Federal Services
Doing Business with the Government – where do I start?
The Washington State PTACs provide free assistance with the following:

1. Get a computer (or access to one) & get on the Internet! More and more government business is being conducted online. Even if you don’t have your own website, you must at least have an email address.

2. Find your DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number. The D&B D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together. This process is free of charge and should only take a few minutes. You can get this number by calling Dun & Bradstreet at (866) 705-5711 and tell them you are doing government contracting..

3. Find out your NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes. These are codes that describe what your business does. http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html. Be sure to keep these codes handy, as you will need them when filling out Government registrations or searching for bids.

4. Register with the Central Contractors Registration. Their website is located at http://www.ccr.gov/index.asp. The website contains a very useful handbook which you can print out and use to complete the application. Companies who want to do business with the Federal Government are required to be registered in CCR. Select Start New Registration or click the following site to go right to it: https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/indexnew.asp After 24 hours you will be issued a CAGE code and TPIN (keep this in a safe & confidential place).The Federal Government use this CAGE code when it pays you for goods and services.

5. After signing up for CCR, be sure to fill out the additional information provided by the SBA to register in the Dynamic Small Business Search at the CCR website. This provides a database for you to market your company and for government contractors and prime contractors to use when they are looking for vendors.

6. (OPTIONAL BUT REQUIRED FOR CONTRACTS) After signing up for CCR, Be sure to complete your ORCA (Online Representations and Certification application) at http://orca.bpn.gov/. This registration allows you to enter your reps and certs information just once for use on all future government contracts.

7. (OPTIONAL) Visit the General Services Administration website at http://www.gsa.gov. Check out the GSA schedule and see the variety of goods and services listed. You may want to consider applying for a GSA contract (called a “schedule”) which allows government buyers to purchase from you at a prearranged price. You can find out how to apply for a GSA schedule at their website.

Most Federal agencies have positions especially designed to assist small businesses. Find out if the agencies you want to do business with have a Small Business office you can contact for assistance. The website at http://www.osdbu.gov/Listofmembers.htm is a great place to start.

TIPS TO REMEMBER:

• Print out online applications and fill them out on
  paper before doing them online.
• Always keep copies of applications you have done
  online, mailed and faxed in. And be sure you write down
  the dates you submitted the applications on the copies.
• Always write down and keep any passwords, registration
  numbers, MPINS or TPINS. These can be very hard to
  replace if you lose them!
• Don’t hesitate to call the help lines on websites if you
  have questions. Once again, keep track of who and when you called.
  
• If you call a help line and aren’t satisfied with the person you are talking to, document the call, hang up, call back and talk
  to someone else.
• Keep documentation of everything! You may need it in the future.