Believe it or not, there are contracts amounting to $90 million, and no one is bidding on them. These are “No Certification Needed” Contracts and no one is showing up!  

If these contracts get lucky, maybe a maximum of three but generally, there aren’t enough people showing interest. 

We often hear complaints as to why there aren’t any opportunities in the federal arena for small businesses but there are six-digit contracts and up, sitting on the shelf, waiting for capable people to come through.

FINDING POOL CONTRACTS

In every local city or municipality, there is a list of what’s called “pool contracts.” When people ask me where or how they can start in the federal arena, this is probably their best bet.

When you get on the list of the pool contractors, all you need to do is just qualify for them. No certification is needed! They just require you to pre-qualify your business to whatever they’re asking for. 

If you want to sell fuel or gasoline, they’d require you to have a specific license, but that’s it.

The list shows everything from debris removal to pest control to elevators and golf carts. They have everything! They also tell you who is on the contract, and see if there are five or ten or four vendors.

If you want to compare it to the federal government’s IDIQs or GSA like their GWACs or BMOs, or things of that nature, these pool contracts are those multi-year contract vehicles that you work your butt off to qualify to get on.

1. Go to your local city or municipality.

Each city or municipality has pool contracts. When you go through the list, often, you find multi-million dollar contracts with one or two people bidding on it. 

With that information, the odds of you winning the contract is significant. So, figure out if you can qualify to get in those pool contracts, and get the wins that you deserve.

If this is all new to you, don’t worry! Your local municipality has Small Business Representatives and they can help you out with that. 

2. Build a relationship with the vendors.

Most people may think that the bidding process is the hardest part of this whole thing, but the truth is it’s building relationships with your vendor and supplier.

After going through the pool contracts, you want to find a supplier or vendor that’s going to give you credit terms. 

When you’re able to do that, you don’t have to worry about paying the money upfront, so that eliminates you having to have credit and spending your money. It also ensures the quality is going to be there.

GOVCON GIANTS CHALLENGE 

For people who’ve known the GovCon Giants, for quite some time now, you’d know that state and local contracts aren’t exactly the contracts that we go for. 

So, it might be confusing as to why I am telling you right now to go locaHowever, l. I realize that not everyone is confident yet to go for opportunities in the federal arena which is more complex and extensive.

But there’s really no shame if you’d want to go for these low-hanging fruit contracts before jumping out there to massive contract opportunities. It’s pretty strategic because this is an excellent way for you to navigate the government contracting space, plus you would be able to build relationships. 

Having said that, I challenge you to make a commitment over the next 90 days to get off the sidelines and get on the field. Stop with all your excuses! If you’ve been with us for quite some time then you’ve had enough practice. 

How do you expect to play if you are not in the loop and not on the field? You’ve got to get off the sidelines. You cannot play in the game, watching on the sidelines, watching it on TV. You have to get in the field.

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more about the tips and tricks in winning government contracts, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

You could also visit our website and other social media platforms or check the new GovCon Edu, where you learn everything about government contracting!

To learn more about the topic above, check these resources below:

Debris Removal and Hurricane pools are still at all-time lows in May

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHtL1c1auc 

Bidders needed for low hanging fruit contracts .. no certifications required

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS9Lq_dhEfc