Competition for public works jobs has become fierce in recent years, and the work promised by the economic stimulus plan has only encouraged more contractors to consider this market.  Recently, one of our clients in the Northeast told us that while he used to see only three or four other bids on jobs he was competing for, at a recent bid opening there were 22 competitors.

To bid on federally-funded jobs, you first need to register with the Central Contract Registration.  The CCR is a central storage location for your information, and eliminates the need for you to provide to separately to each federal agency. Just click the link for "Start New Registration" and provide the information requested.

You'll need:

• A Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number before you can start the registration process. There is no charge to receive a DUNS number, and if you apply online you can usually have the number within 24 to 72 hours.
• Your Taxpayer Identification Number.
• General information such as your CAGE code, location, receipts, number of employees, and website address.
• Corporate information such as your legal structure (ie sole proprietor, corporation, partnership, LLC) and SBA-defined socioeconomic characteristics.
• Goods and services information such as your NAICD code, SIC code, Product Service code, and Federal Supply classification code.
• Financial information such as the name of your financial institution and its American Banking Association (ABA) routing number, account number, remittance address, lock box number, automated clearing house (ACH) information, and credit card information.
• Point of Contact information such as your primary and alternate points of contact, past performance, and government points of contact.

Depending on the size and complexity of your business, it will take you about an hour to complete your registration.

Once you've registered at CCR, you can bid on contracting opportunities listed at www.FBO.gov, where all government agencies publicize government procurement opportunities over $25,000.

Central Contractor Registration