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GSA Schedules
- Webinar: GSA Schedules 101 - Demystifying GSA Schedules
What is a GSA schedule and why do I need one? Get your answers here.
Federal Sales Training
- Webinar: GSA Schedules 101 - Demystifying GSA Schedules
What is a GSA schedule and why do I need one? Get your answers here . - Federal Sales 101: Winning Government Business
Fedmarket's most popular course, eight-years in the running. Whether you are new to the marketplace or a seasoned veteran this class will jump start your sales endeavors. - Webinar: Selling to the Government from Your Own Backyard
Take 90-minutes and walk away with new approaches to selling to the federal marketplace locally. - Teach Your Onsite Contract Employees to Sell and Win!
A seminar for Primes who want to keep their customers. . - Writing and Managing Winning Proposals
Write less, win more. If you can't afford to waste another minute or dime writing another losing proposal this class is for you.
Proposals
- Writing & Managing Winning Proposals
Write fewer proposals; win more .
Articles
- Negotiating GSA Prices
The General Services Administration (GSA) appears to be placing more emphasis on obtaining the lowest possible price when negotiating GSA schedule contracts... - Internet Posting of Legislation and Stimulus Projects is a Good Thing But...
The Obama administration is keeping its promise of more transparency in federal contract and grant spending. At the state and local level, grants may become contracts; we hope. The status of stimulus project funding legislation will be posted at recovery... - Obama and Federal Sales
Your crystal ball is as good as mine. Mine says the following will happen to federal contracting under the new Obama administration. War spending will go down, slightly impacting DOD contractors negatively... - Selling Services versus Products
The degree to which a business must develop a relationship with the end user is based on the complexity of a service and its uniqueness... - When the Sale Takes Place
Almost all newcomers to the federal market make the mistake of thinking that a sales opportunity arises when a request for a proposal or bid is published. In reality by the time a bid is published, the sale has probably already been made... - Comparison of Federal Multi-vendor Contracts
It is difficult to be a successful federal contractor without having a multi-vendor contract. The basic types of multi-vendor contracts are summarized below... - Become an Insider in the Federal Market
Consider becoming an insider and share in the fruits of the world's largest market. Remember, the insiders were outsiders at one point in time and the game is not that tough to play once you understand it... - The Role of Best Value in Federal Purchasing
What does the term "Best Value" mean to a sales person selling in the federal market? In short, it means that federal buyers do not have to select the vendor with the lowest price... - Guidelines for Companies New to Government Contracting
Sales people take note. You are free to meet with and sell federal end users. Federal purchasing rules not only allow it but encourage it... - People Buy Not Agencies
Contrary to popular belief, people buy in the federal market, not agencies. The only way to make a federal sale is to contact a buyer through a direct sales call... - Should We or Shouldn't We
Should you join the parade to grab some of endless flow of federal contracting opportunities? The federal government has always been an extremely lucrative market; world events are just making it more visible... - Let the Light Shine In
A huge problem that newcomers face when trying to enter the federal market place is that it is enormously difficult to find end users (the person with money who needs what a company is selling)... - Real versus Bureaucratic Requirements
When selling solutions to federal buyers, you must recognize the difference between bureaucratic and real requirements. Keep in mind that the bureaucracy may not see the solution as you do... - Small Businesses and Federal Sales
The following question often surfaces at our seminars, "What procedures should be followed by small businesses eager to participate in the federal market?" The answer to this question is that a small business should implement an aggressive federal s... - Selling Services to Federal Agencies
Our newsletters repeatedly emphasize the need to establish a relationship with end users when selling in the federal market... - Addressing Questions to the Government
Part of the responsibility of the proposal manager is to elicit questions from team members to be addressed to the government... - Don't Get Stuck as a Subcontractor
Small businesses need to get their first federal contract to become part of the club of insiders - those companies with contracts - that the federal government favors when it buys products and services... - A Renewed Emphasis on Proposals
There is a widespread perception that the preparation of an extensive and exhaustive proposal is a necessary evil inherent to doing work with the federal government... - GSA and Most Favored Customer Pricing
A recent newsletter discussed that the General Service Administration (GSA) has encountered procurement problems and has initiated a "Get It Right" campaign to improve acquisition regulation compliance... - GSA Visits Contractor Sites
GSA will visit you to make sure you're tracking your GSA sales properly. GSA's auditors will also pay close attention to whether you have offered better pricing to the "basis of award group" defined under your GSA Schedule contract... - GSA Schedules and Small Businesses
As reported in earlier installments, the federal government's use of multi-vendor contracts to buy products and services is steadily increasing... - GSA Schedule Competition in Real Life
For political reasons the federal government takes the position that competition for federal contracts is 'full and open"... - You Can't Do Government Business Without One
Government agencies cannot operate without a way to buy quickly and efficiently in the same way as commercial companies. But competition is still required under public procurement laws. GSA schedule prices are pre-negotiated with the vendor... - Selling to the Feds
Federal end-users, such as human resource program managers, engineers, or facility managers, make most purchasing decisions. As the term implies, the end-user is the person who will actually use the service... - Report from the GSA Expo, San Antonio, TX 2006
GSA Schedule holders, GSA employees, government buyers and end users descended upon San Antonio, TX the week of May 14, 2006 for the GSA Expo... - When Selling to the Government, Know Your Audience!
