Government Contracting Opportunity and Resources
Last year, *$12.3 billion in government spending was with Georgia companies and at least 312 sales transactions were with firms located in Brunswick, GA. Transactions varied from lodging, maintenance equipment, to marketing services.
The government is directed to buy a variety of products and services that your business may already be successful at providing. If your small business is considering adding the federal, state, or local government as a customer there are a variety of resources and opportunities that you may be eligible for. Additionally, there are certifications and/or programs that your business may be eligible for. Certifying your business will help you stand out and secure contracts.
*For more information on government spending visit https://www.usaspending.gov/
Do you need to certify your business?
Many government agencies have programs to support purchasing from small businesses or other designations. Characteristics such as veteran, women– and/or minority, or LGBTQ -owned may add additional value to your business when competing for contracts.
Depending on the government organization that your business wants to work with, you may need to take steps to identify, or certify, that your business is eligible to take advantage of these opportunities.
- Georgia The State of Georgia’s only certification is for a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and that certification is performed by the GA Department of Transportation (GDOT). GDOT can also process a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification once the DBE certification is approved and proper criteria are met. Once the criteria are met, the MBE application is then sent to DOAS, who will approve the MBE certification.
- Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, GMSDC Get your Minority Business Enterprise, MBE, certification, and learn how GMSDC fosters and expands economic opportunities between MBEs, corporations, and government entities within Georgia.
- Greater Women’s Business Council, GWBC The Greater Women’s Business Council, GWBC, is a nonprofit whose purpose is to advance, promote, and advocate for women business owners through education, mentoring certification, and corporate partnering.
- Federal To participate in any of the Small Business Administration’s, SBA, small business contracting assistance programs, you’ll first need to qualify as a small business. The SBA’s size standards determine whether or not your business qualifies as small. Most of the socio-economic programs require some form of certification. Many programs use the certify.SBA.gov website to let you certify or do a preliminary check to see if you’re qualified.
- Vets First The Vets First Verification Program affords verified firms owned and controlled by Veterans and Service-disabled Veterans the opportunity to compete for VA set-asides. Verified firms may also use the official logo in their marketing efforts.
- LGBTQ-Owned Business Enterprise Certification The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, NGLCC, offers certification to LGBTQ-owned business enterprises (LGBTBEs) and a host of opportunities to enhance their visibility to corporations seeking to do business with LGBTQ suppliers.
About the HUBZone
Did you know that approximately 10,000 households are in the Brunswick HUBZone?
Each year the Federal Government sets a goal to award 3% of contracts to businesses located in a HUBZone.
To qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must:
