How to Find Contracting Opportunities

Once you've made all necessary registrations, you can begin seeking out business opportunities.

FedBizOpps

All federal contract solicitations with a value of $25,000 are published on FedBizOpps : Federal Business Opportunities. Government agencies publish the solicitations on FedBizOpps, and provide detailed information on how and when vendors should respond.

GSA Schedules

Many government agencies establish government-wide contracts which simplify the procurement process for federal agencies by allowing them to acquire a vast array of products and services directly from commercial suppliers. The largest government-wide contracts are established by the U.S. General Services Administration under its GSA Schedules Program. GSA establishes long-term contracts that provide over 10 million commercial supplies and services that can be ordered directly from GSA Schedule contractors or through the GSA Advantage! online shopping and ordering system. Vendors interested in becoming GSA Schedule contractors should review the Getting on the GSA Schedules page, in order to understand the process involved in obtaining a GSA Schedule contract.

GSA schedule vendors can submit their contract proposals, offers and modifications over the Internet via GSA's eOffer system.

Teaming and Subcontracting Arrangements

Frequently, businesses with complementary services will team up to bid on federal contract opportunities. If you're new to federal contracting, teaming with another business as a "subcontractor" is a great way to get your foot in the door in the federal government. The following resources provide guidance for creating teaming arrangements and subcontracting:

• GSA Schedule - Contractor Teaming Arrangements
  Under a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA), two or more GSA Schedule contractors work together, by complementing each other's capabilities, to offer a total solution to meet an ordering activity's requirement.
• GSA Subcontracting Directory
  Pursuant to the Small Business Act, as amended by Public Law 95-507, large business prime contractors receiving federal contracts valued at over $1 million for construction, $550,000 for all other contracts, are required to establish plans and goals for subcontracting with small business firms. This directory is a listing of GSA contractors with subcontracting plans and goals.

Additional Opportunities

• Hurricane Contracting Information Center
  Provides a central point of reference for businesses, especially minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and small- and medium-size enterprises, to register for and become aware of federal contracting opportunities in the Gulf Coast.
• Federal Procurement Opportunities for Green Vendors
  Various laws, Presidential Executive Orders, and procurement regulations now require federal agencies to purchase 'green' (biobased, recycled content, and energy efficient) products. A vast market opportunity exists for vendors who provide these green products. This brief guide for vendors will facilitate their access to increased federal government procurement opportunities; enhance their ability to compete at the prime and subcontract levels; promote their knowledge of new government contracting initiatives (e-Buy and Sub-Net); and make it easier for them to conduct business with the federal government.
• Selling Energy Efficient Products to the Federal Government
  The U.S. government is a major purchaser of products from suppliers throughout the country. Companies with energy-efficient products and services have special opportunities in the federal sector. This document highlights the major avenues to becoming a supplier and gives sources of information for private companies to use.

Next Step: Get to Know Federal Acquisition Regulations and Standards