Senator Harry Reid for Nevada
Services for Nevadans

During my time in Congress, I have been a strong supporter of small businesses because they play a vital role in the economy by spurring innovation, job creation, and competition.  I will continue to support small businesses because the economic recovery of Nevada and our nation depends on their success.  I am committed to fostering an economic environment that promotes the entrepreneurial spirit.  To that end, I hope you find the business resources below helpful.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  Your local SBA office can provide free business counseling, government contracting assistance, and financial assistance.

Nevada Small Business Development Centers (NSBDC)
NSBDC is an economic development resource with a network of facilities throughout the state that provide businesses with the expertise and training they need to succeed.  The centers offer an array of services, including regulatory compliance assistance and analysis of economic, environmental, and demographic data.  You can find your local center here.

SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.  With over 13,000 volunteers and the support of the SBA, SCORE delivers services at no charge or at a very low cost.  You can find your local SCORE chapter here.

Women’s Business Center
The SBA’s Women’s Business Centers comprise a network of nearly 100 educational centers devoted to assisting women as they start and grown small businesses.  The Women’s Business Center in Nevada provides a wide array of training and counseling, as well as capital through the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative.

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
Operated by the New Ventures Capital Development Company, the MDBA Business Center located in Las Vegas, Nevada works with minority business enterprises to generate increased financing and contract opportunities and to create and retain jobs.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS provides businesses with the information and assistance they need to comply with the U.S. tax code.  Your local Taxpayer Assistance Center can help you with a personal tax problem.

Select USA
SelectUSA showcases the United States as the world’s premier business location.  The site highlights the advantages of doing business in America and industry snapshots illustrate the diverse and competitive landscape of major U.S. industries.  A clickable map provides a direct link to individual states’ resources and a searchable guide lists federal programs and services for businesses, such as grants, loans, loan guarantees, and tax incentives.

Business USA
President Obama established BusinessUSA to offer a centralized, one-stop platform to make it easier than ever for businesses to access services to help them grow and hire.  BusinessUSA implements a “no wrong door” approach for small businesses and exporters by using technology to quickly connect businesses to the services and information relevant to them, regardless of where the information is located or which agency’s website, call center, or office they go to for help.

U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO)
The USPTO is the Federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.  Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished.  The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity.  The USPTO provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for intellectual property (IP) and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.

Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
The Nevada GOED provides a range of resources, from contracting assistance to financing through the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a state grant program created by the Small Business Jobs Act that I supported in 2010.

Nevada Investment and Trade Revenue Opportunities (NITRO)
NITRO is a strategic initiative between the SBA and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development to increase exports from Nevada.  NITRO provides information about programs, services, and resources that can help business reach new markets.

Export Assistance Centers
The U.S. Commercial Service of the Commerce Department is the lead federal agency to help promote and develop U.S. exports.  Local Export Assistance Centers are dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized Nevada companies tap into international markets.

Center for Veterans Enterprise
The Center for Veterans Enterprise allows veteran-owned businesses to register as such, and assists veterans with starting or expanding a small business.

Veterans Business Outreach Nevada Sub Center
The Veterans Business Outreach Nevada Sub Center located in Reno, Nevada offers a variety of services to Veterans, DVBE, Reservist and Guard Members in their initiatives to start, cultivate, and expand a business initiative

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business (OSDBU)
Within each Federal Executive Agency, the goal of the OSDBU is to advocate for and manage the small business utilization programs for their agency.  Click here for a list of federal OSDBU offices.

Resource Guide for Nevada Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
Resource Guide for Nevada Minority Small Busines Owners and Entrepreneurs
Resource Guide for Nevada Women Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

 

Business Opportunities with the Federal Government

Information gateway, prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, provides guidance and online procurement procedures for doing business with the federal government,updated January 2012.

