Selling to the government can be a lucrative route for contractors, with government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels constantly procuring goods and services. However, entering the government contracting world can be daunting, with its unique regulations, requirements and procedures not found in the commercial marketplace. In order to succeed as a government contractor, you’ll want to make sure your business is adequately prepared to begin government contracting. In this blog, we’ll discuss steps you can take to ensure that you’re ready to compete for government contracting opportunities.

If you’re considering selling to the government, entering the government marketplace through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) is a safe bet. Eligible companies who successfully become MAS contractors can benefit from streamlined acquisition processes and expanded access to government contracting opportunities.

Managing catalog and contract data for a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract isn’t easy, but GSA aims to simplify these processes for contract holders through the new FAS Catalog Platform (FCP). Since GSA is unrolling FCP slowly, currently only selected contractors are eligible to transition from using the Schedule Input Program (SIP), the existing program for catalog management, to using FCP.

Marketing to the federal government can pose challenges for any business, especially small businesses. However, if you are a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and obtain certification, you can use this designation to strategically market your WOSB status to government buyers. A WOSB certification is an asset in the government contracting arena, because the government annually sets aside 5% of their contracting dollars to WOSB-certified businesses. In this blog, we’ll share strategies for getting your name out as a Women-Owned Small Business or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).