Types of Government Contractors & How To Become One

What does it take to become a government contractor? And what are the types of government contractors? These are questions that many business owners ask themselves. The process of becoming a government contractor can be daunting, but there are many benefits to doing so. In this blog post, Vinyl Technology will discuss the requirements, regulations, and types of government contractors and some of the benefits and obstacles you may face along the way.

Government contractors must be manufacturers of the type that government clients might plausibly hire. This means that your business must be able to produce goods or services that are used by the government.

Types of Government Contractors

Government contractors handle diverse tasks that keep public projects running smoothly. Some focus on services like IT support, maintenance, or consulting. Others supply essential products, like vehicles, office supplies, or specialized equipment for government use.

Construction contractors manage large-scale projects—roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Research and development contractors work on innovation, solving problems in fields like healthcare and defense. Each type of government contractor requires strict compliance with regulations, ensuring agencies receive what they need without unnecessary complications.

These various types of government contractors allow agencies to collaborate with experts tailored to their needs, whether it’s cutting-edge technology or building the next public landmark. Every type of government contractor plays a unique part in helping government projects succeed.

Compliance With Government Regulations

System for Award Management Database

To become a government contractor, your business must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. This is the government’s primary database for types of government contractors, and it is where all government contracts are awarded. SAM requires that you have a Dun & Bradstreet number and a Cage Code.

FARS and DFARS

The government also has specific regulations that contractors must comply with. These regulations are known as the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). DFARS requires government contractors to meet certain standards when it comes to cybersecurity, quality assurance, and manufacturing.

The Berry Amendment

The government has a regulation that requires government contractors to use American-made materials in their products. This is known as the Berry Amendment. The Berry Amendment requires types of government contractors to use materials that are “substantially all” made in the United States.

NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a set of guidelines known as NIST 800-171. This is a government regulation that government contractors must comply with when it comes to cybersecurity. The purpose of NIST 800-171 is to protect government information and government systems from malicious cyberattacks.

ITAR

The government has a regulation known as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ITAR requires government contractors to comply with certain export regulations. The government’s export regulations are designed to prevent government secrets from being shared with other countries.

Conflict Minerals

The government has a regulation known as the Conflict Minerals Rule. The government’s Conflict Minerals Rule requires government contractors to avoid using products that contain certain minerals if those minerals are mined in conflict areas. The government’s Conflict Minerals Rule is designed to prevent types of government contractors from funding conflicts through their purchases of raw materials.

Excellence in Production

This is the most difficult of all the requirements to meet, and not many companies can do it. It’s not enough to simply comply with government standards. To be competitive with other types of government contractors, the products your company makes must be the absolute best in class. The government has extremely high standards for government contractors, and your products must meet those standards to compete with other government contractors.

The Government Bidding Process

Government contracts are typically awarded through a bidding process. This means that your company must submit a proposal to be considered for the contract.  If your company is awarded a government contract, then you will be paid to manufacture products for government clients.

How Do You Write a Bid for a Government Contract?

A government contract is awarded through a bidding process. This means that government agencies and departments “bid” on the government contracts they want to win. When government agencies and departments submit their bids, they are essentially making an offer to the government on how much they will charge for manufacturing government products.

To submit a bid for a government contract, your company must first register with the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is an online government website that government contractors use to register with the government.

Once your company is registered with SAM, then you can submit bids for government contracts. To submit a bid, your company must create a proposal. The proposal should include the following:

– A description of your company’s manufacturing capabilities

– A description of your company’s products

– The price you are willing to charge for manufacturing government products

– How much time it will take you to manufacture government products

– The delivery schedule for government products

– How you plan to meet government regulations (NIST 800-171, ITAR, Conflict Minerals)

– Your company’s past performance on government contracts

When you submit your proposal to the government, you are essentially making an offer to the government on how much you will charge for manufacturing government products. The government will review your proposal and decide if your company is a qualified government contractor. If the government decides to award you the contract, then you will be paid to manufacture products for government clients.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Government Contractor?

There are several benefits to being a government contractor. The most obvious benefit is that you are paid to manufacture products for government clients. This means that your company is generating revenue from government contracts.

Another benefit of being a type of government contractor is that you are more likely to win additional government contracts. The government is more likely to award contracts to companies that have proven themselves reliable and consistent government contractors.

In addition, government contracts typically have longer terms than commercial contracts. This means that you are more likely to maintain a government contract for an extended period.

Vinyl Technology is a leading manufacturer of government contracts. We’ve been creating products for US government clients, like the Demilitarization Protection Ensemble (DPE), for decades.

If you have a project you think would be a good fit for us, get in touch today.