ADAM RAMBALLY's CONTRACTING LTD

The U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It purchases $425 billion in products and services annually. According to the SBA
, the government has a goal to spend twenty-three percent of that on products and services provided by small businesses. The opportunity here is tremendous.And if you think you have to be in a rocket-science business to land the government as a customer, you couldn't be more wrong. The U.S. Government purchases all manner of products and services—from toilet paper to PR, and from landscaping services to food products.
If you’re like many small business owners, you may have no idea where to start when it comes to government contracting. You may be unsure how much time and money you need to put into pursuing the contracts. Or you may not be aware that there are special programs for women and minorities. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about government contracting, along with great answers found here on Open Forum.
1. Should I bother with government contracting? It seems like a lot of work for little reward.
Certainly, government contracting isn’t right for every business, but before you discount it, know that the process of becoming a contractor is such that many of your competitors don’t even bother with it, which gives you even more opportunity for new business. The government wants to work with companies that have been vetted through the (yes, sometimes arduous) process of becoming a government contractor.
In “Is Government Contracting Right for Your Business?" you learn that just about all government contracts over $3,000 and under $100,000 are reserved for certified small businesses. That’s a pretty substantial piece of the government spending pie. And the government reserves three to five percent of its budget to work with businesses run by women, disadvantaged individuals and service-disabled veterans.
With an increasing number of clients paying you late, or not paying at all, it’s comforting to know that the government pays its bills, usually within 30 days, and often electronically.

2. I’m a woman/disabled/vet. What opportunities are available for me?
The government is taking strides to work more with these groups through contracts. TheNew Opportunities for Women-Owned Businesses Guide
 provides the requirements for companies interested in the SBA’s new Women-Owned Small Business Program, as well as insight from top women running small businesses.According to “Government Contracting Insights: More Work For Women-Owned Businesses?” things are looking positive for women-owned businesses right now. In 2007, a rule was created, setting aside specific government contracts for women-owned businesses working in underrepresented industries.
“Maximizing Yourself As An 8a Supplier” discusses the merits of the SBA 8a Business Development Program for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses (which includes minorities), and provides tips on getting more contracts.
There are also additional resources for disabled and veteran owned small businesses that give more information about programs geared toward these individuals.
3. GSAs. NAICS. STARS. These acronyms are giving me a headache! What do they mean?
In my article, “Why Knowing Acronyms In Government Contracting Is Critical,” I explain why you have to get past the the acronyms that the government loves to put together. The simple fact that your competitors might give up before cracking the code is reason enough to take the extra effort. In the article I explain that NAICS, or North American Industry Classification System, is a standard used by Federal agencies to classify businesses according to the industries they are in. Knowing which code your business falls under can open the door to additional government contracting opportunities.

4. I was accepted as a contractor and am on the GSA schedule. Now what?
Once you get accepted as a government contractor, you might feel like your work is done, but that’s far from the truth. In “Government Contracting Insights: You're Accepted, Now What?” you see that the work has only just begun. You now need to submit a Federal Supply Schedule Price List, as well as highlight the fact that you have GSA status in all your marketing materials.
This article does a nice job of walking you through the process of becoming a GSA schedule contractor, either electronically or through a paper application.
Clearly, you’re not in this world of government contracting alone. Use the resources available to you.