The federal government is not one customer, it is more like a shopping mall with thousands of doors, dozens of purchasing systems and at least a few hallways that lead to a procurement forecast nobody has updated lately. For a small-business contractor, the trick is not convincing the entire government to buy from you. It […]
Quick answer: If your SAM.gov entity registration renewal was submitted between March 24 and July 22, 2026, a system error may have caused one or more small business size standards to be calculated incorrectly in your representations and certifications. SAM.gov corrected the error and is sending instructions to potentially affected entities by email. Contractors should […]
Fixed-price contracts can look wonderfully simple from a distance. The government describes what it wants, you name a price, everyone signs, and the work begins. In real life, of course, it can feel more like agreeing to cater a wedding before anyone tells you the guest count, the menu, or whether the venue has a […]
Most small businesses entering the federal marketplace aren’t short on capability. They know their industry, serve their customers well, and have something valuable to offer government buyers. The harder question is whether the business is prepared for the way federal work is pursued, awarded, and performed. An active SAM.gov registration is important, but registration alone […]
When most business owners hear “government contracts,” they picture Washington, D.C., giant federal agencies, and proposals thick enough to stop a door. But some of the most accessible government opportunities may be much closer to home. Cities, counties, school districts, public utilities, libraries, parks departments, and other local entities purchase an enormous range of products […]
Small businesses received approximately $179 billion in federal prime-contract dollars in FY2025, but the government-wide percentage does not reveal where the best opportunities are. Contractors need to analyze agency performance, socioeconomic goals, acquisition strategies and upcoming requirements to identify realistic targets.
For small defense contractors that have spent months pricing secure enclaves, preparing for third-party assessments, and wondering whether the cost of CMMC compliance might exceed the value of the contract itself, the Pentagon’s July 13 announcement brought real relief. It did not bring a cybersecurity vacation. The Defense Department (Department of War) has suspended the […]
For years, many small government contractors followed a familiar routine: open SAM.gov, enter a few NAICS codes or keywords, scroll through the latest notices, and decide what looked worth bidding. It was rarely efficient, but it felt productive. There was always another solicitation to review, another sources sought notice to answer, or another opportunity that […]
When a hurricane makes landfall, a wildfire spreads, or floodwaters cut off a community, federal procurement does not stop. It accelerates. Agencies may suddenly need generators, temporary facilities, bottled water, transportation, debris removal, communications support, construction crews, interpreters, security services, and dozens of other capabilities. The opportunity can look enormous from the outside, which is […]
July is one of those months in government contracting that looks quiet from the outside. People are taking vacations. Inbox replies get slower. Agency contacts may be harder to pin down. It can feel like the federal market is catching its breath before the fall. That impression is misleading. For small business contractors, July is […]