| Government vs. Corporate Contracting | | | | submitting a GSA schedule contract proposal to |
| June 28, 2010 by Clovia Hamilton | | | | the GSA for the products and services that you |
| In this economy, businesses need not put all of | | | | sell. |
| their eggs in one basket. They should seek | | | | Step 6) Check if your business is located in a |
| public government contracts and private deals. | | | | Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) zone. |
| There are set asides in government contracts | | | | - Visit the SBA to find out if you are in a hub |
| for small businesses, woman owned businesses, | | | | zone. |
| veteran owned businesses, and minority owned | | | | - If so, apply for HUB Zone certification and be |
| socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. | | | | eligible for Hubzone set-asides |
| In order to be eligible, these businesses have to | | | | Step 7) If your business is 51% owned by a |
| get registered and certified. Businesses that do | | | | veteran or service disabled veteran, you may be |
| not meet these categories can team with | | | | eligible for Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) |
| businesses that do in order to take advantage of | | | | or Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business |
| set asides. | | | | (SDVOSB) certification. |
| I worked in government for more than 25 years | | | | - Visit the Veteran Administration's website |
| and began the business development journey in | | | | - Self Certify or get Verified (preferred) |
| 2005. I have met thousands of business owners. | | | | State Contracting |
| One topic that seems to confuse some business | | | | Note: There are no set asides in Georgia other |
| owners is whether their government business | | | | than the US Department of Transportation |
| registrations and certifications can be used in | | | | federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) |
| corporate contracting. Well, no. Corporations | | | | program with the Georgia Department of |
| have supplier diversity programs and look for | | | | Transportation and MARTA |
| Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority | | | | Step 1) States use the National Institute of |
| Business Enterprise (MBE) certifications which | | | | Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) product and |
| differ from those in federal, state, county and | | | | service codes. Determine your NIGP codes. |
| city programs. | | | | Step 2) Complete vendor registration applications |
| Government Contracting | | | | for any city and county that you want to do |
| Federal Contracting – No cost to get started! | | | | business in. In Georgia, it is the Team Georgia |
| Step 1) If 51% woman owned, begin to use | | | | Marketplace registration. |
| Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Small | | | | Local Government Contracting (Counties, Cities) |
| Business (SB) designations for marketing | | | | Step 1) Complete vendor registration applications |
| purposes. Put on your website, business cards, | | | | for any city and county that you want to do |
| brochures, etc now! | | | | business in. |
| - These merely require self-certification. | | | | Step 2) Complete small business certification |
| - A goal of setting aside 5% of government | | | | applications for any city and county that you |
| contracts to WOSB is underway. | | | | want to do business in. The designations are Small |
| - There are bid opportunities currently being set | | | | Business Enterprise (SBE), Female Business |
| aside for SB's. | | | | Enterprise (FBE), Woman Business Enterprise |
| - Check your small business status with the Small | | | | (WBE), or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In |
| Business Administration using your North American | | | | Georgia, there are programs at: |
| Industry Classification System (NAICs) codes, | | | | § City of Atlanta |
| annual receipts, and number of employees. Visit | | | | § Atlanta Public Schools |
| the SBA's website. | | | | § City of Roswell |
| - Determine your NAICs codes | | | | § City of Savannah |
| - Military agencies use Federal Supplier Codes | | | | § City of Augusta |
| (FSC) and Product Service Codes (PSCs). | | | | § Fulton County |
| Determine your FSCs and PSCs | | | | § DeKalb County |
| Step 2) Complete the Central Contractor's | | | | § Cobb County |
| Registration (CCR) | | | | Corporate Contracting |
| Step 3) Be sure to complete the Small Business | | | | Corporate Certifications – Fee based |
| Administration's (SBA) Dynamic Small Business | | | | Step 1) If 51% woman owned, submit a Woman |
| Registration | | | | Business Enterprise (WBE) application with the |
| - You will be prompted to enter this registration | | | | Women's Business Enterprise National Council |
| process at the conclusion of completing the CCR | | | | (WBENC) |
| registration. | | | | § Visit |
| Step 4) Consider the SBA 8a certification | | | | § The application fee is $350 |
| program. | | | | § They will conduct a site visit |
| - But, bare in mind that few WOSB owned by | | | | § It typically takes 30-90 days |
| Caucasians get certified. | | | | Step 2) If 51% minority owned, submit a Minority |
| - You must prove both a social and an economical | | | | Business Enterprise (MBE) application with the |
| disadvantage. | | | | National Minority Supplier Development Council |
| - Certain races are presumed to be socially | | | | (NMSDC) at a state chapter of your choice. |
| disadvantaged (Black American, Native American, | | | | § The application fee is $500 in Georgia |
| Hispanic American, Asian Pacific American, | | | | (GMSDC) |
| Subcontinent Asian American). | | | | § They will conduct a site visit |
| - Must be in business for 2 years | | | | § It typically takes 30-90 days |
| - The net worth of the individual claiming | | | | I urge businesses to get a Strategic Marketing |
| disadvantage must be less than $250,000. | | | | Plan to determine which agencies buy what they |
| Step 5) Consider getting prequalified with the | | | | sell; which certifications and registrations to |
| General Service Administration (GSA) by | | | | pursue; and to find teaming partners. |
