r/GovernmentContracting

I recently launched my own digital marketing agency after several years of freelance marketing and graphic design work. I’m registered under NAICS codes 516210, 541430, 541613, and 541810.
This summer, I completed my SAM.gov registration and received my WOSB and SDVOSB certifications.
I was recently approached by a larger company that has been in business for about 14 years and supports government customers with fuel, facility, transportation, lodging, janitorial, groundskeeping, and other operational services.

They proposed partnering to pursue SDVOSB set-asides. They would handle sourcing and proposal drafting, then send me weekly lists of businesses to contact for quotes. They would also cover upfront costs, but charge approximately 40% interest on the amount borrowed.

I’m very new to government contracting, don’t currently have the funds to cover significant upfront costs, and they’re offering to provide guidance and teach me the process.

Does this sound like a reasonable opportunity, or are there major red flags I should be looking for?
For those with experience in SDVOSB contracting, partnerships, or subcontracting: what questions would you ask before signing anything?
Also, is ~40% interest remotely normal for this type of arrangement?

I recently launched my own digital marketing agency after several years of doing freelance marketing and graphic design work. I’m currently registered under NAICS codes 516210, 541430, 541613, and 541810.
This summer, I completed my SAM.gov registration and received my WOSB and SDVOSB certifications. Now I’m trying to figure out what the next step should be.

For those of you who have experience with federal, state, or local government contracting:

• Where are you finding contract opportunities besides SAM.gov and state procurement portals?

• Are there specific agency procurement forecasts, subcontracting databases, or other platforms I should be using?

• How did you establish past performance when you were a new business without government contracts? Can relevant commercial/freelance work count?

• Is it worth pursuing subcontracting opportunities first to build government past performance? (If so, how do I find prime contractors?)

• At what point did you bring on a contract manager, and is that something a new/small business actually needs?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to hand me a contract. I’m trying to understand the process and build a realistic roadmap for getting my first government contract. Any advice from business owners who have actually gone through this process would be greatly appreciated!

We received our Unique Entity ID and proceeded with registration (for bidding) and then was asked if our company is controlled by another entity. I replied yes, and then was told we would have to use that company's CAGE number. That company does not have a CAGE number so we tried to apply for one and it said that company must have a sam.gov registration. We started the registration, and now it wants a CAGE number. What am I doing wrong?

I’m an Operations and Implementation Analyst working remotely so my interactions with working professionals in the dmv area is limited. I’m a woman in my mid-twenties and recently moved to Reston from the West Coast. I’ve been trying to break into government contracting or other industries that have a strong presence in Northern Virginia for example AI/defense tech firms. My background is primarily in retail, apparel, and food manufacturing/CPG, so while I have transferable operations and implementation experience, I don’t yet have much of a professional network in the area. I’ve found that even for roles where I closely match the qualifications, I’m either not getting interviews or, when I do, employers ultimately choose candidates with direct industry experience.

I was mainly trying to target bigger companies like SAIC or Deloitte but that hasnt gotten me far. Not entirely sure if it’s the lack of connections or a combination of that with coming from a different industry.

I’m trying to figure out the best way to bridge that industry-experience gap and build the right network in Northern Virginia. For someone with my background, where would you recommend I start and where do i go to make these connections?

I currently have a procurement that I’m working on, and need some advice. A buyer recently procured some goods and was able to compete it. I sent my RFQ for the same goods to the same suppliers and only received one complaint bid, the pricing did not change from the last time we bought it, can I use the quotes received from the previous purchase as historical pricing for a method of analysis?

So last year I started an IT staffing business. Had no intention of doing staffing, opportunities just fell into play. I now have a MSA signed with a large well known prime and two placements.

I’ve been consistently doing payroll for them, now I’m entering a period of my life where I have more time to dedicate to try and grow this thing.

I know I technically have past performance with those two placements, but I want to try and grow/establish more relationships with primes.

Still pretty new to this game, what events should I go to? How many per week? Outreach system? I technically have legit past performance now, how to best market that?

I’m pretty new to this and don’t have guidance to be honest.

I am a VA employed staff who is looking to launch a small private Non Emergency Medical Transportation Service. I’m interested in bidding for VA contracts?? Is this
Possible/ethical? I will have a private driver.

I’m new to learning about government contracting but wanting to know so when these YouTubers talk about winning contracts and then sub contracting them out are they forming an llc prior to bidding contract. For example if you see a lawn care contract but don’t have a services based business don’t you have to have an entity connected to that industry? Just a little confused about this part

We are based on the west coast and have a solid presence for state and local but are having a hard time branching out in to the federal sector.

We have been an SDVOSB and received our 8(a) last year. We browse sam.gov for contracts and keep our profile and capabilities statement updated. We are on a free trial of highergov and it seems like the right tool for us but we are unsure if it is actually needed.

Is it really just about reaching out to contracting officers for sole source opportunities and vulnerable 8(a) companies to try and subcontract with? I feel like bizdev wise, we are spinning our tires because we are struggling with past performance or going after RFPs/RFQs and are late to the party.

Appreciate any and all help in advance.

My company excels in tech hardware and reverse engineering with steps in local/cloud AI deployments . Is this something that’s very niche that state/local and federal govt rarely put contracts out for? Or am I failing to find such contacts .

