Growing Your Business with Government Contracts
by Jim Breece

Growing your business with government contracts is a good idea, no matter what service you provide. For those of you that are in the computer repair or service business, a government contract can be relatively easy to get and can keep you very busy.

You probably already have an employer or tax ID number. If not, you will need to get one.

Sole proprietors and self-employed individuals without employees are not required to have this number. But in order to apply for a federal or state contract, the number is a requirement.

Luckily, getting one is easy. You can do the whole thing online just by answering a few questions. Go to www.irs.gov and click on the “businesses” button. The directions are pretty easy to follow from there.

Another requirement is a DUNS number. DUNS stands for data universal numbering system. The numbers are provided by Dun and Bradstreet for new and existing businesses.

The DUNS number provides certain information about your company such as net worth, credit history and financial statements. It takes one business day to receive your number via email.

Once you have your company’s number, you can register with the US Federal Central Contractor Registration or CCR. They have a website. But be prepared for problems. The website has some downtime. It may take several tries before you are able to log in.

You can also locate government contracts on FindRFP.com. Unlike the CCR website, FindRFP.com is easy to use and always up. The website provides a great deal of information for contractors.

Contractors providing computer repair, training, service and support are always in demand. Federal law requires that bids made by small businesses receive as much attention and consideration as those made by large companies.

You will need to decide if you have the ability to fulfill a contract within a specific period of time or at a particular price. Think carefully before you place your bid.

You can locate government contracts on FindRFP.com for your city or county offices. The small offices need someone local to take care of their computer issues. Your company might be just what they need.

In addition to providing service, new or existing offices may need to rent hardware. Some offices have needs for virus detection, removal and prevention. General software installation is another need.

You and your partners (if any) may need to submit to a background check at some point in the process. But once you have completed a contract satisfactorily, your company’s name will be on the government’s list of providers.

Those are the main things that you need to know about growing your business with government contracts. FindRFP.com can give you more information.

About the Author: Jim Breece has been in the Third Party Maintenance business for 29 years. He is the editor of Service-Port.com and the President of Breden Technical Resources, Inc.

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