Tag: government contracting

A Guide to Becoming a Federal Government Contractor

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The United States government is urging small businesses to take on contracting opportunities to fulfill the needs of each government agency. But what does it take to become a federal government contractor and what are the things to prepare? Well, here is a guide to become a federal government contractor.

1. Research about the market. 

You need to know who your market is, what their demands are, and what can you provide. 

Consider it this way, regardless if you have a high-quality product, when there’s still no demand for that product, you will never make a profit out of it.

This is also the same way with pricing, if you offer too high or too low, there’s a huge chance that agencies will choose other contractors apart from yours.

In doing so, you can research about past contracts and learn about pricing your products and services through the Federal Procurement Data System, USA Spending, and the SAM database.

2. Understand the contracting rules.

Because the government is using the taxpayer’s money to fulfill the demand of the government agencies, they have certain rules and regulations all throughout the contracting process that you must follow. 

Although most of these regulations only take place when you start your contract, you still need to research about these matters to prevent you from facing potential legal problems that will most likely terminate your contract in the future. 

3. Create a business plan.

You need to create a business plan as this helps you structure and run your business.

This doesn’t mean that you need to create a complex business plan but to just highlight and include an effective marketing plan, business details, and resources calculations.

This way, you can easily describe and present your business towards the government and investors.

4. Determine your business category.

The federal government provides an opportunity for small businesses to be certified as women-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and HUBZone program participants. 

Each certification has their own purpose and process in helping small businesses but regardless of what category you are in, the Small Business Administration will help you get acquainted with the procurement process and win contracts. 

Apart from that, the organization will also provide assistance in terms of finances, management, training, and other opportunities for small businesses to compete with huge government contractors. 

5. Provide a matched NAICS code.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is a six-digit code classifying the types of products that you sell.

If you also provide a wide variety of multiple products and services, then you can certainly have a multiple NAICS code. 

You can view the NAICS code list from the U.S. Census Bureau or by contacting the bureau through 1-888-756-2427 or on their email address, [email protected].

6. Register for a DUNS number. 

A Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a nine-digit identification number assigned to your business in order to identify your business and to track your company’s credit record.

If your business is in various locations, then you need to get a different DUNS number for each business location.

To obtain a DUNS number, you can either request via this toll-free telephone number, 1-(866) 705-5711, or through the D&B website. 

7. Register in SAM. 

With lots of businesses across the United States, the government uses this platform to store information about any businesses as well as look for a specific business before awarding any contract. 

So, in order for your business to start working with the federal government, you must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) database first. 

Also, if there are certain changes in your business, you must keep your SAM profile updated. 

8. Find contract opportunities. 

There are a handful of certified online government platforms that you can use to search for contract opportunities. These include the SAM database and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). 

You can also look for subcontracting opportunities through SubNet, the SBA Subcontracting Assistance Directory, USA Spending, and on the Department of Defense Prime Contractor Directory. 

Lastly, you can also communicate with any small business offices in your area such as the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization or the Office of Small Business Programs.

9. Bid or submit an offer. 

Government agencies either award a contract through sealed bidding or negotiation.

The difference between these two is that with sealed bidding, the offers are spoken in public and the one with the lowest responsive bid is awarded with the contract; however, with negotiation, contractors and the agency will have a chance to negotiate about the proposal. 

Regardless of what type of contract award you want to bid or submit an offer, just make sure that you have read all of the clauses and you have filled the necessary information. 

10. Comply with the contracting rules. 

The contracting officer and the government are very particular with their purchases and any factors not being followed will most likely cause termination. 

These rules include the size standards, the sourcing of the materials, legal requirements, subcontracting limits, and documentation.

The government also imposed various unique business practices and ethical responsibilities that you should follow under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 

However, if you think that you have met all of the rules and standards above but your contract was still terminated, you have the right to appeal by following the Contract Dispute Act.

