Resources to Sell to the Government Uvalde Chamber of Commerce


	Selling to the Government

7 steps to doing business with the government

Look locally. Contact your city and county public works departments to find out how they publish bid opportunities.

Self-certifications: The federal government recognizes small businesses (SBE), women-owned (WBE), and disadvantaged (i.e. minority) businesses (SDB). The SBA has established two widely used size standards for small business:

Fewer than 500 employees for most manufacturing and mining industries, and
Less than $7 million in average annual receipts for most nonmanufacturing industries.

HUBZone businesses. If your business is located in a low-median income or high unemployment area, you may be eligible for preferential bidding on federal projects.
There is a HUB Zone south of State 90 near State 83
For more information about HUBZone benefits and to find out if your business location is in a HUBZone, go to: http://www.sba.gov/content/applying-hubzone-program
SBA 8(a) program for minority businesses. The SBA 8(a) program provides direct help in obtaining federal contracts. Participants must have been in business at least 2 years and have non-businesss and non-home assets less than $250,000. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/content/8a-business-development. To apply, visit https://sba8a.symplicity.com/applicants/guide.
US Department of Transportation recognizes veteran-owned small businesses. For more information, visit http://osdbu.dot.gov/about/customers.cfm#VOSB.
The state of Texas has a HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Program, that is not the same as the federal program. The Texas HUB program is for minority and women-owned businesses located anywhere in Texas. Click here for more information and to sign up.
The Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) has a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and a Small Business Enterprise Program.

Even if you are not certified, register on CCR. The federal government uses CCR (Central Contractor Registration). You can register at https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx. You can do a search on existing registered businesses at http://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.
The State of Texas' vendor registration system is the Centralized Master Bidders List. There is a one-time $70 fee.
Look for large opportunities and sign up for email notifications. Federal opportunities for $25,000 and more can be found at https://www.fbo.gov.

Texas bid opportunities can be found at http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/. You can register to receive state bid opportunities on the Centralized Master Bidders List.

Look for sub-contracting opportunities. The government bid process can take six months. It is often faster to find sub-contracting opportunities with companies that have already received a government contract. You can find federal sub-contracting opportunities at http://web.sba.gov/subnet/search/dsp_search_option.cfm.
Each Texas agency has a HUB Mentor-Protégé Program which matches subcontractors with prime contractors to provide assistance and training to Texas HUB businesses. Click here for more information.
Network and market your business to find opportunities under $25,000. All purchases under $100,000 are supposed to go to small business. Federal agencies use credit cards for purchases of $2,500 or less. For purchases between $2,500 and $25,000, they must obtain quotes from at least three vendors.
Get help through PTAC or SBDC. PTACs (Procurement Technical Assistance Centers) provide free assistance in marketing products and services to government agencies. Visit San Antonio Technical Procurement Assistance Center: http://www.sanantonio.gov/planning/ptac/.
You can also contact your local SBDC ( Small Business Development Center) for free assistance with government contracting. Visit http://www.sulross.edu/~sbdc/.

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