By John O’Brien
Redstone Review

LYONS – It seems that somewhere in the $787 billion dollar stimulus package, there should be some dollars for your business. The Lyons Economic Gardening Group, LEGG, has added information on its Tools for Business website on how to conduct business with the government.

Included are these eight steps:

Look local: Contact your town and/or county public works departments to find out how they publish bid opportunities. Ask what projects they have submitted for federal stimulus money. For state and national bid opportunities, get your business certified.

Self-certifications: The federal government recognizes small businesses (SBE), women-owned (WBE), and disadvantaged (i.e. minority) businesses (SDB). The SBA has established two widely used size standards for small business: fewer than 500 employees for most manufacturing and mining industries, and less than $7 million in average annual receipts for most nonmanufacturing industries.

There is no formal certification process, but on request, you may need to provide proof that you satisfy the size and for WBE and SDB’s the ownership requirement.

HUB zone businesses: If your business is located in a low-income area, you may be eligible for preferential bidding on federal projects. Go to https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/index.cfm to see if you are in a HUB zone.

SBA 8(a) program for minority businesses: The SBA 8(a) program provides direct help in obtaining federal contracts.

Participants must have been in business at least two years and have assets less than $750,000. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/8abd/index.html. To apply, visit http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/8abd/application/index.html.

U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes veteran-owned small businesses. For more information, visit http://osdbu.dot.gov/about/customers.cfm#VOSB.

The Colorado Office of Certification certifies minority- and women-owned businesses for Colorado Department of Transportation, Regional Transportation District and the Denver Water Board. Visit http://www.toolsforbusiness.info/success/get links.cfm?id=co727.

Even if you are not certified, register on CCR and Colorado BIDS. The federal government uses CCR (Central Contractor Registration). You can register at http://www.ccr.gov. You can do a search on existing registered businesses at http://web.sba.gov/pronet/ search/dsp_dsbs.cfm. Register your business with Colorado BIDS at http://www.gssa.state.co.us/VenRegister.

Look for large opportunities and sign up for email notifications. Federal opportunities for $25,000 and more can be found at https://www.fbo.gov. Colorado bid opportunities can be found at https:// www.gssa.state.co.us/VenSols.

Look for sub-contracting opportunities. The government bid process can take six months. It is often faster to find sub-contracting opportunities with companies that have already received a government contract.

You can find federal sub-contracting opportunities at http://web.sba.gov/subnet/ search/dsp_search_option.cfm. You can find awarded state contracts at https://www.gssa.state.co.us/BdSols.nsf.

Network and market your business to find opportunities under $25,000. All purchases below $100,000 are supposed to go to small business. Federal agencies use credit cards for purchases of $2,500 or less. For purchases between $2,500 and $25,000, they must obtain quotes from at least three vendors. In Colorado, most purchases for goods under $10,000 and services under $25,000 are considered small, discretionary purchases and are not subject to bids. Purchases from $10,000 (or $25,000) to $150,000 require documented quotes.

Use small business liaisons. Federal agencies have small business liaisons that help small businesses with the procurement process.

Get help through your SBDC. Contact your local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) for free assistance with government contracting. Visit http://www.asbdc-us.org and search for your local SBDC by zip code.

You can find more business assistance on LEGG’s Tools for Business website at http://lyons.toolsforbusiness.info.

We host the Tools for Business to provide local, state, federal, and Internet resources to start and grow local businesses. LEGG is the economic development committee of the chamber of commerce. Members are Christy Cross, Bill Van Leeuwen, Rick Whitcomb, Chuck Keim and John O’Brien (chair).

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