Resources

If you want to learn more about the specific processes written in this article regarding how to become a federal government contractor, then be sure to click the links below.

https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/governing-rules-responsibilities

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan

https://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100635

https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/basic-requirements

https://www.usa.gov/become-government-contractor

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/become-federal-contractor

Top 5—”Launching a NASA Award Winning IT Security Company” With Narjis Ali

Posted on by Linette Genao

Temporarily leaving her family behind, Narjis Ali, the president and CEO of Sure Secure Solutions, packed her bags and moved from Pakistan to the U.S. to start her life over again.

Skilled in software programming and development architecture, she was a natural entrepreneur throughout her life, even introducing computer education in Pakistan for the first time. With a little push from her son-in-law, she decided to push forward and begin her business in the U.S.

I said, “Why not where I’ve moved now and made my country here in the U.S. I can also start business. It was just the fear of the unknown I suppose that made me take a few years to start it off, but once I was there, I was like, yeah, let’s roll.”

 

BACKGROUND

 

Sure Secure Solutions is an 8(a), Woman-Owned and Information Technology Security Company founded in 2004. The company’s core capabilities include Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Web Application Development, Data Analytics, Content Management, Information Management IT Security.

Her drive and work ethic has led to a number of awards dating back to 2012 and most recently the 2019 NASA Small Business Industry Award – NSSC Prime Contractor of the Year. In addition, the 2016 Small Business Administration of the Year Award, NASA Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year both in 2016 and 2017 and many more.

 

TOP 5 

 

1. Dig Your Feet Into the Ground and Stand Through The Tough Times

Ali immigrated alone leaving her family, including three children, back home. One by one, they made their way to the U.S. However, she recalls the difficulties within that first year and how she pushed though those tough times, serving as encouragement for others to do the same when things become difficult.

“When I was a child I would stand by the seashore and it was not close to where I lived. We used to always visit once in a blue moon, go to a beach. I used to remember standing there and the sand going from under my feet and remembering how it would make me fall and panic, but my mother and my sister were always there with me and my mom would tell me to hold my sister’s hand and just stand there and dig my feet deep into the ground and just stand. Right? That is what made me. Even when I came here. I went through some hardships, but I stood through that and I realized that if you work hard and your intent is good and you’re honest about things, things do have a way of working out. It worked out for me.”

 

2. Be Patient and Seek Information

“I feel that today I can just hold somebody’s hand and say, ‘Don’t do that.’ ”

Ali discusses how resources and mentorship are key so you don’t waste yours or others time and money. She encourages entrepreneurs to hone into their path and where you want to take your company and educating yourself on the path to get there.

“You have to first identify where you’re going, what your skills are, what you want to focus on and then just zoom in there. It’ll take you much less time if you do a handful of opportunities that you think you want to go after rather than just go after anything and everything that says 8(a) in it.”

 

3. Relationships are golden

Unless you have the money, you will have to find a few partners to come up with the equity to set up the infrastructure. Relationships are golden in order for this to work and be successful.

Not just relationships with the customers you’re selling a product or service to but as Ali states, “Customers in the way of the environment. That allows you to be there and create those relationships with coworkers, colleagues, other companies, and the customer.”

This is how former astronaut, John Mike Lounge became one of Ali’s first business partners when she was just getting started. He was introduced to her by a mutual friend. Meeting and working with Lounge, led to her fascination with NASA, allowed her to get NASA, and become the 2016 and 2017 award winner for NASA.

“By the end of it when we were paying the bill. He was like, ‘Okay, I’m sold. I’m your partner.’ I’m like, What?”

 

4. Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

Learning the hard way, Narjis Ali advises not to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, first build a strong team and then divide and conquer. This will lead to the most success.

“It’s not about winning. It’s all about getting a team that will win. Whether you have a prime role or a sub role. One is survival. The other is to win and make money…You have to make your name. You have to get money for it and you have to be able to take different roles in different opportunities…We spread out, we team work and we look for teaming opportunities that offer us a swim-lane where we’ve got really strong qualifications and then we shine there.”

 

5. Filter out very quickly where you want to focus

“Stop bidding on everything that looks it’s in your domain. It needs to be in your domain, but it also needs to have a familiarity with the customer environment,” states Ali.

