Government contracting can be intimidating, particularly when it comes to determining financials. What if you could get the federal government to help you pay for your project? Fortunately, that option is available in the form of federal grants. However, you will need to do a little homework first.

I refer to the CCR, or Central Contractor Registration. This should be the first stop for anyone who would like to receive a federal grant. The CCR functions primarily as a database for government contractors, and it allows the government to view potential candidates. A CCR number is required for any grant. You need to update your CCR registration every year, since out of date registrants will be automatically rejected from CCR funding.

In the world of contracting, it is incredibly important to cross your t’s and dot your i’s.  While contracting absolutely requires excellent people skills, the barriers to entry will weed out anyone who is not paying attention. Don’t miss out on the opportunity for funding by neglecting to register with the CCR. Contracting for the federal government is highly competitive. You will want every advantage you can get.

In my last post, I described the necessity of a D-U-N-S number in government contracting.  After you acquire a D-U-N-S number, you’re ready to register in the Central Contractor’s Registry (CCR).  Registering your business in the CCR not only makes your company visible to the government, but it’s also a requirement according to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).  So what do you need besides a D-U-N-S number to register?  You need:

• CAGE Code
• Company and Corporate information
• Federal Tax Identification Number
• SBA-defined socioeconomic characteristics
• NAICS code
• Product Service code
• Federal Supply Classification code
• Financial information
• Point of Contact (POC) information
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) information

Registering in the CCR is an essential first step into government contracting.  Below is a video from SBA, which will encourage your decision into seeking business with the government and help you brainstorm how to make yourself attractive to the government after you register.

Have you already registered for the CCR?  We’d love to hear your experience!

When starting out in government contracting, you can’t get too far into the process without a D-U-N-S number, which stands for Data Universal Numbering System.  It’s a unique nine-digit number for each location of your business and is completely free.  A D-U-N-S number is required to register with the federal government for contracts or grants.  You can’t join the CCR (Central Contractor Registration) without it!  Below is a basic overview of the D-U-N-S number from InsideUp:

The D-U-N-S number was created in 1962 and copyrighted by Dun & Bradstreet.  A D-U-N-S number has been assigned to over 100 million businesses worldwide.  The D-U-N-S number was adopted as a standard business identifier for federal electronic commerce in October of 1994.  It was also incorporated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation in April of 1998 as the official identification code for all procurement-related activities.  Start your process of acquiring a free D-U-N-S number today!