Are you new to the government contracting arena? Well, so are we; relatively new, that is. After jumping in feet first a little less than a year ago, we've experienced some successes and some failures. In this presentation, we'll share it all; the good, bad, and the ugly with the hope that you can get on your feet a little faster.

1. Michael Babb – President
Kimberly Shockley-Babb – VP of Operations
Assessment and Testing Services, LLC

2. Tips and Tricks from a
Newbie Contractor
THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UGLY

3. Getting Certified by the
Center for Veterans Enterprise

4. Getting on Schedule (relatively fast)
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100611

5. GSA Schedule Tools
https://eoffer.gsa.gov/
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advantage/login/eBuyLogin.do

6. When to Work with Government
Contracting Service Providers
(and when not to)
Award
Eagles

7. Finding Opportunities
We Can Actually Perform

8. Which Tools?
Tool Purpose Link
FedBizOpps Find opportunities, awards, www.fbo.gov
teaming partners,
subcontracting opportunities
FedBidSpeed Find opportunities, proposal http://www.fedbidspeed.c
management and response om/?_obo=XMTHRO
FedBid Find and bid on opportunites. www.fedbid.com
Reverse Auction site
GSAAdvantage Competitive research, market www.gsaadvantage.gov
research, marketing
USA Spending Competitive research, market www.usaspending.gov
research

9. Mining the Data to Find Marketing
Opportunities

10. Responding to
Sources Sought Notices

11. Seeking Small Business
• New solicitations are published as
“Sources Sought” notifications
• 1,100 (average) new Sources Sought
solicitations every month
• General Rule:
– If 2 or more capable small businesses are
found – the solicitation must be set aside

12. Why it Matters
• Chances of winning are dramatically better
• Both business development and marketing
• Buyers are captive and interested
• Establishes active communication early
• Get your company in front of the buyer when
they are getting ready to buy
• Request a set-aside (total or partial)

13. What’s the Catch?
• #1: Time
– We know, you’re too busy working on “real” bids
• #2: You have to qualify
– Different NAICS have different “size standards”
• #3: You have to be responsive
– Read the solicitation – answer every question
– Watch the page limit – typically 10 pages or less

14. Sub-Contracting
a Means to Past Performance

15. How Do We Organize Our Lives in the
Government Contracting Space?
A primer on our productivity tools

16. Questions

17. FedBidSpeed Response Workflow
1. Find Sources Sought within your
capabilities.
2. Add it to your watch list
3. Write your response
4. Run the response wizard
5. Check draft of response with Send To Me
6. Send to Buyer
7. Follow up

18. Assessment and Testing Services, LLC
303.988.5134
Michael Babb
mikebabb@assessandtest.com
Kimberly Shockley-Babb
kimbabb@assessandtest.com