She advises mastering 1 or 2 companies and building the trust and relationships instead of going after all that you can.

“It’s better to focus on a few agencies and be persistent and get to know that very well. Know the gaps and try entrepreneurand be at places where you can get to know the small business office.”

NARJIS ALI

As a leader, Narjis Ali is focused on helping others and assuring those around her continue to grow.

Narjis Ali & Eric Coffie “The most important thing was that we want to take people that matter, to places that matter…I think that means the world to me. When I see people that we’ve been trying to grow, grow and go to places.”

Narjis’ story is truly inspiring and motivating. With such great advice, she leaves listeners and readers with a humbling message.

“I have to become the medium of receiving and then giving. That’s my life story. I listen, I hear, I see. I love and I know that I’m only the medium. So, I hope I can pass on whatever I get and model for someone else, somewhere.” – Narjis Ali

 

To hear more, join the GOVCON GIANTS Podcast Community available on  Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Google Play and iHeart.

To learn more about government contracting subscribe to the GOVCON GIANTS YouTube Channel.

TOP 5—”Building A World Class Construction From Faith” With Patricia Bonilla

Posted on by Linette Genao

Patricia Bonilla attributes many of her successes to one thing—faith.

From the beautiful island of Dominican Republic, Patricia Bonilla went after her dreams and created “Lunacon.” The company founded in Miami, FL., now has 5 office locations including Puerto Rico and serves more than 300 customers worldwide. Having been recognized for a number of awards including 2014 SBA State of Florida Minority Owned Small Business Person of the Year and 2015 Government Contractor of the Year, Bonilla continues to be a powerhouse in the industry.

 

TOP 5

 

1. Follow your dreams and have faith

During the recession, as a single-mother with 3 children, Patricia Bonilla acted on faith. She had to decide whether to leave her then comfortable job, to follow her dreams of having her own business. Therefore, with over 17 years of experience in government work, she quit and started her own company, proving a little faith is sometimes all you need.

 

2. Prepare before the opportunity opens

Many times during the conversation, Bonilla speaks on how she prepared before the doors opened. Before the opportunities came, she hired staff, using Starbucks as her office since their garage wasn’t very promising. Within a month, she hired 25 people, which prepared her in advance for the work she was about to receive.

 

3. Invest in yourself

“Some people don’t understand the value of investing in marketing and networking,” stated Bonilla.

Marketing, conferences and events are all tools Bonilla used to invest in herself and back into her company. She continued seeking knowledge in order to propel her company forward and put their name out there.

 

4. Keep Going!

“When you’re about to give up and you’re really at the burst of giving up, this is when your blessings are about to come.”

These are words from Bonilla that we can attest to. When you feel like giving up, keep moving forward. You never know what lies at your next step.

 

5. No one is responsible for your growth but yourself

Instead of conforming, Bonilla decided to be part of the change. As she states, “Nobody’s responsible for your growth, but yourself.”

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she could’ve let a number of barriers affect her but she didn’t.

“I try not to look at this stuff…When I worked for a company in Miami, they.. you didn’t see a woman more than a project manager. You didn’t see any in the leadership. You didn’t see a woman. You know that, that was it. So when I realized that, it was time for me to go.”

Was it easy? Probably not. This is why it’s important to also manage your growth and success by finding something that grounds you.

with patricia bonilla

For Bonilla this includes faith, meditation and fitness. “So what would I say…without my peace, my emotional sanity, I can’t really do much and inspire the people around me,” says Bonilla.

Inevitably, the challenges will come and there will be times where you want to give up. Therefore, learning how to manage your mental stability through these tougher times and having something that grounds you and keeps the peace is key.

These 5 tips are tools you can use to grow not only yourself but also your business if you’re willing to put in the work.

Are you willing to put in the work?

