U.S. Capitol with flag: Government Contracting.

Helpful Government Contracting Links

Here is a list of required and helpful resources for companies who want to sell their products or services to the government.

Federal Registrations

System for Award Management (SAM) – An official website of the U.S. government that allows businesses to do work with the U.S. government, update or renew entity registration, check status of entity registration, and search for entity registration and exclusion records. There is no cost to use SAM. Click here to download the Entity Registration Checklist.

DUNS Number Lookup – Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) provides a D-U-N-S Number, a unique nine digit identification number, for each physical location of your business. D-U-N-S Number assignment is FREE for all businesses and may be requested when registering as a vendor/supplier with city, county, state, or other local government agencies.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number – You can obtain your UEI number at www.SAM.gov.

FEMA Industry Liaison Program – The Industry Liaison Program (ILP) establishes strategic relationships with suppliers and stakeholders; serves as an information provider for suppliers seeking to do business with FEMA; and connects suppliers with program offices in support of FEMA’s mission.

State Registrations (Iowa)

Iowa Department of Administrative Services – Iowa Management of Procurement and Contract Systems (IMPACS) requires an account creation on a Jaggaer One Login account. IMPACS uses the Jaggaer ONE platform for Procurement. Once the account is created, you will be able to use this to access all IMPACS & Jaggaer applications using the same credentials. This electronic bidding tool will allow you to respond on-line and eliminate paper.

Iowa Department of Transportation – To become a registered vendor with the Iowa DOT’s Purchasing Section, both a Vendor Registration Form and a Federal Identification W-9 form must be completed.

Iowa State University – ISUBid is Iowa State University’s online bid system. Enter your Username and Password to login or click on Supplier Registration to create an account to receive bid opportunities and respond to bids. There are no fees associated with its use.

University of Iowa – eBid is the University of Iowa online bidding system which eliminates traditional paper bids and replaces them with an electronic process via the internet. All suppliers interested in receiving and responding to bid opportunities for the University of Iowa must register to receive bid notifications and respond to bids. There are no fees associated with its use.

University of Northern Iowa – UNI Procurement Services requires all suppliers interested in receiving and responding to bid opportunities for the University of Northern Iowa must register to receive bid notifications and respond to bids. There are no fees associated with its use.

Points of Contact

Subcontracting

SBA Sub-Net (Subcontracting Network System) – Sub-Net allows prime contractors to advertise subcontracting opportunities to small businesses in an effort to meet their subcontracting plan goals.

Department of Defense (Subcontracting Directory) – Listing of Department of Defense Prime Contractors with subcontracting plans.

General Services Administration (Subcontracting Directory) – Listing of General Services Administration Prime Contractors with subcontracting plans.

Department of Transportation (Subcontracting Directory) – Listing of Department of Transportation Prime Contractors with subcontracting plans.

Department of Homeland Security (Subcontracting Directory) – Listing of Department of Homeland Security Contractors with subcontracting plans.

US Fish & Wildlife Service (Subcontracting Directory) – Listing of US Fish & Wildlife Service, which is under the Department of Interior, Prime Contractors with subcontracting plans.

Market Research

Federal Procurement Data System – Next Generation (FPDS-NG) – The Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG) is the current central repository of information on Federal contracting. The system contains detailed information on contract actions over $3,000 (FY 2004 and later data). The Executive departments and agencies award over $200 billion annually for goods and services. The system can identify who bought what, from whom, for how much, when and where.

USASpending – USASpending includes contract data (pulled from FPDS-NG). This system also contains federal subcontracting data.

Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) – Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) is a database created by the Small Business Administration (SBA) where you can enter and search for small businesses who are registered in System for Award Management (SAM). Businesses registered in SAM are eligible to do business with the federal government.

GSA Schedule Sales Query (SSQ) – Schedule Sales Query (SSQ) provides GSA Schedule sales data as reported by GSA Schedule contractors.

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) ASSIST – The ASSIST website will provide you with direct access to nearly 100,000 full text DoD Specifications and Standards in the DoD master repository. Your search does not require an account number and password. All documents are available in pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them and are available for download to the public free of charge.

Bid Opportunities

Federal Contract Opportunities – Contract Opportunities located at beta.sam.gov is the Federal government’s website where current and historical open market opportunities over $25,000 are posted. The site also advertises Small Business Events and Industry Days hosted by federal agencies.

DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) – The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) is a web-based application that provides the capability to search for, view, and submit secure quotes on Requests For Quotations (RFQs) for DLA items of supply. DIBBS also allows users to search and view Request For Proposals (RFPs), Invitations For Bid (IFBs), Awards and other procurement information related to DLA.

State/Local Bid Opportunities Directory – This site contains a directory of various state/local agencies websites where bid opportunities are posted.

Procurement Codes

NAICS Codes – The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

PSC/FSC Codes – Federal Supply Codes (FSCs) also known as Product Service Codes (PSCs) are used by the United States government to describe the products, services, and research and development purchased by the government. Government procurement specialists and government contractors alike require a solid understanding of these codes in order to produce quality partnerships between buyers and suppliers.

