you sell, how your business is different from your competitors and what makes you unique. You can also ask to pitch your business to agencies to show them who you are and what you do. Create a presentation and business documents that you can offer them. You never know when the time will arise that they might need something that only your business offers. And by making these connections, you’re helping your business stand out from the rest.
Step 7: When Bidding, Read All the Documents
When you finally decide that you’re ready to begin bidding, and you receive that bid notice and all the accompanying documents, make sure to thoroughly read through it. You don’t want to miss anything important like a mandatory site visit, the need to obtain certain licenses or bonds, or the due date for inquiries and the bid proposal. These documents will also provide you with the contract specs, the timeframe in which the contract must be fulfilled, whether subcontractors can be used, or any number of other requirements. You don’t want to lose out on a contract because you didn’t know what was expected or because of a simple technicality, like not having the right license or submitting the wrong forms. Once you feel confident you can fulfill the contract and it’s the right opportunity for your business, go ahead and submit your proposal.
Step 8: Subscribe to a Bidding Intelligence Service
One of the most efficient ways to help you find targeted bid opportunities that are perfect for your business is to subscribe to a bidding intelligence service. bidnet direct will not only provide you with notifications of matching opportunities but is a one-stop-shop for all your bidding needs. bidnet direct allows you to search for bids based on category codes, keywords, location, government agency, solicitation type, etc. making it easier and quicker for your business to find and bid on opportunities with the government. bidnet direct also, provides exclusive bid opportunities from government buyers through our participating member agencies who post bids straight to our site, giving you an advantage over your competitors to learn about certain opportunities first. You can also add on to your profile the Enhanced Advertising feature, allowing you to showcase your business to government buyers and show them how you stand out from your competitors.
Government bidding can seem very daunting, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming or consume a large portion of your business’s resources. Following these simple steps can help your business begin your journey into the public sector sphere and allow you to be successful at winning as many opportunities as your business can handle!
[i] 2022. Duns & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number. https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html. 12 Jan. 2022.
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