CIRAS Government Contracting Specialist
Federal subcontracting is the place to be! It all starts with understanding where you’re a good fit within the indirect market. One avenue to identify potential opportunities with prime contractors is by understanding what prime contractors have a subcontracting plan!
A subcontract plan is required by large prime contractors in the federal sector if the estimated dollar value of the base contract and all option periods exceeds or is expected to exceed $750k for all industries besides construction, which is $1.5 million. Large primes that meet this criteria, must develop a subcontracting plan with specific dollar and percent goals for subcontracting to small businesses and specific socio-economic categories. Keep in mind goals vary from agency to agency, and each subcontracting plan is unique to the contract.
Here’s where you come in as a subcontractor! Avenues prime contractors use to identify potential subcontractors and areas to consider and update.
- SAM https://sam.gov/content/home
- Make sure your SAM.gov account is up to date and the correct points of contact are listed.
- Verify that you are small business status is correct and all the relevant NAICS are selected.
- Follow agencies under contracting opportunities to identify industry events.
- DSBS https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm
- Update the criteria within your DSBS portal to identify your key capabilities and contact information.
- Supplier Relationships
- Are you registered in your target markets’ supplier portals?
- Revisit past prime relationships and reconnect with your point of contact/programs.
- Industry Groups
- Do you belong to national/local industry groups and participate in events to expand your network?
- LinkedIn – Make sure your LinkedIn account is up to date.
- APEX Accelerators – Work with your local APEX Accelerator as Primes have relationships and partner with us to host events to expand their subcontractors.
Federal agencies and resource sites to research prime contractors with subcontracting plans. Each of these sources has various capabilities. My favorite is USA Spending, which has significant search capabilities and allows the user to search on keywords.
- USA Spending: https://www.usaspending.gov/
- SubNet: https://subnet.sba.gov/client/dsp_Landing.cfm
- SBA Prime Contractors with Subcontracting Plans: https://www.sba.gov/document/support-directory-federal-government-prime-contractors-subcontracting-plans
- GSA: https://www.gsa.gov/small-business/register-your-business/subcontracting-and-other-partnerships#Subcontracting
- DOD: https://business.defense.gov/Work-with-us/Subcontracting/
- DOT: https://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-assistance/dot-subcontracting-directory
- DHS (Includes FEMA): https://www.dhs.gov/prime-contractors
For more information, contact your CIRAS Government Contracting Specialist or fill out our Request for Counseling form.