 

If there is a country that allows you to get to wherever you want to get to, whether it’s good or bad is this one. If you were willing to work and, you know, work hard cause I think you have to work, and, go through that process and be honest to the process. You can get to wherever you want to be and everyone including those that don’t look like you, will give you a chance. If you have that desire. Well just believe that you can do it. That’s the only job we have. Believe it. – Patricia Bonilla

 

To learn more from our guest speakers, join the GOVCON GIANTS Podcast Community available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRADIO, and Google Podcasts.

To learn more about government contracting subscribe to the GOVCON GIANTS YouTube Channel.

Scoring Government Contracts Without Formal Education or Training

Posted on by Linette Genao

It’s 2020. We are lucky to live in time where there are a number of jobs and fields you can go into without formal education or training.

Do you need these in order to succeed in government contracts? Our answer is no. Relationships, motivation and hard work are the key ingredients.

Why don’t you need a formal education? Relationships and the internet my friends. The internet is full of free information. Most of which, isn’t being used to its full potential. This information is what you need in order to do your market research. Find out who is buying what you’re selling, and you are off to a great start.

STARTING OUT WITHOUT FORMAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING

When you begin in this field, you most likely will not have all that a government contract requires. That’s okay. You don’t need to.

What you can do, is look at the part that you can accomplish and target the person who won the award and try to help them with the contract. That way, you can build your experience and make some money too.

Also, you don’t necessarily have to specialize in anything specific in order to do well. This means, you don’t really need any special certifications or degrees. We actually encourage you not to specialize in anything.

Why?

The government purchases a variety of things. You want to be able to meet the demands of those various things in order to really make money. We believe the best way to do federal contracting is to subcontract others who specialize in the arena you are looking for and hire them out to do the work. If you specialize in one area, you cut yourself the opportunity to access the other parts and fully serve the governments needs. In order to make money effectively, you’ve got to serve their needs.

Whatever the government wants, you supply it. Unlike local and state contracting, to your benefit, the federal government looks for teams to accomplish tasks, not persons. They support joint ventures and partnerships, which allows you to work with others to pursue a particular opportunity— even if it’s beyond your scope and ability. If you build a team or become a part of the team, then you can get the job done without education or formal training.

WHAT ABOUT DISCRIMINATION?

Government contracting is one of the places where your age, sex, gender, race and/or nationality does not play a role.

When you bid on a contract and are submitting your proposal, you are behind a computer screen.  You are not face-to-face with anyone and you are not asked these questions. Therefore, you are selected based on what you can demonstrate, your work-ethic, experience, your reliability, your knowledge and your ability to get the job done. Whether that is working as the prime contractor or working as a subcontractor, you can score government contracts without racial or gender biases.

At the end of it all, it doesn’t matter where you come from, what your educational background looks like or what you look like. Scoring government contracts is in your reach if you want it to be.

 

To learn more about scoring government contracts without formal education or training watch the video below. To learn more about government contracting visit the GOVCON GIANTS YouTube Channel.
3

Wait! Don’t send your money! — How to Evaluate Government Registration Companies and Others

Posted on by Linette Genao

scam call government registration companiesWe’ve all had them. The random phone numbers calling your phone leaving a convincing voicemail, the emails or letters stating they would change your lives. Some are clearly identifiable as scams. But what about the “government registration companies” that aren’t so easy to decipher as legitamate?

Before you decide to write them a check or send some money over, we have some advice. We are going to provide you some tips on how to evaluate government registration companies and see if they are legit.

Why would you need to know the difference?

Well, although your DUNS, CageCODE, SAM, DSBS and FBO are all free, there may be times you are in need of assistance. Maybe you’re afraid to make a mistake. Maybe you have more money than time or you just want to let someone else be responsible. These all might be legitimate reasons to find outside help. Either way, you should have minimum standards to evaluate the companies approaching you.

