Have you heard the buzz already about the long-anticipated Infrastructure Bill that has recently passed?

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If you have not had the time to sit down with the $1.2 Trillion, 11-part, 1,000-page bill and go through line item by line item – no worries! We will sum it up for you so that you can position your company to collect some of the dollars that will flow down and be spent in the coming months and years to include both contracts and grants.

The trillion-dollar figure is combined with the authorization and appropriation of over 138 programs. There will be plenty of subcontracting opportunities, as well as grant money flowing down to states for small businesses with a special focus on minority-owned contractors, creating Minority Business Development Centers in rural areas. There is an active push to engage these entities in underserved communities across the United States.

What’s Included?

Combined with the President’s Build Back Framework, it is anticipated to add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next decade. The historic $1.2 Trillion legislation will include:

The first half is reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, and the Surface Transportation Investment Act;
Clean water delivered to all American families, as well as elimination of the lead service lines;
Ensure every American has reliable access to high-speed internet;
Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety;
Improve transportation options for millions of Americans, while reducing greenhouse emissions through the largest investment in public transit in U.S. history;
Airport upgrades, as well as ports to strengthen our supply chains and prevent disruptions that have contributed to recent inflation;
Investment in passenger rails – the largest investment since the creation of Amtrak,
National network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers;
Upgrade power infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable energy and deploy the latest energy technology to work toward a zero-emissions future in America;
Strengthening infrastructure resilience against climate change, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather events;
Tackling legacy pollution by cleaning up Superfund and brownfield sites, reclaiming abandoned mines, and capping orphaned oil and gas wells.

When Are We Going to See It?

It covers FY2022-FY2026, though the first few months are dedicated to planning – project and program managers, get in position! Many of the sections read “will establish in the next (x) days” so they are using the first several months of the bill for their own planning.

The existing budgets are currently still generic amounts with very vague descriptions. You see a lot of “pilot programs” throughout the bill so several lose ends remain untied. The best educated guess is around April of 2022 we will start to see these solicitations, sources sought notices, and RFI’s (Oh My!) coming up on sam.gov.

The experts recommend tracking relevant keywords in SAM, like “PROTECT Program” – PROTECT standing for “Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation”, is a great option for our transportation industry clients, as one specific example.

It is important to note for preparation purposes that the Department of Commerce will be managing many of these opportunities. Click here to learn more about how to do business with the DoC for either grants or contracts.

Additionally, it is important to note that they are also forming new agencies to mitigate some of these contracts so soon small businesses will have new opportunities open within new agencies for contracts we have not yet seen.

As always, if you need personal assistance navigating the government contracting space, our Senior Advisors are available to assist you 1-on-1 to prepare and educate you on what you need to know to be successful in GovCon.

How Do You Get in Position to Capture?

Register for government contracts in the System for Award Management (SAM) or enlist our help with professional processing to ensure your SAM, DSBS, and FEMA Disaster Relief Registration are current, complete, and compliant.
Explore what socio-economic set-aside certifications you might qualify for and complete verification processes for each – especially your MBE certification, HUBZone, and 8(a) Business Development certification!
Perform market research to learn where your path of least resistance lies on your own or via our exclusive R.A.D.A.R Report.
Connect with the respective subagencies (TBD, new ones will be created specifically for this bill which will be filled with fresh staff) – Stay tuned!
Connect with the “usual suspects” – the prime contractors most likely to lead the race for subcontracting opportunities and get your agreements in place with your strategic teaming partners in other socio-economic categories. Also review our Free Resources.
Most importantly, stay informed – SAM.gov especially, but not to exclude Unison, FedBiz Access Market Intel, FedBiz Connect, or various agency procurement sites.

Are you ready to take advantage of these opportunities? Are your registrations current and compliant? Do you have a Capability Statement? Do you qualify for a set-aside award?

FedBiz Access works with businesses to simplify government contracting and help them become more competitive to win awards. The business development services include targeted market research, set-aside certifications, and GSA Schedule registrations.

FedBiz Access helps companies build a clear path from registration to award.

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