Hi guys!
I currently have a business but I want to get into government contracts. How do I start? Is there a guide somewhere to give me step by step instruction?
I understand creating the business portion, I get lost on how to win the contract. Where do I go? How do I bid? How does all of that work? Do I hire people or I have to do the job myself? How do you get paid?
If someone can help me with insight or steer me in the direction that can provide me with help I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you,

The current contractor I’m with is re-competing for a contract that is ending soon (they are the current prime). They are partnering with a prime as a sub and the funding for the new contract is getting cut. They did tell me that they plan on keeping me on board (if they win) and gave me a (contingent) verbal offer that is 30% lower than what I currently make. My skill set is very niche and technical, plus I’ve put my heart and sole into this work so It feels like a slap in the face.

Has anyone else gone through this? What ended up happening? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Coming up in my 15th year as a founder of a mostly defense firm and the company crossed a growth threshold a few years ago where I am always busy and stretched thin. I have been in the industry for 40 years and while our growth requires more and more oversight I am also at a stage where I would like to spend less time engaged in the day-to-day grind.

Any experienced founders, execs or former GovCon firms have any real world stories how you navigated this dilemma? I figure I can either hire an SVP/COO and slow down, sell it all, or possibly have an investor/operator buy in to partnership and let them run the company. I still have value to provide, but not 60-75 hrs a week it takes sometimes in this world.

The company is at its strongest and right now I am not quite ready to walk away. It may be a smaller group I am talking to, but here goes. Do folks in this sub have examples of, or have done yourself, to begin to slow down after years of building that is not an ESOP (we have a socio economic set aside I want to preserve)?

I am amidst a primary contract change on a Federal IT contract. The new primary (Company A) has decided to retain my subcontractor (Company B), and also retain my role and myself as well. Company B has begun the onboarding process for the new contract and they have provided me with a raise in pay, a standard 3%.

I have been on this contract with company B for 4.5 years, and have only received one increase in pay, which came with a promotion that included much more responsibility. I have not asked for much nor have I demanded anything, but I have done my research and I have come up with the following data.

The national average for my labor category is ≈$96k/yr.
The local average for the my labor category is ≈$93k/yr.
My offer from Company B for this new contract is ≈$84k/yr
My response to $84K is ≈$105k/yr (not expected, but used to get closer to the average salary for my area)

I have sent a formal email to my recruiter with a polite response to the offer, justifying my position and no demands. Providing Bureau of Labor Statistics, my years/level of experience, credentials, and consistent praise from the customer. Company B has had about a week to review this info. They have acknowledged my response, and have yet to provide a rebuttal.

I have about 30 days before the contract is up and we start the new contract under Company A. Company B has started the onboarding paperwork which basically starts the hiring process all over, as if I were new. While filling out the paperwork, I was met with the contract agreement for $84k, and I am unable to proceed with the rest of the paperwork (the system just wont allow for it), which is extensive due to background checks etc. I brought this to the attention of Company B and they responded with a phone call stating that they are reviewing my case, working with Company A on rate increases, and stated that they (Company B) can easily make an addendum for pay once they finish talks with Company A, and request that I just sign the current agreement to keep the process moving along. This was followed up in an email stating that they are working with Company A, and that changes can be made after the onboarding process.

Here lies my dilemma.
Do I trust Company B, sign the paper work and move forward with onboarding?
Do I wait for Company B to finish talks with Company A (which they said should be within a week or so), and then continue onboarding?
I would hate to just sign the paperwork, and then have no room for negotation. It is hard for me to trust anyone/thing corporate and I am just seeking some reassurance from anyone that may have gone through something similar during a contract change.

Appreciate any feedback and I would love to discuss with anyone interested.

I was an employee with Chenega for 3 years when they were awarded the regional contract for NASA in 2023, then turned around and laid off a majority of their employees in 25. I was wondering if anyone had the same experience and what are your thoughts on the company? Mine have been very low, so maybe you can convince me otherwise.

I have been in the game for about 6 weeks. I have yet to even win or lose a bid. I have submitted about 6 thats due over the next 30 days. I am so excited, scared, and anxious at the same time. Literally cant sleep only because I am a life long business owner (a rough 20 years) and this is the first time that I see an opportunity to scale years of experience in Data Science, tech, and machine learning. That means I was doing AI since before it was cool (IBM 2018).

I find the technical writing to be super fun. Its just nerve racking and looking for just success storeis and motivation. I have tried telling all my my people in my network but because I have not got awarded anything they basically ignore me I get so frustrated.

I cant blame them also because I am the futuristic thinker in my circle, so I am literally always launching a startup, raising money, and etc. I have been doing this since I was 20 years old. But anyway its been really difficult to find real networks of government contractors outside of construction in Houston Texas.

Would love to just hear some success stories and the experiences of state vs federal, which is faster to getting awarded. It seems on youtube Federal contracts people are claiming they are winning within like 14 - 30 days.

Once again only been in the game about 6weeks and listen yall, I do not do nothing else. I have already submitted to over 6 Large Scale technical based bids just because my background , cant even sleep at night. SO glad to be in this group for the network because I thought once I discovered this everybody in my circle would jump on it but its been the opposite.

Currently in contracting, as my contract is coming within the next year and few months.. has anyone done the transition from Active Duty Contracting Specialist to civilian GS Contracting? Whats the process? Pros cons. Any experience moving to a position out of state? I already have my degrees and about 3 years experience in the field. I do not have a warrant.

Im trying to weigh out all my options and see what makes the most sense.

Hello,

Just received an offer from ManTech for government contract work. They are the incumbent and currently in the process to recompete the contract. They told me the result will come out near the end of gov year and would like me to join the team to assist with the current contract. I am just worry about the risk and go back to the bench + breaking lease. Have anybody have any experience in this situation? Should i keep looking or just commit with it. ​