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The abundance of local and federal
government offices in the District of
Columbia provides businesses access
to a variety of commercial contracting
opportunities. The close proximity to
administrators that make decisions
and government requirements
to support small, economically
disadvantaged businesses provides
an opportunity to work with
various levels of government.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTING
INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The U.S. Federal Government is the largest buyer in the
world, purchasing close to $500 billion worth of goods
and services each year. The general aims of the rules and
regulations governing federal contracts are to ensure that:
• Competition is fair and open: The process of requesting
proposals, evaluating bids, and making awards should
take place on a level playing field with full visibility. Any
business that is qualified to bid should be considered.
• Products and services are competitively priced: The
Government seeks pricing that is commensurate with its
formidable buying power.
• The Government gets what it pays for: The Government
protects itself by carefully defining requirements, terms
and conditions for all purchases. Contractors must
document that they have fulfilled all requirements and
met all terms in order to be paid.
• Both the Government and contractors comply with the
law: Different rules and regulations apply to different
types of purchases. The Federal Acquisition Regulation
(FAR) or Defense Acquisition Regulation Supplement
(DFARS) applies to most federal agencies. Individual
organizations often have their own rules, as well.
CONTRIBUTORS: The Department of Small and Local Business
Development · The U.S. Small Business Administration · The DC
Office of Contracting and Procurement