When a headline comes out saying DHS reportedly set up a $1 billion, 5-year blanket purchase agreement for AI and data analytics software, a lot of small businesses have the same first reaction: “Well, that one clearly isn’t for me.” That reaction is understandable. Big-dollar enterprise agreements tend to look like they belong to the […]
If your business is veteran-owned or woman-owned, this is not the kind of box you want to leave unchecked. For many contractors, socioeconomic status used to feel like something you could mention in your SAM registration, reference in a capability statement, and move on from. That is no longer the reality. Today, formal certification matters […]
A lot of small businesses new to government contracting assume Q4 is when the real action starts. That is only partly true. Yes, Q4 is the federal government’s busiest buying stretch because the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, and many annual appropriations must be obligated before that deadline. In plain English, agencies are […]
Oral presentations are playing a bigger role in government contracting. Learn why they matter, how AI is changing proposal competition, and how small businesses can prepare to win. There is a quiet shift happening in government contracting, and small businesses should pay attention. For years, many contractors treated the written proposal as the whole game. […]
If you’ve ever reached out to a contracting officer with what felt like a solid message… and still heard nothing back, you’re not alone. Most contractors assume silence means the buyer isn’t interested, the timing is bad, or the agency “just isn’t responsive.” Sometimes that’s true. But more often, the issue is simpler and more […]
If you are new to government contracting, the phrase “small business set-aside” can sound technical, complicated, and maybe a little intimidating. It is actually much simpler than it sounds. A set-aside is when the government limits competition for a contract to a certain category of small businesses instead of opening it up to every company […]
A lot of small businesses do not realize they have a Build America, Buy America problem until a customer asks a painful question: “Can you certify this is BABA-compliant?” That is usually the moment the scramble starts. The buyer is already tied to a federally funded infrastructure project. The bid is moving. The project team […]
If you are a small business owner who has been curious about government contracting but assumed defense work was only for giant incumbents, this is a good time to rethink that. The federal government awarded small businesses a record $183.3 billion in prime contracts in FY2024, equal to 28.8% of all federal contracting dollars, and […]
If you are new to government contracting, the opportunity landscape can feel like walking into a giant warehouse with no aisle signs. There are thousands of listings, unfamiliar acronyms, and enough filters to make your eyes cross. A lot of small business owners make the same early mistake: they start clicking around, chase whatever looks […]
The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into drones and unmanned systems, and small businesses are positioned to capture a significant share of these awards. From the Department of War’s $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program to the Department of Homeland Security’s new $115 million counter-drone office, 2026 represents the most opportunity-rich year in the […]