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My company is 8a certified. I want to go after Federal Contracts using our 8a status. How do I start?

We do IT staffing (contract, contract-hire, perm). I currently work with the State of CA and several counties. I know that the 8a certification will help us with Federal contracts but I do not know how to start that process and where to look. Can anyone offer some suggetions. We are also a small women owned business. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. I am also 8A and it has been a disaster. All talk no action. But a lot of the reason is that I do work that is usually only done under large contracts so I get excluded because I cannot handle entire USA at one time. But that said, start with your local SBA councilor. He should be identified in your approval letter or look on SBA website for office that services your area. Make sure they know who you are what you do - be persistent and make them work for you in looking for ops, introducing you to people, and requesting set-asides. Sign up on www.fedbizopps.gov for notifications regarding opportunities in your industry. You can also search this site by your criteria. ALL Federal RFPs etc have to be posted on this website. If you sign up for email notices, you will get advance presoliciation notices. Get leads from here, then present them to your SBA rep and ask for a set-aside. The SBA.GOV will teach you how to do business with the Federal Government. Go to the website and get familiar with the contents and resources. Most state's have "matchmaker conferences" 2-4 times a year where you can go and meet the actual Buyers. There are also national matchmaker conferences. CHekc out your state's Supplier Diversity or Minority Outreach programs. Also, check out the Womens Chamber of Commerce www.uswcc.org Whatever you do, don't pay a lot of $ to get special accounting systems or expensive training classes etc. There are a lot of companies who make $ out of you THINKING you will get more business if you spend all that $. Wait until you actually get something Federal then worry about the rest. This will not be easy and rarely successful so keep your day job. But nothing ventured nothing gained.