I have to write about this subject because I was in a sales pitch presentation today and I walked away from the presentation angry and frustrated... - Never Turn Down a Chance to Take the Tour
Washington, DC - Winter, 2003 "Meet me at the Capitol South metro stop. That's the only way I'm going to be able to let you in. I'll be wearing a black coat... - Call Your Area Military Base and Get a Tour
When I was sixteen years old, I remember driving to Selfridge Air Force Base outside of Detroit to go pick up some groceries for the family... - When Selling To The Government, You Have to "Dig" For Gold
"One of the largest mistakes I've seen in the business is that companies just scratch the surface of many agencies and never find a dime's worth of business, " said Richard White, Owner of Wood River Technologies and Fedmarket... - The Only Way To Uncover Government Business is to Focus, Focus, Focus!
How did you feel when you first considered selling to the government? I always thought I was looking into the face of the "Great and Powerful Oz." It seemed overwhelming and a little frightening... - Her First Day "On the Sales Firing Line" - Eileen Kent Goes to Washington
On my very first day alone selling to the government in Washington, DC, I took a Metro Train to the L’Enfant Plaza stop... - Department of Homeland Security - Relationships with GSA Schedules Win Business
When I took my first Fedmarket.com class in mid-2002 called "Selling to the Department of Homeland Security," there were over 70 people in the room drooling for business... - How to Make them See You - Creating Urgency
Message left at 10:00 a.m."Hello, this is Eileen Kent and I’m in town today. My understanding is that you’re responsible for continuity of operations... - Running into Old Friends in City Procurement While Teaching in Michigan
A funny thing happened to me in Warren, Michigan, during the break of my Winning Government Business class for Detroit at the end of September of 2004... - Do You Want To Win Government Business?
Midnight Friday, Midway Airport - I arrived home to Chicago exhausted after teaching a class and took the trek downstairs to the baggage claim... - Do You Want To Win Government Business? Do Not Respond to "Public Request for Proposals"
When I started selling to the government, I thought it made sense to see where all of the opportunities were being posted. I found a great spot online: Fedbizopps.gov. I could simply search by word, agency, procurement type, dollar amount, location... - Thanksgiving - A Great Opportunity
A perfect time to reflect on all of the people and things we appreciate... - Turn a Losing "Blind Bid" into a Winning Opportunity
An agency of the US Government may send you a random Request for Proposal, which looks like it is a perfect fit for your organization... - GATEKEEPERS - The Sales Rep's Best Friend
The owners of our companies expect the sales people to be making cold calls that sound professional and direct... - Getting Embedded in Government Sales Circle
One of the keys to success in the government is to develop a strong relationship at an agency. My contention is to take it another step: you need to become not just an insider, but embedded... - Now's the Time To Sell To the Government, Now's The Time to "Get Real"
Some people sell with enthusiasm, others are more laid back. The best sales technique is to be yourself - a human being looking to help government employees by making their job easier and following the rules... - Agency Uncovered
When I taught "Winning Government Business" and "Selling to the Government" this week, I found there was an interesting trend in the attendees... - Finding a Great Government Sales Executive
We were asked by a recent attendee of our "Winning Government Business" class in Atlanta how to find a great person to sell his products and services... - Is Selling to the Feds Worth the Hassle?
