Government agencies buy almost everything — landscaping, IT, construction, catering, uniforms — and a large share is set aside specifically for small businesses. Yet most small owners never bid, because the process *looks* impossible. It isn't. Here's the whole path in plain English.
1. Get registered (it's free)
Federal contracts require a free registration in SAM.gov. You'll get a Unique Entity ID (UEI). It takes some patience but costs nothing — ignore any company that asks for a "registration fee." See our SAM.gov registration guide.
2. Know your NAICS code
A NAICS code is the government's label for your line of work. Agencies tag every contract with one, and many small-business set-asides are defined by it. Find yours in our NAICS code guide.
3. Find the contracts you actually qualify for
This is where most people give up — SAM.gov lists thousands of opportunities and isn't built for browsing. The trick is to filter to the ones that match your industry, your state, and your certifications, and ignore the rest. (That's exactly what AskTuvo does for free.)
4. Check whether you can bid
Some contracts are set-asides — reserved for veteran-owned, women-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, or general small businesses. If you don't hold the certification, you usually can't win it. Learn the categories in our set-aside guide.
5. Read the solicitation — fast
Government solicitations are dense. Focus on four things: what they need, who can bid, the catch, and the deadline. Our 2-minute RFP guide shows you how.
6. Be ready to respond
Have a one-page capability statement (what you do, past work, certifications, contact) ready, and watch the deadline — contracts go to whoever finds them first and files correctly.
The honest truth about "winning"
You won't win every bid, and your first wins often come from being early, eligible, and organized — not from a fancy proposal. Start with smaller, clearly-matched opportunities, build past performance, and compound from there.