Can a small business sell to the federal or state government?
Yes. The federal and state governments have programs to encourage small businesses to bid on contracts or seek work as subcontractors on government work. Among them are small business seminars, procurement (jobs) fairs, and outreach programs through community development organizations. The U.S. Air Force maintains two web sites to help small businesses learn about procurement opportunities and how to deal with government red tape. What does the government buy? The government buys everything from food to computers to sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment. The Department of Defense alone buys billions of dollars’ worth of goods and services each year. About 98 percent of the transactions (which equals about 20 percent of the total spending) are with small businesses.
