<p>Did you know that The United States of America wasn&#8217;t formed until 1781 under The Articles of Confederation? ; Much has changed since the U.S. was <a href="https://historyplex.com/when-was-united-states-founded">founded in 1776</a> and became the first country independent from European rule. ;</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re passionate about the U.S. government, you might have thought about becoming a government contractor. But what are the requirements, and how can you get started? ;</p>



<p>While it might seem confusing to learn how to begin, it doesn&#8217;t have to be. Read this guide on how to become a government contractor today! ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Government Contracting</strong></h2>



<p>First, you&#8217;ll need to start your own business to become a federal contractor. You can learn more about government contracts at <a href="https://nstxl.org/">nstxl.org</a>.</p>



<p>If you have a product that you&#8217;d like to sell to government customers, then becoming a contractor is necessary. You&#8217;ll need to supply your customer with the correct number of items. ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>System for Award Management</strong></h2>



<p>The System for Award Management holds the state&#8217;s contracting database. It can be used for other businesses that are working with federal agencies. ;</p>



<p>You&#8217;ll also need a Data Universal Numbering System from Dun &; Bradstreet. This is a nine-digit number to represent your business. This number will remain the same as long as you have your business. ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Commercial and Government Entity Code</strong></h2>



<p>This code is five characters and is given to every business. You&#8217;ll also need a North American Industry Classification System which is also five characters.</p>



<p>Some businesses will also need an Employer Identification Number. These are free through the Internal Revenue <a href="https://backstageviral.com/">Service</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Understand Your Products</strong></h2>



<p>Since the U.S. government requires various products and services, they&#8217;re one of the largest spenders. You can check online to see the government&#8217;s spending habits. Head to USASpending.gov. ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Fill Out the SBA Profile</strong></h2>



<p>This is a common step many miss. While it&#8217;s not a requirement, it gives the contracting officer a better understanding of your business.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s necessary to add your business to the Dynamic Small Business Search. This is the Small Business Administration&#8217;s search tool for contracting officers to look up your business. You can see your SBA profile under the Small Business Certification section. ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Search Subcontracting ;</strong></h2>



<p>You&#8217;ll need to have a good track record to qualify for contracts. To do this, build your reputation as a subcontractor. ;</p>



<p>Many larger contracts will require this proof. If you&#8217;re a subcontractor, you&#8217;ll work under the main contractor instead of the federal government. If you do well, you can add that experience to your record. ;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Set-Asides</strong></h2>



<p>The government has set-aside contracts for small businesses. You&#8217;ll have two types of contracts depending on the needs of a government agency (sole-source or competitive set-aside contracts). Apply online to see if your small business will qualify. </p>



<p>Many larger contracts will require this proof. If you&#8217;re a subcontractor, you&#8217;ll work under the main contractor instead of the federal government. If you do well, you can add that experience to your record. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Understanding How To Become a Government Contractor</strong></h2>



<p>This guide breaks down how to become a government contractor. Take your time deciding if this career is right for you and where you should begin. ;</p>



<p>Would you like to read more informational content? Then, be sure to check out our other articles today. ;</p>

A Guide on How to Become a Government Contractor

