A lot of small businesses don’t realize how closely grants and government contracts are connected. While contracts pay you for delivering a service, grants can help you build the capacity you need to compete things like strengthening operations, upgrading equipment, developing programs, or improving compliance. Some businesses use grants to get “contract-ready,” and it often puts them far ahead of competitors who rely on contracts alone. The interesting part is many agencies prefer vendors who can show a clear mission, community benefit, or organizational strength areas where grants can quietly boost your credibility. Do you think more small businesses struggle with finding the right grants, or understanding how grants can actually support their government contracting goals?

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One thing many new government contractors overlook is how much weight agencies place on “past performance,” even when you’re just getting started. A lot of businesses think past performance only comes from winning federal contracts, but agencies actually consider things like smaller local jobs, subcontracting work, commercial clients, and even well-documented projects you’ve completed on your own. The real challenge isn’t the lack of experience it’s knowing how to package what you already have so it meets government expectations. Understanding how to translate your existing work into GovCon-ready past performance can make a huge difference in getting noticed by contracting officers. In your opinion, what’s the hardest part about building past performance getting the experience, or learning how to present it correctly?

Most people hear “NSN” or “CAGE Code” and immediately think it’s just government jargon, but understanding these two terms is one of the biggest shortcuts to decoding how the DLA actually buys. Here’s the simple version: NSN (National Stock Number) → Think of this as the government’s internal “barcode.” Every part, bolt, bearing, or screw the military buys is tracked by an NSN. FSC/FSG Codes → The first few digits of an NSN tell you what category that item falls under (for example, bearings, fans, electrical parts, etc.). CAGE Code → This identifies the manufacturer or vendor that’s approved to supply that item. When you see a CAGE Code tied to an NSN, that means the government already has verified sources for that part. Why this matters: If you know how to read NSNs, you can reverse-engineer entire DLA contracts, see what’s selling, who’s supplying it, and position yourself to compete in those exact categories. Stop chasing random NAICS codes, they don’t drive DLA buys. NSNs do. 🎥 Watch the full breakdown here: https://youtu.be/qtWo-bPzxXs?si=bpmsJGPbhCCCjWDe

Wishing everyone in here a Happy Holidays and may this season bring you peace and joy. Always remind yourself what your thankful for and that will keep your purpose clear and your blessings in focus. continue success in your DLA journey everyone.