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Article:
A Step-by-Step Approach to the Federal Acquisition Marketplace by: Gloria Berthold Doing business with federal government agencies can be very lucrative for the people who lean how to maneuver through the maze of registrations, certifications and regulations. But if you are ready to start, these are the first steps you need to take to open the door to federal business opportunities. Step 1: Identify your product or service. It is necessary to know the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and the Federal Supply Classification (FSC) code for your product or service. Most federal government product/service listings and procurements are identified by their NAICS code and/or FSC code. You can find the codes relating to your business at these web sites: NAICS codes: http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html and FSC codes: http://fpdcapp.gsa.gov/pls/fpdsweb/PscWiz Step 2. Check with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to determine that your business falls within the established table of small business size standards based on NAICS. www.sba.gov You may be very surprised just how big a company can be and still be considered 'small'¯ in the eyes of the federal government. Step 3: Obtain a DUNS Number from Dunn & Bradstreet. This is a business identification number that is used much like a person uses a social security number. If you do not have a DUNS Number, contact Dun and Bradstreet to obtain one. www.dnb.com There is no charge for assigning a DUNS number and you must have one to proceed. Step 4: Register in the Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) System. You must be registered in CCR to be awarded a contract from any federal civilian or military agencies. CCR is a database designed to hold information relevant to procurement and financial transactions. CCR also affords you the opportunity for fast electronic payment of your invoices. www.ccr.gov And you will want to get paid quickly! Step 5: Determine if your firm qualifies for 8(a), SDB or HUBZone certification. These certifications are detailed at www.sba.gov. They are essentially for companies that are owned by individuals who have experienced some sort of disadvantage in the business environment. This may be based on economic factors, race or geographic location. Firms with these certifications may compete for set-aside contracts '“ those contracts specifically designated for certified companies. Step 6: Register in Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). ORCA is a brand-new e-Government initiative that was designed to replace the paper based Representations and Certifications process. This will be a central repository of all of your company's certifications and can be accessed by any federal agency. http://orca.bpn.gov Step 7: Begin to search for current federal government procurement opportunities. Identify current procurement opportunities in your product or service area by checking at the FedBizOpps web site, the federal civilian and military government single point of entry for many opportunities over $'25
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