Step 2: Compete for a contract

Before starting this step, make sure you’ve completed Step 1: Learn about contracts and conducted thorough market research. You should have developed a good idea of what types of opportunities you want to pursue and how you’re going to pursue them.

Pre-competition

You must register your business and obtain a unique entity identifier (UEI) to be eligible to compete for government contract opportunities.

In addition, you must do one or both of the following:

• Certify as a small business to be eligible to compete for small business set-aside opportunities.
• Become a Schedule holder to be eligible to compete for Schedule task orders or BPAs.

Competition

Once you’re eligible to compete for a contract opportunity, you need to:

• Market your business
• Research active solicitations
• Respond to a solicitation
• Know what to expect during the award process

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