NIGP Commodity Codes – The National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) Commodity/Service Code is a coding taxonomy used primarily to classify products and services procured by state and local governments in North America.
When registering for bids through the agency electronic bid system, some agencies may include a list of NIGP codes. The codes are selected to automatically add associated registered suppliers to source a bid.

Procurement Forecasts

Directory of Federal Procurement Forecasts – Federal agencies are required to post information on upcoming contracting opportunities, called forecasts. This site is a directory that links to each agency’s procurement forecast.

Small Business Certifications

Iowa Targeted Small Business (TSB) Program – State of Iowa program that is designed to help women, individuals with minority status, service-connected disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities overcome some of the hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa.

DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program – Department of Transportation program that aims to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.

Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) – SBA program intended to help provide a level playing field for women business owners seeking federal contracts. The government limits competition by reserving certain contracts for businesses that participate in the women’s contracting program. These types of opportunities are called “set-asides”.

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) – SBA program for small companies that operate and employ people in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones). It provides set-aside opportunities as well as a price preference to small businesses when competing against large businesses.

8(a) Business Development Program – SBA business assistance program for small disadvantaged businesses. The 8(a) program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) – SBA program intended to help provide a level playing field for service-disabled business owners seeking federal contracts. The government limits competition by reserving certain contracts for businesses that participate in the women’s contracting program. These types of opportunities are called “set-asides”.

Vets First Verification Program (CVE Verification) – Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program that affords verified firms owned and controlled by Veterans and Service-Disabled Veterans the opportunity to compete for VA set-asides and sole source contracts.

SBA Certify – SBA website where you can manage and upload required documents for small business certifications and mentor-protégé relationships.

Beta.Certify.SBA – This site is used to submit documents to obtain SBA certification for the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) programs.

Mentor-Protégé Programs

SBA’s All-Small Mentor Protégé Program (ASBMPP) – SBA program open to any small business that allows a more experienced business (mentor) to provide business development assistance to less experienced business (protégé) in areas that will allow them to increase their capacity to compete for and win federal contracts. In exchange, a mentor may gain access to set-aside contracts where only the protege would otherwise be eligible.

Department of Defense Mentor Protégé Program (MPP) – Department of Defense program where small businesses (proteges) are partnered with large companies (mentors). Mentors assist proteges in developing their technical capabilities in order to become part of the military’s supply chain.

8(a) Mentor Protégé Program – SBA program designed for 8(a) companies to obtain development assistance from a protégé business with the goal of enhancing the capabilities of the protégé and improve their ability to compete for contracts.

Events/Training/Networking

Local CIRAS Government Contracting Events – Listing of local government contracting events hosted by CIRAS or CIRAS partners.

GovEvents – Created as a service to the government community, government and military personnel, contractors, vendors, and event organizers can go to one place on the web to find and post government-related events. The site provides in-depth information on hundreds of events, from major industry trade shows, to government conferences, to agency-sponsored roundtables, webinars, and on-demand webcasts.

IASourceLink – Directory of resources available to Iowa businesses including an events calendar.

Funding Programs for Innovative Products/Services

Small Business Innovative Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/STTR) – The SBIR and STTR programs support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) are U.S. Government programs in which federal agencies with large research and development (R&D) budgets set aside a small fraction of their funding for competitions among small businesses only. Small businesses that win awards in these programs keep the rights to any technology developed and are encouraged to commercialize the technology.

Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) – The RIF program is a point of entry for small businesses to win research and acquisition contracts with the Department of the Navy. RIF refines technology from military science and technology investments and adapts commercially available technology, funding the final maturation, testing, certification and/or integration needed to ensure that the products successfully make it to operational users.

Regulations/Compliance/Other Resources

Acquisition.gov – The Federal Government’s premier electronic source for the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency supplements (i.e. DFARS, GFAR).

Federal Acquisition Regulation Site (FARSITE) – Directory to all FAR and FAR supplement regulations. This site will be active through September 30, 2019, where it will then be transitioned to Acquisition.gov.

Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) – DPC is responsible for all pricing, contracting, and procurement policy matters, including e-Business, in the Department of Defense (DoD). DPC executes policy through the timely update of the DFARS and PGI.

Integrated Award Environment – The Integrated Award Environment (IAE) is a Presidential E-Government initiative managed by GSA. We use innovative processes and technologies to improve systems and operations for those who award, administer, or receive federal financial assistance (i.e.; grants, loans), contracts, and intergovernmental transactions. Here you will learn about how GSA manages its current suite of federal award systems and its flight path to migrate key features of those systems into one, streamlined environment.

Joint Certification Program (JCP) – Allows DoD contractors access to unclassified export controlled technical data/critical technology needed to bid or perform on some DoD contracts.

Joint Certification Program (JCP): How to fill out the DD Form 2345 – This form is the military critical technical data agreement for U.S. vendors who want joint certification.

Enhanced Joint Certification Program (EJCP): DLA Export Control Data Access