We’ve been talking recently about the positive changes I’ve been seeing in government contracting. At least for the work we do at Frontline Support Solutions, there has been a greater amount of sources sought requests coming from the contracting officers who work for the federal agencies. It’s a major lead capture tool that I’ve been working to take advantage of for my company. We’ve been submitting proposals since last year in an effort to attain some of the work.

These sources sought requests have been going out ever since I started doing government contracting, but the sequestration over the last couple of years has slowed them down quite a bit. So, why are they picking back up again? My assumption is that the government has come to understand they are getting bit. They’ve been so busy minding their pennies and spending habits, that several projects have been stalled and jobs aren’t getting done; more money is required or the government has to pull on a bond to accomplish the project. This leads to a lot of problems for the government and, ultimately, the American people. So, I think the federal government has realized they need to get some of these jobs done.

Whatever the reason, more sources sought notices mean more work for small businesses around the country. These notices are basically a request from the government saying they are looking for someone with the capability of building or providing a certain service. They solicit to find out if there is anyone out there that can do the job, which will help them decide what type of procurement strategy they want to set aside for this particular requirement. Meaning, will it be set aside for a women owned small business, a service disabled vet or for full and open competition? If at least two companies of a particular small business certification type submit, then the government has the authority to set aside this job for that interest group. That’s called the rule of two in the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Now, there are a few things you need to know before you respond to a sources sought notice. First of all, can you do the work they are requesting? You have to understand that your response to this notice is a selling document.  It needs to be a concise, to the point description of your company, saying you can do the work without a problem and outlining your experience with similar projects that you’ve successfully completed. You might mention what makes you different or convenient, like being local to the jobsite. Most importantly, you need to put it writing that if the job is set aside for a small business sector of your interest group, you will commit to bidding on the job. That last statement is what allows the contracting officer to show her boss that two or more companies from the same group have not only submitted, but are up to bidding.

Sources sought notices are the first step in acquiring what could be a revenue generating project for your company. The don’t guarantee you the work, but by submitting a well thought out proposal and committing to bid on the job, you’re putting yourself in the ring of competition. If you have any questions about submitting the proposal or sources sought notices, feel free to contact me, Joe “VetBizMan†Perez, directly.

The post Navigating Sources Sought Requests appeared first on Frontline Support Solutions.