 

Do NOT Use A Company If Any Of The Following Occurs:

  •  Their website mentions CCR or ORCA
    • Unless, they’re refencing old legal systems, steer clear of doing business with them.
  • They are charging you to register for a “Top 100” list or some sort of publication that they claim will be in front of government agencies
  • They state you or your firm was nominated for an award
  • If anyone calls you on the phone to solicit you
  • You receive a random email, text, or any other form of unrequested solicitation that doesn’t come from legitimate companies
  • They promise they can get you a loan and/or pre-qualify you for small business funding but require upfront payment

 

Reputable companies do not use auto dialers, call unsolicited wanting money, use tiny font disclaimers or send fax spam!

Be cautious and knowledgeable about the differences and do your homework before hiring a government consultant or working with government registration companies. You work hard for your money and your information is valuable. Don’t just give it away.

 

To find out more about the evaluation process, watch the video below.
To learn more about government contracting, visit our YouTube Channel.

Is The 8 (a) Program A Waste Of Time?

Posted on by Linette Genao

 

This can definitely be a controversial topic. First and foremost, what is the 8 (a) program?

The 8(a) program is where small disadvantaged businesses can receive assistance from the federal government. Each year, the federal government awards a percentage of federal contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses. A huge benefit to a small business, but is it a waste of time?

It can be, if, you do not prepare properly. There is a proper time for you to take advantage of the benefits it offers. Before you jump into the 8 (a) program, we encourage you to first build a foundation, create the company, your organization, your structure and get some experience under your belt. You do not want to waste an opportunity like this, if you are selected for the 8a program. Preparation is key!

You need to know your company and be confident in your structure, organization, and delivery. In the program, you are going to be dealing with the small business development specialists who represent dozens of firms.  A lot of times, you will be getting new specialists who have limited experience in the program, how it works, and how to best help you. The specialists are not familiar with your business. No one is going to be more familiar with your business than you are.

Remember that the program itself does not create the foundation for companies. You have to! You want to maximize all of your success by doing your proper planning. Then again, it’s only a nine-year program and a once in a lifetime thing. Why squander the opportunity?

OUR FINAL VERDICT?

Yes! The 8(a) program is worth it, if you plan properly.

The 8 (a) program takes you from good to great. This is a great opportunity if you are ready and prepare and you want to be ready so that when you get into the program, you can spread like wildfire! What does this mean? Get to planning and preparing!

 

To find out more about the 8(a) program and properly preparing for government contracts, watch the video below. To learn more about government contracting, visit our YouTube Channel..

 

 

 

Holiday Reflection and Goal Setting towards Success!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Achieve your vision in life with this holiday reflection and goal setting towards success!

HOLIDAY REFLECTION

We always hear this saying, “Whatever gets measured gets done,” and it only means that if you’re not measuring your activities on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis, then, it’s very difficult to know if you’re moving or making progress or not.

With this in mind, I always look back to see if I was productive, did I accomplish the things I set out to accomplish, and if not, what happened.

To give you an idea, I first started doing this activity in 2016. I listed my goals which were to do 50 videos and 100 podcasts, gain 50,000 views and 5,000 person email list, and create a free course.

Currently, I exceeded the 50 videos, I never did a podcast, I’ve done well over the 50,000 views, I didn’t get to the 5,000 person email list, but I did create my free course.

Apart from that, there are some other things that happened that were not part of my initial goals. I’ve got national organizations talking to me and I’ve developed relationships with companies that are going to take me into contract with arenas that I’ve not been familiar with. 

“By just writing down the goals and having them at the top of your mind and going through that exercise, you know you’re going to hit some of those goals. You may not hit others, but there’s some things that are going to happen that you may not be able to see that may take you in some directions that are even beyond what you thought you’d be at and where you’d be or go.”

GOAL SETTING

In setting my goals, I have these 100 life goals and this 21-goal category. 

For my 100 life goals, I just put everything that I want to do. These are a wide range of things, like visiting India, visiting China, going to the ESPYs, and other things to kind of start checking off the boxes.

Then, for my 21-goal category, I wrote down three goals per section and the areas that I focused on were relationship, business and career, health and fitness goals, personal goals, contribution and legacy, and then financial goals. 

To give an example, under my contribution and legacy, I wrote down things like to help 100,000 of small businesses achieve dramatic growth results, impact the lives of millions of people so they can pay it forward for the next generation, and ensure financial freedom for the next five generations.

