Government Registrations
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Government Registrations
This guide will explain the core government registrations you need to become contract ready.
What is SAM.gov?
SAM, or the System for Award Management, is the most popular website for businesses that want to sell their goods and services to the US Government. It is a requirement for anyone who wants to work with the federal government to register here before they can be chosen and/or paid for completed work.
Important Note: your SAM profile is not a one-and-done application. It will need to be renewed yearly as well as any time there is a change to your company’s information, such as the business name, address, and/or point of contact.
Key Features:
Register to do business with the U.S. Government
View past awarded contracts and who won them
Research Primes and top competitors in your industry
List bank accounts for invoicing/payment
Responsibilities and powers of managing members
Network with government agents and departments
Key Features:
CAGE Code:
A 5-character code that acts as your business’ ID when working with the government. It is always tied to a specific location, so if your business has multiple locations, you will need multiple CAGE Codes.
UEI, or Unique Entity Identifier:
A 12-character alpha-numeric code used to uniquely identify entities doing business with the U.S. federal government.
NAICS Code - North American Industry Classification System:
A six-digit number that classifies businesses by their economic activity, used by the U.S. government for statistical analysis, contracting, and market research.
PSC (Product Service Code):
A four-character, alphanumeric code used by the U.S. federal government to classify products, services, and research and development (R&D) that it purchases.
NAICS & PSC Codes
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Why is SAM Important?
Before you can even apply for, or even be paid on a federal contracts, a SAM registration is required.
Without it your business will be limited to state and local level contracts and not the higher value opportunities held by larger federal agencies.
Using SAM.gov
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What you need to do:
If your business is not already registered on SAM.gov, you will need to complete the registration. If you’re already SAM registered, you should work to optimize your profile, ensuring you have the correct NAICS/PSC Codes, socioeconomic statuses, points of contact, and more.
What is an SBA Small Business Search Profile?
The Small Business Search (SBS) is a database created by the Small Business Administration (SBA) where contracting officers search for small businesses who are registered to work with the federal government. It acts as your business’ online profile where you get to advertise your capabilities, past performance, and differentiators.
Learn More About SBS
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Key Elements:
Certifications/Set-Asides
NAICS Codes
Products/Services
Capabilities Narrative
Insurance Bonding levels (if applicable)
Keywords
Past Performance
Why is an SBA Small Business Search Profile Important?
Contracting officers search SBS when they’re looking to hire a small business vendor to fulfill contracts that are under $25,000 without having to open the project for bidding. You must fill out your profile the right way, so the government knows you’re ready to work.
An incomplete SBS profile will appear as an unprepared or unqualified vendor to a contracting officer.
What you need to do:
You need to review your SBS profile and optimize each key field to make sure your profile is populating in the searches of contracting officers who need your services.
What is Grants.gov?
Grants.gov is the official website for researching, applying for, and being awarded federal funding in the form of grants and loans. Nonprofits, education centers, and companies looking for small business grants all gather here to find grants they’re eligible for and apply.
Important Note: all funds from Grants.gov are paid through the bank account connected to your SAM, so it is vital that we register your company in SAM.gov before you can begin applying for grants.
Learn More Grants.gov
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Key Benefits:
Access:
Primary access to federal grants and loans.
Database:
Large database of federal grants to search for ones you are elligible for.
Funding:
Grants.gov is one way to secure funding to expand your business.
Why is it Important?
Whether you’re a for-profit company wanting to secure a loan to expand your business or a research institution that needs to pay for a brand-new project, securing a grant from the federal government can provide you with stable funding while you focus on your work.
Without a registration in Grants.gov, the majority of federal funding will be unavailable to you.
What you need to do:
Following your SAM.gov registration, you will need to register your business at Grants.gov so you can begin searching for qualified grants and loans.
What is FEMA?
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is responsible for coordinating federal agencies and private companies in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters both man-made and natural. They require billions of dollars’ worth of supplies and services from many different industries to be effective and responsive to the various crises occurring around the US. To accomplish this, they directly search for qualified businesses through programs such as SAM.gov, SBS, and their own vendor registration site.
Contracts and FEMA
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For businesses that want to work with FEMA you will need to complete three steps whenever a new disaster occurs.
Fill Out
Fill out the FEMA Vendor Form with your company’s information
Update
Update your SAM.gov profile to include the affected counties and states in the Disaster Response Registry
Contact
Contact Prime Contractors that have been awarded FEMA contracts already for subcontracting opportunities by searching in programs like Subnet.
Using Subnet
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Why is FEMA Important?
Whenever a disaster occurs FEMA must respond immediately. This means they’re authorized to spend vast amounts of money quickly without the complicated processes of regular federal contracts. For any business that provides a service relating to disaster recovery or prevention, working with FEMA as either a Prime or subcontractor to another company can turn into consistent revenue while also supporting impacted communities.
Registering with FEMA
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What you need to do:
You will need to enter your business into FEMA’s official Vendor Registration site, as well as build your profile. This way FEMA is aware of how they can best use your company and how to easily contact you when a disaster does occur.