Stimulus Package Contracts

President Obama has set a deadline of President’s Day to get his $825 billion economic recovery bill passed so it is time to prepare how you are going to win stimulus package contracts.

According to a summary of the American Recovery and Investment Bill of 2009 investments will be targeted toward the following key areas:

• Energy – Objective is to double renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient (e.g. $16 billion will be spend repairing public housing to make them more energy efficient)
• Science & Technology – Help to make sure America keeps innovating by providing facilities, equipment and broadband internet access
• Infrastructure – Significant focus will be given to rebuilding roads, bridges and modernizing public buildings.  $30 billion dollars alone will be used for highway construction
• Education – Better classrooms, labs and libraries for America’s children so that they are better equipped to compete in the world economy
• Healthcare – Large investments in IT to computerize the healthcare system

Federal agencies will receive a good proportion of the money but billions will also find their way to state and local government agencies, presumably in the form of grants.  At the core of what the President is trying to achieve is to get money into the economic system so that it can find its way into the hands of small businesses.

If you run a small business you must now prepare yourself so that you are well placed to take advantage of President Obama’s strategy and win stimulus package contracts.  Here are 7 things you should be doing:

1. Make sure you are registered on the Central Contractor Registration database – you can’t be awarded a contract unless you are registered
2. Register also on the Small Business Dynamic Search as this is often where prime contractors will look to find small businesses to team with
3. Make sure you know your way around FedBizOpps – any federal contract over $25,000 will be published here
4. Consider whether you can attain any certifications.  There are a number of Federal small business certifications and many others at the state and local level for small, local and minority businesses.  Often contracts are set aside for businesses with relevant qualifications
5. Start teaming with experienced larger companies in your industry that already provide their products or services to government.  You can find out who those companies are by searching the FedSpending tool
6. Start proactively forming relationships with executives at federal, state and local agencies just like you would with any other prospect in a commercial company.  Don’t just wait for an RFP to be issued, even though it is government you are still selling to people and you need to network accordingly
7. Finally, think about how you can best position your business to win stimulus package contracts.  It may not be obvious at first how you can sell your product or service given the areas the Bill is targeting but it is more than likely you can.  Meet with government executives and discuss their needs so that you can start to best position and market your business

The economy is in recession and it will be for a while but government is booming.  There has never been a better time to focus your energy in this area.

Tagged as: American Recovery and Investment Bill, CCR, Dynamic Small Business Search, FedBizOpps, FedSpending.org, small business certifications, stimulus package