Is it worth doing business with the government? This is a question all of us ask ourselves daily... - Throw Out Your Brochures and Your Power Point Presentations
For the past two years, I have been on the road coaching sales executives on how to sell to the government. During this time, I've seen a trend among experienced, high-powered executives during classroom role plays... - Formula for Government Sales Success Depends On Many Factors, But The Number of "Impressions" Each Week is The Manager's Key
Business owners are constantly challenged with the issue of what to expect from their government sales executives in terms of time management, goals and actual results... - Top Ten Mistakes, Relationship Killers and Wastes of Time
Should your company try one of the approaches outlined below while trying to do business with the government, you will end up at a dead end and will have a seriously demoralized federal sales team. My Top Ten List of Mistakes is as follows: 1... - How Can You Kick Out the Incumbent?
Companies with Key Relationships on the Inside Are Winning Government Business. How Can You Kick Out the Incumbent? Understand Your Customers and Solve Their Problems... - Patience, Persistence, Perseverance Are the Keys to Winning Government Business
When I took a class from Richard White on "Doing Business with Homeland Security," in early 2002, I was absolutely shocked to hear, "It will take well over 12 months to get business from the government... - November 2005 Thank Your Federal Clients During Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving - a perfect time to reflect on all of the people and things we appreciate... - Goal for 2006 - Focus, Focus, Focus
How did you feel when you first considered selling to the government? I always thought I was looking into the face of the "Great and Powerful Oz." The process seemed overwhelming and a little frightening... - There is A Fine Line Between Assertive Sales and Aggressive Sales -- What Is It?
In my "Federal Sales 101 - Winning Government Business" class, many sales people ask me, "When am I being too pushy?" My take is that the government employee hardly ever comes out and tells you so... - Disaster Response and Recovery: Is There an Opportunity for You to Help?
While the politicians and department directors argue over what went wrong during the Katrina disaster, savvy contractors are becoming more and more embedded in the agencies... - Training is the Answer
Are You One or More of the Following: New to selling to the federal government Frustrated by the roadblocks you have encountered in selling to the federal government? Experienced with selling to the government but you need a little boost? Tra... - More Hot News Puts Private Sector "On the Sales Firing Line"
It seems that I see more and more headlines that virtually beg you to make the cold call. The government is literally pounding the table asking for your help... - In Business, Business is Business. In Government, Business is Personal.
When you are selling to a commercial business and there's a problem, late delivery or glitch of any sort, the client understands you are not doing this to them personally... - Selling IT: Introduction to the Government IT Sector
Governments at all levels are becoming citizen-centric in delivering services, e.g., developing Internet portals that provide single points of entry for citizens and businesses... - Selling IT: Sales and Marketing Basics
Company managers new to government sales often view governments as bureaucratic bodies from another world, imbued with strange and mysterious procurement rules, rules designed to confuse and even intimidate... - Selling IT: Business Development
In our newsletters, we talk a lot about the importance of advanced knowledge -- knowing about an agency, its people, its nuances and, most importantly, its program goals... - Selling IT: Agency Focus
In the prior installment on selling IT to governments, we talked about business development, distinguishing "inside" from "outside... - Finding and Selling to End-Users in the Government
In past installments, we talked about finding the "right" agencies, namely the ones that are interested in buying your company's products or services... - Selling IT: Marketing IT to the Government
In this article, we define marketing as activities to make the public, official buyers and end-users aware of your company and your products or services... - Selling IT: Buyer's Duty to Search Across Schedules
In this installment of Selling IT to Government, we touch on an issue -- keywords -- that is of particular importance to federal multiple award schedule contractors. Yes, that's right -- keywords... - Selling IT: Teaming to Win Government IT Sales
Government buyers often look for "complete solutions" off of multiple award schedule contracts, such as the General Service Administration's Federal Supply Schedules (FSS)... - Selling IT Business Opportunities Under the E-Government Act of 2002
The E-Government Act of 2002 (EGA) created a number of sales opportunities for IT services companies. The EGA authorized the following amounts for e-government projects... - Selling IT: State and Local Buys off of GSA IT-70
The state and local market for goods and services is very large, over twice the size of the federal market. Yet for companies with a track record of selling to the feds, the state and local market can be mysterious, often daunting... - The Realities of the Federal Market
Let’s say you’re a medium-sized information technology company from a Midwestern city and your commercial sales are flat... - Commitment and Focus in Federal Contracting
In the last installment you learned about some of the realities of federal sales. In this installment you will learn about the need for commitment and focus to overcome the inherent barriers to entry. First, you must commitment to the market... - Making the Sales Call to Federal Government Agency
