DOING BUSINESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) (Part 1 of 2)
Doing business with one of the largest purchasers of goods and services in the world – the US Department of Defense (DoD) can seem like an overwhelming experience for small business owners. Many small business owners mistakenly believe that only the “big guys” can really compete for DoD business.
The reality is that the Department of Defense (DoD) and various areas of the U.S. Armed Forces have specific contracting opportunities set aside for small business. DoD typically allots 20% of its procurement contracts and over 30% of its sub-contracting opportunities to small businesses each year. This doesn’t even take into account the set asides given to small businesses owned by veterans, women, minorities and disadvantaged businesses.
Whether you are selling a product or a service, the procurement process can be in the very least challenging for a small business to navigate. There are many considerations that you will need to navigate through on your way to securing your share of what can be a very profitable line of business. Here are some resources to help you get started.
Understanding Federal Government Contracting. A great place to start is the government’s www.business.gov web site for small business. The Federal Contracting Guide can guide you through how to become a federal contractor, find business opportunities, and the rules and regulations that federal contractors need to follow. Another great resource is the downloadable PDF “Open Forum – The Essentials: Securing a Share of Government Business”, which summarizes best practices for selling to the government plus how you can use government resources, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), to your advantage.