VISION STATEMENT

Then, to keep me on track with my goal, I have this 12-month vision statement.

Through this tracker, I ask these questions below:

What’s important to me? What are my core values? What are the things that are not easy for me? What are some of those core values that help me push through some of those hard tasks? What are my five big goals for the year? What are the five most compelling reasons to hit these goals and elevate my life? What are the key behaviors I must develop?

Apart from that, you also need to take note of the things you need to sacrifice in order to achieve those goals. For me, I’m willing to give up nights and weekends, all vacation plans, every Saturday and Sunday, and return for the money that I desire.

SUCCESS REASONS

Now that you have your goals and your vision statement, you also need to list down all of your reasons why you want to achieve those goals. 

“You can write down your goals. You can write down your vision statement, all that stuff…. You can have plenty of intelligence, talent, and good work ethic, but if you don’t have enough reasons, then you won’t do the activity.” 

Consider that these reasons, your reasons, these are like magnets that will pull you closer towards your goals. 

“For me, I knew I wanted to help my son. I knew I wanted to help my niece. I have a goal to pay off my parents’ house. And so those kinds of things are what pulled me through those tough times when people were yelling at me, screaming at me, when people treated me poorly, or I didn’t feel like I was being treated fairly.”

So, what are the reasons behind some of those goals? Write those down and don’t forget to look at it from time to time. 

RESOURCES

With this in mind, if you want to be part of a community who wants to succeed in life in terms of doing business with the government, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

Just 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, you can also check these resources below:

How to Set Goals in Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLqx9IjOXTs&t=154s

Holiday reflection and Goal Setting – Govcon Training Day 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu2q-cBvTTw&feature=youtu.be

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Holiday-reflection-and-Goal-Setting-Govcon-Training-Day-10.pdf

Harness the Power of GSA to Grow Your Business!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Grow your business and provide products and services to the government by using the power of GSA!

WHAT IS GSA AND DO THEY DO?

The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government that facilitates and manages the Schedules program, the most widely used federal procurement program.

As the acquisition arm of the federal government, GSA plays a vital role in connecting the private sector with federal agencies in order to fulfill their business needs.

GSA offers professional services, equipment, supplies, telecommunications, and information technology from commercial businesses to different government organizations, including the military, through acquisition solutions from its Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).

In this section, the organization also listed the products and services that they buy.

WHAT IS A GSA SCHEDULE?

GSA Schedules (also referred as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) are long-term governmentwide contracts for commercial vendors to supply different products and services to different agencies in the government at a volume discount pricing.

According to their website, these Schedules help vendors to have a direct link to the government contracting community while also helping the buyer or, in this case, the agency to save time and money.

GSA also has other purchasing programs apart from GSA Schedules, just click this link to know more. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A GSA VENDOR?

When you become a vendor, your company will appear in the GSA Advantage. It is the online shopping and ordering system for the GSA and its buyers. 

Apart from that you can take advantage of the power of GSA in terms of:

RESOURCES

With this in mind, if you want to learn more about how to grow your government contracting business, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

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

You can also check these resources below to learn more on how the GSA Schedules and other purchasing programs work:

How to grow your IT company – Eric Coffie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guO09m98_7s&feature=emb_title

GSA Regional 4 Customer Service Director Shaun Hartman talks with Eric Coffie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9z2GPGRb6o

DoD & GSA seeks out new innovation, technologies, business strategies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfR6djTLlog&t=438s

IT YouTube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6-jBNNcc98uZ4OzF5wrDlL9MY9cpw-k3

We are more alike than we are different

Posted on by Eric Coffie

I don’t have any specialized talent or skills. I don’t have a super memory. I am not connected to the Washington beltway or sponsored by one percenters. I am just like you and I’m here to tell you why we are more alike than we are different. 

I ONCE HAD A 9-5 JOB

It wasn’t a long time ago that I had a nice cushy job and always had the security of a steady paycheck. However, when the market took a dump, my private sector projects tanked my business and I was forced to take a position in Miami-Dade County as a Construction Manager 3.

