🛠️ HOW USA GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS WORK — FROM START TO FINISH If you’ve ever wondered how businesses secure government contracts in the USA, here’s a simple breakdown of the entire process from start to finish 👇 1️⃣ Business Registration & Compliance Before anything else, your business must be properly set up: - Register your business (LLC, Corporation, etc.) - Get your EIN - Create a business bank account - Stay tax compliantThis ensures the government can legally do business with you. 2️⃣ Obtain Your Federal Contracting IDs Every federal contractor must have: - SAM.gov Registration (This gives you your UEI number) - NAICS Codes (Defines what services you provide) No SAM registration = No federal contracts. 3️⃣ Prepare Your Business Documents To compete, the government must understand your capability.Prepare: - Capability Statement - Past performance (if any) - Company profile - Certifications (WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, Minority Owned, etc.) 4️⃣ Market Research Know the agencies that buy what you sell.You can research opportunities using: - SAM.gov - USA Spending - Agency procurement forecastsThis helps you target the right buyers. 5️⃣ Find Opportunities Opportunities come in different forms: - RFQ (Request for Quote) - RFP (Request for Proposal) - IFB (Invitation for Bid) You only respond to contracts that match your services. 6️⃣ Prepare Your Bid or Proposal This is the most important stage: - Study the solicitation - Prepare pricing - Write a technical response - Provide all required forms and documentsThe government evaluates compliance first, then pricing and capability. 7️⃣ Submission on the Portal Submit your response before the deadline on: - SAM.gov - Agency portals - Email (if allowed) Late submissions are automatically rejected. 8️⃣ Evaluation & Clarification The government reviews: - Your technical response - Your pricing - Your experienceThey may request clarification or ask questions.

I've been learning about federal contracting opportunities for women-owned businesses, and it’s clear there’s potential—but also a lot to navigate, from certification to understanding how bids work. What’s one thing women-owned businesses should understand before pursuing government contracts?