Wanted: SCORE Mentors
Your clients ask "where do I find government contracts?" and the honest answer changes every week. GovProcure gives you current data — real open contracts, real dollar amounts, real deadlines — so your advice is based on what's actually available, not textbook examples.
The Challenge
Programs Change Weekly
Government contracting is one of the most-asked topics from small business clients, but the opportunities change week to week. Advice from six months ago may point clients to expired programs.
SAM.gov Is Not Actionable
Telling a client to "check SAM.gov" (the federal government's vendor registration and contract listing system) is not actionable. There are hundreds of thousands of listings — they need to know which ones apply to their business type, location, and industry.
One Guide Does Not Fit All
SCORE mentors serve clients across dozens of industries. No single textbook or guide covers what's available in IT services, construction, healthcare, and professional services all at once.
How GovProcure Helps
S-Series Reports (SAM.gov Set-Asides)
Every week, we pull SAM.gov solicitations (open bids) that are reserved for businesses with specific certifications — veteran-owned, women-owned, small disadvantaged, HUBZone. Sorted by state and industry so your client can see what's available right now.
G-Series Reports (Grants.gov)
Federal grants open and close constantly. Our G-series report surfaces opportunities relevant to small businesses each week, including SBIR grants (Small Business Innovation Research — funding for startups developing new technology) and SBA programs.
C4 State Procurement Snapshot
See what the federal government is actually buying in your state this week. Show your clients the dollar amounts and business types the government is spending on — it's proof that opportunities exist and specific guidance on where to start.
Actionable Intelligence by NAICS Code
We help clients identify their NAICS code (the 6-digit industry classification number) and then show them contracts that match their business type. No guesswork, no overwhelm.
What You Get Each Week
Weekly Deliverables
- Open contracts set aside for small businesses by certification type (veteran-owned, women-owned, small disadvantaged)
- Active solicitations (open bids) sorted by industry code and state
- Sample of recent award amounts so clients know what to expect
- New Grants.gov listings relevant to small business innovation
- State contracting trend summary for your clients' geographic area
Questions We Hear All the Time
Register on SAM.gov (the System for Award Management) — it's the federal government's vendor database and it's free. Every business that wants a federal contract or grant must be registered there. The registration asks for basic business information, your industry code (called a NAICS code — a 6-digit number that classifies what your business does), and a bank account for payments. Annual renewal is required or the registration expires.
NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. It's a 6-digit code the government uses to categorize every business by what it does. A landscaping company is 561730. An IT staffing firm is 561320. Picking the right code matters because many contracts are only open to businesses in specific NAICS categories. You can look up codes at govprocure.northwest.net/naics.html.
Set-aside contracts are federal contracts the government reserves for specific types of businesses — veteran-owned, women-owned, businesses in low-income areas (called HUBZone), or companies in the SBA's 8(a) development program (a mentorship program for small disadvantaged businesses). If a client has any of these certifications, they can bid on contracts that larger companies can't touch. Our S-series reports show exactly which set-asides are open this week.
Most businesses should plan for 6 to 18 months from SAM.gov registration to their first award. Government contracting is a long-game: you need to build relationships with contracting officers, submit bids, and often lose a few before winning. The exception is micro-purchases — federal buys under $10,000 that require almost no paperwork and can happen quickly.
It depends on their business model. A grant is money the government gives with no repayment expected, but it comes with reporting requirements and strings attached to how you spend it. A contract is a paid agreement for a specific product or service. For service businesses, contracts are usually the better path. For companies developing new technology, look at SBIR grants (Small Business Innovation Research — a program that pays small businesses to develop new ideas the government might use).
Give Your Clients Concrete Answers
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