As a small business government contractor, you may be wondering what opportunities are available to you. Many people assume that only large businesses can work with the government, but this is not the case. In fact, the government has specific programs in place to help small businesses win large contracts. In this blog post from Tiger Team Engineering, we will discuss what the government allows small businesses to do, and how you can get started!
How the Government Assists Small Businesses
In order to help small businesses get started, the United States federal government offers a variety of grants, contracts, and small business loans. The grants do not need to be returned and are considered financial aid, while the loans require repayment with interest. The contracts, on the other hand, are agreements between the government and a business in which the business agrees to provide goods or services to the government in exchange for payment.
About Government Contracts for Small Businesses
The federal government offers two types of contracts specifically for small businesses: set-aside contracts and sole source. Additionally, the Biden administration recently launched a plan for Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs), as well. Let’s dive into these three main contracts for small businesses.
- Small Business Set-Aside Contracts: This program allows federal contracting officers to set aside certain contracts for small businesses. There are two types of set-aside contracts — competitive set-asides and sole-source set-asides.
- Small Business Sole Source Contracts: In some cases, the government may decide that only one small business is capable of performing the required work. In order to qualify as a sole source contractor, your business must be determined to be the only source for the required goods or services.
- Small Disadvantaged Businesses Contracts: SDBs are businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The federal government has a goal of awarding at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to SDBs each year.
How to Certify for a Small Business Government Contract
In order to qualify for a small business government contract, you will need to obtain a certification from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA offers two types of small business certifications — the 8(a) Business Development program and the HUBZone program. Learn more at the official SBA website.
Why Partner With Tiger Team?
There are many reasons to partner with us at Tiger Team Engineering. We have a wealth of experience in staffing solutions, business logistics, supply chain management, engineering consulting services, and more. Plus, we’re a small business ourselves, so we understand the challenges that you face when seeking large government contracts.
If you’re interested in bidding on government contracts as a small business, then we encourage you to contact us at Tiger Team Engineering today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you have, and we’ll help you get started on the process. Thanks for reading, and we hope to hear from you soon!