Government contracts

There are contracts you can win on the city, state and federal level.

Winning a government contract can help your business scale. Federal, state and city agencies award billions in contracts each year to small businesses. Officials urge eligible small businesses to apply. Find out about MWBE and MBE programs which can increase your likelihood of winning a contract.

One contract can provide substantial income. Check these resources and learn about the procedures in bidding for contracts, get counseling help, and looking for potential opportunities.

Federal contracts

U.S. Small Business Administration

Selling to the Federal Government Presentation at NYWIB webinar on process and procedures for getting federal contracts

Helpful links

https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/counseling-help/procurement-center-representative-directory
You must have an established and reliable business with a good reputation. You will need to provide names of your customers. Six to twenty contacts may be required. For more information, go to:
https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide
https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/how-win-contracts

State contracts

Overview on New York State Procurement Processes Presentation given at a NYWIB webinar in 2022 on how to get NY state contracts and where to find opportunities

Empire State Development’s Procurement Assistance Unit
https://esd.ny.gov/procurement-assistance-program
(518) 292-5266
This office offers help to businesses who want to bid on state contracts. You will be required to provide detailed information to get placed on the agency bidders’ lists. Be prepared to list your subcontractors and suppliers.
Office of the State Comptroller
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/procurement
https://www.ny.gov/agencies/office-state-comptroller
Office of the State Comptroller Albany Office:
(518) 474-4044
New York City Office:
(212) 383-1600
New Jersey Treasury Division of Purchase and Property
https://www.nj.gov/treasury/purchase/
The Division of Purchase and Property (DPP) serves as the state’s central procurement agency. Click on the “Vendor Information” link on this page to find out more.
New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General Procurement Resources
https://www.nj.gov/oag/procurement/You can find plenty of resources and information for state procurements for your business on this page. Click on the ” Directory (contacts & what they buy)” link on this page to find out more.
Procurement: Understanding How to Do Business with the New Jersey Government
https://njbia.org/procurement-understanding-business-new-jersey-government/
This page by New Jersey Business & Industry Association provides directions on how to get the state procurement opportunities in New Jersey.
Connecticut State Procurement Services
https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Services/For-Agencies-and-Municipalities/Procurement
Make use of this valuable information about state purchasing on the page of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.
DAS Procurement State Contracting Portal for Contracts
https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Procurement/Contracting/DAS-Procurement-State-Contracting- Portal-for-Contracts/How-To
Instructions on how to find solicitations and contracts with the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.
Empire State Development’s Procurement Assistance Unit
(518) 292-5220
This office offers help to businesses who want to bid on state contracts. You will be required to provide detailed information to get placed on the agency bidders’ lists. Be prepared to list your subcontractors and suppliers.
Direct Sales Opportunities for State Agencies, Public Benefit Corporations and Public Authorities
https://www.ogs.state.ny.us/purchase/SPG/pdfdocs/howtosell.pdf
Addresses can be obtained by writing to the office or checking the online OGS directory link above.
Directory of Frequently Purchased Commodities and Services by New York State Agencies
www.osc.state.ny.us
Office of the State Comptroller
(518) 408-3283

New York City Procurement

Mayor’s Office of Contracting Services (MOCS)
https://passport.cityofnewyork.us/page.aspx/en/rfp/request_browse_public
Mayor’s Office of Contracting Services
(212) 341-0933

Use PASSport to search for new funding opportunities with New York City.

The MWBE Program

The MWBE prioritizes minority and women-owned businesses for procurement for contracts with city and state government and many publicly-traded companies, offers many additional benefits.

What MWBE Can Do for You A presentation given at a NYWIB webinar in 2022 on how MWBE can help you scale.

Here are some tips from representatives of public agencies and successful business owners on how to get certified and, once certified, get more of the contracts you qualify for.

From public agency representatives

Ophelia Gabrino, Executive Director, Capacity Bldg & Corp Partnerships, NYC Dept of SBS ogabrino@sbs.nyc.gov

Set up a PASSport account
Take advantage of Procurement Technical Assistance Center and workshops and 1:1 counseling and capacity building programs
Set up marketing strategies such as MWBE directory company profile and capability statement

Tryphina Ramsey, Director, Office of Business Diversity, NYS Office of

General Services Tryphina.Ramsey@ogs.ny.gov

Market yourself and your business to all
Be responsive whether or not you are interested if you are solicited
Ensure your contact info is accurate – email, phone number, description
Address the questions being asked – be relevant

Sheshe Sagar, Executive Director of Operations, Chief Diversity Officer, NYC Commission on Human Rights (CHR) SSegar@cchr.nyc.gov

Register with PASSport and create an account
Attend outreach events and visit agency website for what is being procured
Have patience – long process
Choose the commodity code their industry or business they are in – check the prequalified list of vendors which establish criteria for the contracts and pricing

From founders of businesses who have won government contracts

Puhr20 (water delivery), Adrienne Nicole Productions (media), HoneydewDrop Childcare, DH2 Chauffeured Transportation, She Media NYC

Get certified – you are leaving money on the table!
Hire a consultant – they can tell you things you don’t know about what you’re missing
Don’t be afraid to ask why if you are turned down
Don’t commit to lengthy contracts – don’t be afraid to walk away and make new bids.
Educate yourself – learn how to run a business so you are ready when you get a contract (e.g, complete the Goldman Sachs program, work with SCORE mentors).
Look at competitors, go back to older RFPs to know who won, and use them as the basis for your bids.
Show up and make sure you know which parts of your service you can delegate.
Private companies: may not as lucrative; are not mandated to use you but more about doing good. Harder to get and not free but can be larger contracts and fewer rules. NOTE: NMSDC certification needed for private companies –
Learn to read an RFP and read the whole thing – there may be things in it you can do even if you couldn’t do the whole thing. Look for things that can trip you up – specifics about formatting are designed to weed out those who aren’t detail oriented
Be friendly with everyone
Network, network, network — Join all professional business organizations where your business is the minority, Chambers of Commerce – find mentors and learn from failures; attend trade fairs and agency outreach; LinkedIn can provide good leads
Surround yourself with professionals like a controller, CPA, fractional CFO to help you; you may need to fund your RFP – build up your P&L
Ask for their approximate range of budget for the project to guide your pricing, timelines, and whether there an incumbent
Never overpromise or under deliver – better to overdeliver; timelines matter. Don’t bid if you can’t handle it. Be honest if you don’t have an answer then get back with answer
Hire someone to help/bring people on as needed to meet the brief

Resource library

NYWIB Business Glossary