Government contracts aren’t always easy to get, but they’re a significant revenue source if you put in the work and can win a bid. You can get a sustainable source of work for your company for a guaranteed amount of time. That makes a government contracting business a great business to start.

You need to learn more about how to become a government contractor if you want to see success. Check out the guide below to learn how to land government contractor jobs.

Determine Your Business

It doesn’t matter what type of business you have. The chances are good that there is a government service out there that can use what you have to offer.

You can get involved with anything from cleaning buildings to engineering. Your limits are only what you can do and how well you train your team.

That means you need to think hard about what type of business you want to start looking for government contracts. It makes sense to look for ways to use your unique experience. If you do a good enough job, you should be able to sell your products and skills for a great price to government entities.

Look at Government Demand

Even if you have a great product, it doesn’t mean there’s high demand for it in the government. Even if something was highly valuable in the past, it might not be used much anymore.

Luckily, you can see government spending in public for some areas. You can use a resource like  to see what the government is currently spending money on and see what contracts are up for grabs.

You can use this information when determining what you want to offer. If you use your business expertise and match it to a government need, you can create an offering that matches what the government wants in a government contractor.

Learn the Rules

You won’t play by the same rules when you work as a government contractor. The government has a strict set of rules it requires of the people and companies it works with. If you can’t follow those rules, you won’t get government contracts and will have the contracts you do have revoked.

It pays to learn what these rules are before you get started with government work. Look at the field you plan to enter to see what applies to it. Things will change significantly based on the type of work you provide.

You may also need to prove that you can follow these rules before you get assigned a contract. Learn these beforehand to make the process of applying for government contracts easier.

Register Your Business

Once you know what it takes to work as a government contractor and what business you want to start, it’s time to begin the process officially. You’ll need to form a company to do that.

You can do this by starting a corporation. The requirements vary by location, so research your state’s regulations about starting a new business.

You’ll need to apply there and get a federal tax ID number. This number will prove you have a legitimate business and help you get government contracts.

You’ll also need to register your business for the ability to get government contracts by doing the SAM registration. This number qualifies you to make bids for contracts with your new company.

Get Certifications

Before you can start doing business with the government, you need to prove that you have experience in your field. The way you’ll do this is with certifications.

The certification you need will depend on the industry you’re in for business. Look for the standard training courses available and how they apply to those certifications. Once you learn the material, you can do whatever is required to test your knowledge and get your certificate.

Even if you don’t require certification for a contract, it still may make sense to get one. A certificate can set you apart from your competition and make it more likely that you’ll win a contract.

Start Searching for Contracts

Once you have your business set up and are legally able to apply for government jobs, you’re ready to start the contract search. However, this doesn’t work quite the same as applying for other jobs.

You won’t always find government contracts on job boards. These are special programs that have government portals for displaying work. You’ll need to find these portals to see what government contracts are available.

There are also businesses that take on larger projects and subcontract parts of the job to smaller companies. This route is an excellent way of getting your foot in the door and gaining the trust of government entities.

Go to Outreach Events

Government contract portals aren’t the only way to look for contracting jobs. There are many events where government officials go to network and meet others. If you can get contacts from these events, you can increase your chance of getting noticed for a job.

Many government contracts go to people who know about them before everyone else. If you can make a good impression on government workers, that puts you at the front of the line for new contacts.

You can also connect with other industry professionals at these events. You may be able to find people in similar industries and use outside help with government contracts. You’ll be able to work with these companies on contracts in some situations, so connect with as many people as possible when networking. 

Get Your Financing Right

There are strict financing requirements for government jobs. The government doesn’t want to take chances on a company with a shaky foundation. The bidding process takes time, so government agencies don’t want to go through the process again.

There are several sets of rules that you must follow that depend on the type of agency you want to work with. Review those rules to ensure your company doesn’t have issues.

You can also work with financing agencies to ensure your setup for success in this regard. There are government contract financing companies that specialize in financing government contracts, so see what options are available.

Submit Job Proposals

Applying for government contracts works a bit differently than a regular job. In a normal situation, you’ll send a message to the person in charge of a company, make your case, and put together an excellent presentation showing what you can do. While some of this is necessary when you apply for government jobs, there is more to the process.

Every government job has a proposal process. Once you find a job you’re interested in doing, you’ll need to write a proposal document and send it to the government executive. 

Your proposal has many requirements, so you can’t just do things as you want. Look into the proposal requirements you need to follow and format your document to meet those requirements. You can be disqualified if you don’t follow the rules.

Ask Questions

You may have questions when you write a government proposal. However, you can’t just call someone and get the necessary information. There’s a question process you need to follow.

There’s also a window for questions you also need to meet. You’re only allowed to ask questions during this time, so you can’t afford to wait to figure out what you need to know.

Look over the entire job request before you start writing your proposal. Use this time to see what you need to clarify. Once you have these questions, send them to the buyer to get the information you need to complete your proposal.

Submit Your Proposal

You’re ready to submit your proposal once you finish your bid and have all your questions answered. However, you can’t just submit your bid in any way you wish.

In many cases, you can submit your proposal by using the online system where you found the job. Upload a copy of your proposal to the system to finish the submission process.

However, not every bid works that way. In some cases, you may need to submit the bid in person or by mail. Look at the submission requirements to ensure you do things the right way.

After you submit your job, it’s just a waiting game to see if you’ll win a government contract.

Now You Know How to Become a Government Contractor

Working for the government doesn’t follow the same path as a traditional career. Finding a government job sometimes means you must go above and beyond to prove your worth. You have even more to prove if you run a business and want a contract.

That’s why you need to do everything right when you start looking at government contractor careers. Now that you know how to become a government contractor, you’re ready to begin the process of landing your dream gig.

Check out the blog for more advice that will help you advance your career and business.