PART II: What You Need to Know

1. PART II: What You Need to Know

2. Set Asides & Certifications

4. How Does My Business Have an Advantage? • Small Business Set Asides • Acquisitions that have an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3000 but not over $150,000 are automatically reserved for small businesses.

5. How Much Do Small Businesses Get? • 23% of all contracting dollars are to be awarded to small businesses • 5% to WOSB/EDWOSB (Woman Owned) • 3% to SDVOSB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned) • 3% HUBZone (Historically Underutilized, place based) • 5% to 8(a) (Socially and economically disadvantaged)

6. WOSB/EDWOSB • Woman Owned Small Business/Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business • WOSB • 51%owned and controlled by one or more women who are US citizens • Ownership must be direct and not subject to limitations • Woman or women must manage day to day operations • EDWOSB • Satisfy all conditions of WOSB • Personal net worth of less than $750,000 (excluding primary home) • Adjusted annual income of $350,00 or less • Only applies to designated industries (certain NAICs Codes) • WOSBs must be certified (self certification is FREE) • Upload all necessary documentation to SBA repository website www.sba.gov/wosb

7. SDVOSB • Service Disabled Veteran Owned • Tool to help achieve an agency’s contracting goal • At least 51% owned and controlled by a service-disabled veteran • Daily operations are controlled by a service-disabled veteran or care giver • Certification program with the VA • Certify on www.vetbiz.gov • Listed on the VIP database www.vip.vetbiz.gov • Self-Certification on SAM • Same criteria apply

8. HUBZone • Historically Underutilized Business Zone • 35% of the firm’s employees must reside within a HUBZone, or certify that at least 35% of employees engage in HUBZone contract will reside in HUBZone or Indian reservation • Firm must be at least 51% owned an controlled by a US citizen • Designed to stimulate economic development and create jobs • SBA Certification required • In Wyoming: Albany, Platte, Goshen, Niobrara, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Wind River Indian Reservation http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/

9. HUBZone Map

11. What is 8(a)? • Assists eligible socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses • It is a business development program • Must be in business for more than 2 years • Qualified firms can participate for 9 years

12. How Does 8(a) Work and How Do I Benefit? • 8(a) firms are formally certified by the SBA • 8(a) set asides are a very popular vehicle for achieving agency small business and SDB contracting goals and can be a great way to get a “sole source” award • Up to $6.5 million for manufacturing • Up to $4 million for anything else (goods, services, construction, etc.)

13. Who is Eligible for 8(a)? Social Disadvantage • Must be a small business and be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s) • Individuals presumed to be socially disadvantaged are: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Native Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans. • An individual who is not a member of one of the groups listed can be admitted to the programs if he or she shows - through a preponderance of evidence - that he or she is socially disadvantaged. The evidence can be based on color, ethnic origin, gender, physical handicap or geographic environment. • Must be a US citizen in good standing http://www.sba.gov/8abd

14. Who is Eligible for 8(a)? Economic Disadvantage • Assets cannot exceed $4 million • Personal income cannot exceed $250K, averaged over 3 years • Net Worth must be less than $250K • Net Worth Excludes: • Retirement Accounts • Home Equity • Business Equity http://www.sba.gov/8abd

15. Thresholds

16. Dollar Thresholds

17. Hunting for Government Bid Opportunities

25. Subcontracting Hunting Grounds

26. Summary • Micro-game: Rabbits and squirrels – you need to know who is buying what and market to them • Small game: Turkeys - publically posted – check the papers, websites, bulletin boards • Grizzlies – on FBO • Subcontracting – seek out those who have the contracts

27. Types of Solicitations

28. What is a Solicitation? A request for bids, proposals, or quotes RFQ – Request for Quote Solicitations under $150K IFB – Invitation for Bid Solicitations under sealed bidding procedures RFP – Request for Proposal Solicitations under negotiated procedures Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

30. Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Acquisition of commercial items An announcement which constitutes the only solicitation A written solicitation will not be issued It must state that the solicitation is issued as an IFB, RFQ, or RFP

31. Contract Types

32. Wait a Second… • What’s the difference between a solicitation and a contract? • Solicitation issued before the government buys • Contract is awarded after they pick a winning vendor

33. Contract Types • Firm Fixed-Price • Risk on the business • Cost-Reimbursement • Risk on the government • Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity • Multiple Award • Single Award

34. Where to Find Opportunities

35. What is Fed Biz Opps? • As required by the Small Business Act and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act ,contracting officers must disperse information on proposed contract actions as follows: • Single Government Point of Entry for federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. • The GPE may be accessed via the Internet at http://www.fbo.gov

36. The Simple Answer: • FBO is a website (http://www.fbo.gov) • If a contract is expected to have a value of over $25K, the government must post it on this website • The government does not have to advertise it anywhere else • Business owners can search this website in many different ways to find opportunities that they may be able to bid on

37. How Do I Use Fed Biz Opps?

38. How Can I Search? • Place of Performance • Set Aside Code • Procurement Type • Agency • Keyword • NAICS Code • (Product/Service) Classification Code

39. How Do I Make it Easier? • Register and create a profile • Set up daily searches for solicitations that apply to your business • Follow specific opportunities so you know of any updates • Join and monitor the Interested Vendors list to look for possible subcontracting opportunities

41. What About Smaller Jobs? • Jobs anticipated to be less than $25k do not have to be posted on FBO or publicly advertised, so businesses should: • Create an effective profile in Dynamic Small Business Search • Get to know the agencies in your area (networking events, check in via phone/email, etc.)