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The Artful Essence of Doing Business with the Government: MBDA Provides Insights for Entrepreneurs at 2016 Essence Festival

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Created on July 1, 2016
 

Have you ever wondered what it takes to sell your products or services to the federal government? Perhaps you've attended a workshop on doing business with the government at some point in the past. Maybe you even heard about the billions of dollars the U.S. Government spends every year buying goods and services from entrepreneurs just like you.

At this week’s Essence Festival, MBDA is offering panels and technical assistance to help demystify this process.  At our Leap. Run. Grow slate of business development sessions, I’m eager to connect with emerging and established entrepreneurs. The panel I am moderating on July 1 is focused on government contracts, and it is titled, “Are You Ready to Do Business with the Federal Government?”

We will take the audience on an exciting voyage through four key strategies and disciplines for doing business with the government, including:  

  • The federal government contracting landscape (goods/services they buy, periods that they buy, agencies, etc.)

  • Defining and articulating your value proposition

  • Establishing a history of past performance

  • Certifications and Registrations

Over the years federal government spending has compelled many entrepreneurs to invest their time and money to compete for and win government contracts. Selling to government can be a fascinating and rewarding journey for small and disadvantaged businesses; by partnering with MBDA to learn the nuts-and-bolts of landing contracts, business-owners are able to explore creative and innovative strategies to access over $500 billion dollar in government contracts.

The fact remains; the federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the United States.  The government works across 24 federal agencies to direct 23 percent of all federal procurement contracts to small and disadvantaged businesses. When two or more small businesses are available to provide a service to the government, also known as the “Rule of Two,” specific contract opportunities can be reserved exclusively for small and disadvantaged businesses.

Other set-aside programs for woman, Veterans, 8(a) and disadvantage firms account for more than $50 billion in government spending. In 2014 the U.S. Government utilized FEDBIZOPPS.gov, the official database of government opportunities, to advertise nearly 80,000 procurements, awarding nearly $100 billion dollars that year in contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.   

On your journey of selling to the government there are key disciplines and principles that you'll want to consider if you plan to be successful in the art of government contracting. There are tools, resource and strategies that entrepreneurs should become familiar with in navigating government buying programs.  MBDA is dedicated to helping you assess your readiness to compete against other small, medium and large businesses – and to join the Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem that is changing the shape of domestic and global business.

If you want to learn more about selling your products to the government but can’t make it to the Essence Festival, MBDA’s website has a wealth of detailed information, www.mbda.gov, including details on our MBDA Business Centers located in cities nationwide.  Or, if you are attending Essence Festival this weekend, don’t miss the exciting government and private industry experts participating in the Leap.Run.Grow. workshop sessions at the first-ever Essence Festival Entrepreneurial Village.

Procurement Matching, Contracting Opportunities

Procurement Matching, Contracting Opportunities

MBDA Agency

MBDA Agency