Information and Training

 

Learning how to sell successfully to the U.S. government, the world's largest buyer of goods and services, can be daunting. Most of the process is conducted online: using a computer is essential. Here are suggested approaches:

  • Update your company's business plan, highlighting special products, skills and expertise that might be of interest to government agencies.
  • Review your company's marketing strategy and goals.
  • Learn federal procurement processes and terms.
  • Government Contracting (SBA) Resources to help you sell your products and services to the Federal government. 
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) 
    Provides a step-by-step guide for selling to the government, with tips on bidding, marketing, and competing for government contracts, and links to free online courses.
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Provides an on-line system (Phoenix) that allows minority business firms to register the company with the MBDA 's database to access contract opportunities and other resources. 
  • General Services Administration (GSA) 
    As the government's chief acquisitions agency, GSA spends billions of dollars annually on products and services offered to all federal agencies.
  • Doing Business with GSA
    Covers government procedures, marketing strategies, and bidding procedures for contracts. Also lists important contacts, such as the 11 GSA regional centers and technical advisors for small businesses.
  • Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU)
    Through outreach activities in regional offices, promotes increased access to GSA's nationwide procurement opportunities for small, minority, veteran, HUBZone, and women business owners.
  • GSA Training Programs
    Online and onsite courses for vendors and small business, for federal employees, and for state and local government officials.
  • Contact offices in your state or region. 
  • Speak with procurement specialists or contracting officers about federal government buying procedures.
  • Ask questions about application procedures, technical requirements, and marketing suggestions.
  • Attend procurement programs, opportunities for business people to meet directly with government officials and to learn from other companies involved in federal contracting.
  • Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) 
    Located in every state, these advise and train businesses in financial matters, including certification procedures for small and minority businesses. An excellent first stop for any business, especially those with little or no previous experience in dealing with federal procurement.
  • Minority Business Development Agency MBDA Network regional enterprise centers provide resources for minority-owned firms.
  • Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) 
    Although the main focus is providing technical assistance on selling to the military, the centers cover marketing to all government agencies through counseling, training, and procurement programs.
  • GSA Regions Overview 
    The contracting officers are familiar with the procurement needs of the federal facilities located in their region.

Registration Requirements

 

Registration is required to compete for federal government procurement and contracts. The federal government's Business Partner Network (BPN) is the single source for vendor data for the Federal Government.

Review Small Business Certification and Audiences. If your business is classified as small or disadvantaged, this certification may lead to more federal procurement opportunities.

Additional statistical codes, required for many government forms:

Federal Business Opportunities

 

FedBizOpps (Federal Business Opportunities)
Single point of entry for announcements of federal contract opportunities over $25,000, both civilian and military.Serves both federal agencies as buyers and businesses as vendors.

For continuing business, apply to become a GSA Schedules contractor. Under the GSA Schedules Program, GSA establishes long-term governmentwide contracts that allow customers to acquire a vast array of supplies and services directly from commercial suppliers. Gives many businesses, small and large, further opportunities for multiple awards.

  • Also called Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) and Federal Supply Schedules (FSS).
  • Getting on Schedule Application and approval process "to get on the Schedule" can take considerable time but may be worth it for future business with government agencies.
  • GSA Training Includes Training for Vendors, such as Need Help Getting on Schedule?

Subcontracting Opportunities

 

A federal contract may be so large that a single company might have difficulty in providing the products or services required to meet the terms of the contract. A prime contractor may need to use subcontractors to complete contractual obligations.

  • SUB-Net (SBA Subcontracting Network)
    Identify subcontract opportunities by reviewing the postings of prime contractors.
  • Subcontracting Opportunities (SBA)
    Identify prime contractors by state, with addresses and phone numbers.
  • Subcontracting Directory (GSA)
    GSA contractors with subcontracting plans and goals. Companies are listed within each of the eleven GSA regions. For each, gives products and services offered, and the small business contact within the company.

Selling to the Military and Department of Defense

 

Specialized Information on Selling to the Military

Many of the DOD contract announcements and registration requirements for businesses have been incorporated into FedBizOpps, with registration at Central Contractor Registration (CCR). However, there are often special requirements for selling to the military. The vast majority of DOD contracts are awarded by DOD field organizations, or specific mission-oriented agencies within an organization.

 

Senator Harry Reid for Nevada | reid.senate.gov