Wyoming PTAC - Finding Opportunities
If you are thinking about getting started in government contracting, the first thing to do is some market research about the types of opportunities that might be out there for your business. What is the likely dollar amount of your typical project or sale? Is it likely to be under the micro-purchase threshold (generally, $3000 or less), somewhere between $3,000 and $25,000, or more than $25,000? This question is important, because the processes are a little different depending on the dollar amount.
Sales under the micro-purchase threshold - $3,000 or less - cardholder can generally choose any vendor
• Get to know the agency cardholders
• Market to the agency contracting team and cardholders
• Accept credit cards
• Maintain government pricing that is fair, reasonable, and is equal to
or less than
your best customer pricing
• Purchases/awards are often based on convenience to the purchaser
• Provide the item or service required with on-time delivery
• Keep a professional arm’s length relationship, be aware of ethics
rules
• Never split orders that exceed the micro-purchase threshold
• Register in
CCR,
DSBS, and ORCA.
For micro-purchases, this is not required,
but it makes good business
sense.
Sales between $3,000 and $25,000 - competition is required, but opportunities are not required to be advertised
• Get to know the contracting officers
• Market to the agency contracting team
• Register in
CCR
and ORCA (legally
required)
• Payment made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
• Register in
DSBS (not legally required, but many contracting officers use this
database for market research; you can provide a capability statement,
keywords,
and references)
• Accept credit cards (for actions less than $3,000)
• Awards are generally based upon price; propose a price which is fair
and
reasonable
• Provide the item or service required with on-time delivery
• Be aware of small business certifications such as 8(a),
Service-Disabled Veteran
Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB),
Economically-Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone). If you are
eligible; they can
give you a marketing advantage.
• Keep a professional arm’s length relationship. Be aware of ethics
rules.
Sales of $25,000 or more – competition is required and opportunities must be formally advertised
• Get to know the contracting officers
• Market to the agency contracting team
• Search for opportunities in
FedBizOpps
• Register in
CCR
and ORCA (legally
required)
• Payment made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
• Register in
DSBS (not legally required, but many contracting officers use this
database for market research; you can provide a capability statement,
keywords,
and references)
• Be familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
• Understand that for many of the actions estimated to exceed $150,000
you will be
in competition with large business
• Propose a price that is fair and reasonable, but understand that very
few awards
made on price alone (READ the evaluation factors in the solicitation)
• Provide the item or service required with on-time delivery
• Be aware of small business certifications such as 8(a),
Service-Disabled Veteran
Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB),
Economically-Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone). f you are eligible;
they can
give you a marketing advantage.
• Watch for and respond to sources sought notices in
FedBizOpps
• Keep a professional arm’s length relationship. Be aware of ethics
rules.
• Are you responding to a Request for Quote (RFQ) (under $150,000), an
Invitation
for Bid (IFB), or a Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Read the solicitation, read the contract.
Once you have a sense of the type of sales you expect to make, it makes
good sense to establish some strategic goals for government contracting
for your business. What percentage of your revenue does your business
aspire to derive from government contracts? What amount of effort can
your firm devote to reaching this goal? The Wyoming Entrepreneur PTAC
can assist you with developing a step-by-step action plan to reach your
goals!
Register as a client on our website if:
- You have not registered at our website before.
Directly contact one of the Specialists below if:
- You have registered at our website before and need PTAC
assistance only.
-
Government Procurement Consulting:
Program Central Contact Information
866.253.3300
Casper Office
Brett Housholder
Interim Program Manager
300 South Wolcott, Suite 300
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307.234.3203
