Small Business First

Steps to Pursuing Set-Aside Contracts

Besides the basic steps of getting started as a Federal Government Contractor, i.e. obtaining your Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) Number, determining your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, and registering within the System for Award Management (SAM), there are a few other tasks to complete when pursuing set-aside contracts.

As synthesized by Amy Kim, Women-Owned Small Business Program Manager of the Small Business Administration, there are three very important steps to take when pursuing set-aside contracts. They are:

1. Conduct market research

• Use resources such as the Federal Procurement Database System, and U.S.A. Spending to gain an understanding of the procurement history of the specific agency you’d like to do business with.

2.   Identify current & future opportunities

• Use resources such as Fed Biz Opps, and Strategic Sourcing, Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) or Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) sites for current opportunities.

• Future opportunities are usually forecasted by agency or department. Explore the websites of the agency’s small business department you’d like to do business with for more information. The GSA Subcontracting Directory (for small businesses seeking opportunities published by Large prime contractors) and our Forecast of Contracting Opportunities are available for your review.    

3. Market your services and products to contracting agencies

• Establish relationships with important players such as Procurement Center Representatives (PCR) and Small Business Specialists (SBS) through capability briefings or other means of communication.  

• Respond to sources sought or request for information. Sources sought refers to a solicitation of interest. Please note that it is important to understand the Rule of Two.

• Attend industry-day or presolicitation events.

Can the GSA Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU) help in any way? If you have any questions, please feel free to submit them via our  OSBU Contact Form.