In that job, my days were pretty easy. Each morning, I would dress up ‘business casual” and head to the office on the Express bus, transfer to the train piled with 9-5’ers, and get off at the exit at my building.

My office was on the 11th floor and after a few morning pleasantries, I was back on the elevator down to the cafeteria for some pastries and pastelitos.

The morning cafecito crowds were a usual mix of the same characters. The smokers, people who drag in late, the homeless, early birds returning from a walk after clocking in, delivery drivers, visitors and county staff from other facilities. It was a good mix of morning humor and a way to pass the early morning hours, assuming you had no 9 a.m. meetings.

Then, I was back upstairs to welcome everyone that I had not greeted in the 1st set of rounds. Our team occupied 25% of the floor, so there were another 75% of people at desks who I didn’t interact with throughout the day. Truth be told, I got more local news in the first two hours of the day than Channel 7.

After returning to my desk and responding to the barrage of emails, the assistant director usually would come in with a new found agenda that we were now forced to adhere to based on upper management meetings.

So, off we go in the county car to a county facility to address a complaint or, in this case, a change that a tenant wants in one of our over 100 facilities. These meetings can take between 15 mins to 1 hour, but there is still a 2-hour traffic back and forth.

After a late morning meeting, we track back to the office in preparation for lunch where we spend countless times discussing what to order, where to go, and with whom.

A usual meeting or conference call in the early afternoon, a few more emails, and the day is over.

If any of that story sounds familiar to you, then I wish you the best because I decided to end it. 

BUT THEN, I QUIT

I remember the day I came back to the office and announced that I QUIT. Many people told me to never come back as it would only be a lifetime sentence of unfulfilled hopes and shattered dreams. 

So many people admitted that they felt trapped in that job too. They once had aspirations and dreams like starting a restaurant, a day care, bakery, and a cleaning business.

However, they didn’t pursue these because they weren’t sure and they love the security of living from check to check. The job that once brought them security and comfort now becomes the chains that held them back from ever pursuing those ambitions.

Some (like me) came to the county after failed attempts at business, a layoff in the private sector, and others referred by family and friends, and they simply never worked anywhere else. All of them knew that the minimal responsibility position was not transferable to “real world” jobs.

“In the private sector, you must deliver; in the county, you just have to show up and get through the day.”

NOW, EXPLORE YOUR INNER GIANT!

Now picture me, Eric Coffie, in that same 9-5 job all over again. What if I had stayed in the county and left my dreams rot away in my mind? Would you ever know me? Would you know about Govcon Giants and learn from our wide-array of valuable content?

I don’t think so. You would never come to know my name or that of thousands of other entrepreneurs out there in the world if we all had chosen to stay at our jobs.

Though I have to admit, many people do enjoy the routine and consistency of a steady paycheck, but for the rest of us with high hopes for the future, this was not the place. 

So, if you think you are the next inventor, creator, and entrepreneur, explore your INNER GIANT!

Abandon the false comfort of check and take the first step towards realizing your FULL potential!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE RESOURCES!

With this in mind, if you want to know how to transform your life and realize your full potential, then check the resources below. 

If you also want to learn how to do business with the government through government contracts, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

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

10 Steps to Life Transformation – Eric Coffie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeu0bRx71cc&t=1111s

5 Step Formula for Overnight Success – Govcon Training Day 4 – Eric Coffie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMMWh5dSbgU&t=737s

Evolve or Die! Savor Life versus Make Impact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQbA8nesh8s&t=2161s

How to Set Goals in Life – Eric Coffie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLqx9IjOXTs&t=167s

Govcon Giants Podcast Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6-jBNNcc98vTBvNhFYfUTeH0k-Vx2VBH

Motivation Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6-jBNNcc98vrZd7y7Jp78iyFpJhcrO-R

Take This FREE Government Handout Better than FEMA!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

A lot of people are asking me the same question, “Eric, how do I get a contract?” So, to answer these people, take this FREE government handout that is better than FEMA!

