Is Government Contracting for You?

Businesses interested in entering the government marketplace should consider the following questions to determine their potential as a government contractor.

1. Does your company have steady and/or growing commercial market sales so that you can support a new market venture?
2. Is your company well established? Does it have the necessary experienced staff, appropriate tools and overall resources to fulfill government contract requirements?
3. Does your company have an active strategic plan and staff willing to implement the aspects that involve government contracting sales?
4. Is your company financially solvent, with the following: available lines of credit appropriate assets, set accounting standards and no legal judgments?
5. Does your company have a targeted marketing area and designated marketing staff?
6. Does your company have a quality control program, with written procedures and staff designated to implement it?
7. Is your company Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Electronic Commerce (EC) capable – what is your level of computer literacy?
8. Have you established that your competitors are immersed in the government marketplace and/or have you considered partnering with similar businesses in pursuing government contract sales?
9. Has your company considered pursuing government subcontracting opportunities prior to entering the marketplace as a prime vendor?

Though potentially lucrative, government contracting requires a substantial amount of resources. The above nine points are intended as both a self-evaluation and a business development benchmarking tool.  To further determine if you are a viable contractor or if there are issues that would prohibit your firm from entering the marketplace please contact the SAP&DC Procurement Technical Assistance Center.