Companies new to the market ask us, "How do I find potential buyers to call on." Finding potential buyers can be difficult and will be the subject of the next several installments in this series... - Business Development - The Key To Federal Sales
In an earlier installment we said that you will chase your tail if you lack a laser-like focus in the federal market. Business development is the process used to identify potential buyers (end-users and official buyers) for your product or service... - Government Contract Awards Data
Contract awards data is the most misunderstood source for business development. It comes from two vastly different sources. Plus, it's sometimes inaccurate, and often untimely and incomplete... - GSA Schedules from the Vendor's Viewpoint
Imagine that you have been doing some aggressive selling at a military base near you. The end-user thinks you're the answer to his prayers and wants to get you onboard quickly to solve a major program problem... - GSA Schedules and the Prime Contractor Market
As dictated by federal law, prime contractors subcontract over twenty percent (20%) of their business. Billions of dollars of subcontracted products and services are bought annually in this market (e.g... - Use of GSA Schedules for Selling Services
GSA schedules are very powerful tools for selling services. In recently adding services to the list of available GSA schedules, the federal government recognized the reality of how services are purchased... - Put Up Your Guard to Keep Your Sales Costs Down
Sales people are inherently optimistic by nature and often make assumptions that are imprudent. An overeager salesperson can cause costly losses and overworked sales opportunities... - Selling Products Directly Using GSA Schedules
Expensive and complex (for example, technology-based) products are ideal items to sell directly to the federal government. In fact, use your own sales force to make such sales... - Doing Business with Prime Contractors
We are frequently asked by small or medium-sized businesses whether they should attempt to sell directly to federal end users or sell to prime contractors through subcontracts... - Sell and Then Write Defensively to Win Government Contracts
Last week's installment discussed the necessity of pre-selling a sales opportunity before it appears as a public bid... - Think Twice Before Chasing Dollars from New Federal Programs
Newly emerging federal programs, which seem to be materializing with increasing frequency, include: The War on Terrorism (primarily located within the US Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense) The Reconstruction of Iraq N... - Proposal Writing: A Summary
Previous installments presented information on the proposal writing process. This installment summarizes the key points made in these installments. Winning proposals are sales driven and emanate from relationship-based sales... - GSA Schedules and Sales Costs
We have previously discussed that a business may have to invest $25,000 to $75,000 (in terms of sales costs) to obtain a GSA Schedule... - Best Value Analysis A Salespersons Dream
In seeking price quotes from vendors, federal buyers are now encouraged to think beyond price and conduct a "best value analysis... - Comparing the Commercial and Federal Markets
The commercial and federal markets are more similar than some would think. In both the federal and commercial sectors, people buy products and services. Many tend to think of the government as a faceless behemoth... - Selling to Government Cardholders
A number of important changes came out of the federal Procurement Reform Era of the mid 1990s. Perhaps the most significant of these was the emergence of widespread government credit card purchasing... - Small Purchase Government Market Segment
In this installment we talk about small purchases, defined here as government buys in the $2,500 to $25,000 range. We've touched on this subject in past installments. This time we devote an entire installment to it, and get into a bit more detail... - Focus and Commitment Necessary in Doing Business with Government
Throughout the series we've talked here and there about "focus" and "commitment", a couple of words that are easy to toss around: "You've got to be focused." "You must be committed... - Invitations For Bids
Publicly-advertised fixed price procurements are made using either a sealed Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Quote (RFQ)... - Publicly-Advertised RFQ Market Segment
Requests for Quotes (RFQs) Since the advent of major procurement reform, the federal government and selected state and local governments are now using requests for quotes (RFQs) to buy commercial products and services... - Publicly-Advertised Negotiated Procurements
The publicly-advertised negotiated procurement market segment is a new world for companies that have not bid on negotiated procurements using requests for proposal (RFP) procedures. Responding to RFPs is unique for several reasons... - Responding to Public Procurements
In previous installments we discussed how to sell in the publicly-advertised IFB, RFQ, and RFP markets. In this installment we discuss how to respond (prepare a bid) to bid requests... - Managing the Proposal Process
Proposals are what some might call a "necessary evil" in the government negotiated procurement market... - Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Government Contracts
Overview of the Process The General Service Administration's Federal Supply Service (FSS) operates the federal supply schedule program. The program leverages the purchasing power of the U.S... - Teaming for Large Government Contracts
Government contracts are getting bigger. Requirements that were once performed under, say, six to ten contracts might now be performed under only one...