THIS IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST HANDOUT!

The United States federal procurement system is the biggest handout in the world.  There’s no other country in the world that has a procurement system similar to the way ours is run and operated.

“It’s the only program, the only system that I know that will take a one-man or a no name company and turn them into a multimillion dollar organization.”

So, if you’re looking for opportunities in the federal marketplace or you’re interested in doing federal procurement, then take advantage of this opportunity to provide products and services to the government. 

Besides, the systems are already in place and designed to help you succeed. The government doesn’t want you to fail. They want a win-win-win for everybody: the contractor, the company, the entity… everyone.

JUST PICK UP THE PHONE!

Still, you need to consider that you still need to be involved in the process. You need to do the work in order to succeed in this marketplace. 

The things that you need to do include looking where the opportunities are, finding out who or what company has contracts, and start calling these people. It’s just as easy as that.

The truth is, these companies need people like you to fulfill different contracts. They can’t do all of the work alone. This is why we have subcontracting, consulting, and teaming. 

You can start out by being a subcontractor and by providing something of value to the person or the prime who’s actually servicing the specific government agency. You can do this by just finding out who has the contract that you are looking at and giving them a call. 

You can say this statement, like, “Hey, listen, Jack. My name is Eric. I’m calling from Evankoff Construction. Listen, congratulations. I see you just won the contract award. I want to congratulate you, but let me tell you a little about my company. Do you have a minute?”

“They’re always looking for one more better supplier, one more better subcontractor.”

Now, guess what happens once you do that and you start talking to people? You become a subcontractor and because of that, you can have a past performance and a professional reference for the work that you performed. You can use that stuff in the future once you are ready to become a prime contractor.

HERE’S A STORY FOR YOU!

I actually have a couple of friends of mine that do drywall, but they’re broke. They’re not successful. They’re like handymen. They’re just getting by and scraping by. 

Then, I also know a prime that does a 100 million a year and they have a job that’s $17 million. Now, they’re even looking for a drywall company to do around 1 to 2 million dollars worth of drywall work.

So, why is it that this guy is not doing well in his business when there’s this million dollar opportunity in place and there’s no one to do it? This just doesn’t add up. 

“You can’t make the connection if you don’t reach out to the person and call them. You’re not going to be able to find that opportunity and they’re not going to be able to find you because no one’s talking.”

Besides, who needs the money more? My friend with a drywall business does. And in this case, you too. You’re the person on the other side that needs these contracts. So, call these people.

“You need to call them and say, ‘Hey, listen. I’m your guy. Whatever opportunities that you have in my field, please, let me know. Give me a shot. Give me a chance. Let me try. Try me out for a moment and see what I can do.’”

Now, that’s the handout right there. Once you start calling people, you’ll start building your history and past performance and you’ll continue to gain more opportunities. That’s what I’ve been doing and that’s what I continue to do.

RESOURCES

Forget about FEMA. Forget about food stamps. Forget about certifications. Remember, you already have the opportunity. You just have to do the necessary steps to take action in order to make it happen for yourself, for your company, and for your family. 

With this in mind, if you want to be part of a community who wants to succeed in life in terms of doing business with the government, then join us here at GovCon Giants.

Just 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, you can also check these resources below:

Free Government Handout, better than FEMA!

https://youtu.be/_I1kivIB9Do

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Free-Government-Handout-better-than-FEMA.pdf

Worried about not having a certification, see why it doesn’t matter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwGPXj6TLng&t=771s

Your Certifications DON’T Mean ANYTHING!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwyZwq_D4O0

Finding 💎MILLIONAIRES💎 to network with, becoming a dealmaker and more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woPcldc3sfY&t=977s

028: Small Business Administration Subcontracting Program Manager

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8MvSXYv6yY&t=1738s

Want to make money as a Government Consultant, follow these steps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1801TXW3pQ&t=30s

06: Joint Venture and Mentor Protégé Guru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df9jBqAT3Xc&t=2482s