Obtaining Federal Government Contracts for Cleaning Companies (Part Three)
In Part 2 of this article, we looked at how to bid on government contracts. Now the big question is where do you find them?
As with many business opportunities, there are multiple sources of information. The process is not the same as in the private sector. In the private sector, most contracts have a 30-day cancellation policy, so there are endless opportunities to get new business. Most government contracts, however, are set in terms of their length. This means you don't pursue these contracts in the same manner, but rather you wait for the IFB or RFP to be issued and go through the process we talked about in Part 2 of this article.
One way to find IFB's and RFP's is through online search services. For a fee, these services will search for open bids based upon the information given them. These services are useful in that they will provide information on federal, state, and local IFB's and RFP's. Consider them like one stop shopping! Of course, the downside is that they charge a monthly fee for this service, so you need to determine for yourself if they are worth it. Without specifying particular sites, simply Google “government bids” or something similar, and you will find several choices. You might want to research specific sites on the Internet to make sure they are reputable.
For federal contracts, The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) operates what is known as the GSA Schedule Program. This program establishes long term contracts with commercial companies, where government agencies can be assured they are getting the highest quality goods and services for the best price. It provides a level playing field for small businesses, and also establishes you as a reputable vendor. Being on the GSA Schedule can be used as a marketing tool as well, establishing your company as being trustworthy. Go the www.gsa.gov or the SBA website for more information.
Another source of leads you can try is the website for Federal Business Opportunities, or FedBizOpps. Here is where federal agencies publish their needs for goods and services, and when and how vendors need to respond. There is no need to qualify or even sign up to use this site. All you need to do is go to www.fbo.gov and look through the site.
The Internet is a valuable tool to research obtaining government contracts, and these are just a few places to start.
On the state level, try going to your state's official website. Each state will vary, but typically there is information available about bidding on state contracts. The process is generally the same, involving IFB's and RFP's. As mentioned previously, there are online services available to help with this. This applies for local government bids as well. You can always check each community's county and municipal website to search as well, or at least get contact information to call.
You need to determine for yourself whether you want to seek government contracts. They are not for everyone. There is a lot of red tape and leg work to do, but if you are ambitious and capable, you can indeed profit. Between federal, state, and local government, there is a huge market for janitorial services. Why can't it be you?!
Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved
The Janitorial Store helps owners of commercial cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through our online community at TheJanitorialStore.com.
Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at //www.thejanitorialstore.com.
