SEASON 5, EPISODE 3
Landing Lucrative Government Contracts: A Conversation with Carroll Bernard
In this episode, Host David Ponraj digs into the immense potential in public sector work with Carroll Bernard, CEO & Co-Founder at Govology.com, and former government worker at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Carroll and his team at Govology specialize in opening up opportunities in the $500 billion government contracting market to small businesses, as there is an immense gap in awareness about government programs.
“The government procurement process can seem daunting, but the reward is well worth the effort – very sustainable revenue streams that allow companies to grow. Do good work [for the government] and there’s always more business available, unlike the budget constraints in the private sector.”
Carroll shares deep insights and processes to help small businesses navigate the government sales process and land those lucrative federal, state and local contracts; from researching spending data to crafting winning proposals.
David and Carroll explore the advantages of the 8A program for small disadvantaged businesses, including sole source contracts and set-aside contracts, as well as the potential for teaming opportunities with larger businesses. The discussion covers the essential steps for businesses to register on sam.gov and qualify for government programs, including the importance of market research before registering on SAM and identifying relevant NAICS codes and product service codes. They delve into the intricate details of small business certifications and government contracting, highlighting the specific eligibility criteria and federal programs available, including individual-based certifications for service-disabled veterans, small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned businesses, as well as location-based certifications like HUBZone.
Learn more about public procurement at Govology.com
Connect with Carroll Bernard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrollbernard/
Resource: USAspending is the official open data source of federal spending information, including information about federal awards such as contracts, grants, and loans. https://www.usaspending.gov/
About Breaking Down Barriers
This podcast explores the opportunity to build wealth in local, regional, and national economies through entrepreneurship-led economic development. Episodes feature changemakers with innovative approaches to empowering people to start businesses that create wealth for their families and improve outcomes for their communities. Conversations highlight work being done in communities across the U.S. to break down barriers to entrepreneurial opportunity in underserved and underrepresented communities. In this series, we share authentic stories about the impact that entrepreneurship-led economic development has on the local economy and connect a global network of passionate economic developers.
Special thanks to our renowned guests for joining the podcast! Click here to send us ideas. Subscribe in the footer to our newsletter to get updates and news delivered to your inbox!
Breaking Down Barriers is a presentation of Economic Impact Catalyst and is hosted by David Ponraj with production and editing by Jacqui Dietrich and Lauren Bernard with voice talent by Antoine Long. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Breaking Down Barriers, available for free wherever you listen to your podcasts!
