Reporting on supplier diversity.

How to sell to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a diverse business

The Department of Justice obligates over $4 billion per year across IT, professional services, and facilities — and set-asides for 8(a), SDVOSB, …

· Mario Bailey

How to write a federal contracting capability statement that gets read

A capability statement is a 1-2 page document that federal contracting officers and small business specialists use to evaluate vendors. Get the …

· Mario Bailey

How to write a federal contracting proposal: the basics every diverse business needs to know

Federal proposals follow a rigid structure defined by the solicitation itself. Miss a required section or exceed a page limit and your …

· Mario Bailey

How to choose the right NAICS codes for federal contracting

Your NAICS codes determine your small business size standard and which set-aside programs you're eligible for — including WOSB, which only covers …

· Mario Bailey

OSDBU and OSBP: the federal offices that help diverse businesses win contracts

Every major federal agency has a dedicated small business office—OSDBU or OSBP—whose job is to help businesses like yours get in front …

· Mario Bailey

Building past performance for federal contracting when you're starting from zero

Past performance is the chicken-and-egg problem in federal contracting. These seven paths let you build a credible record before you ever win …

· Mario Bailey

SBA 8(a) application guide: what to prepare and what reviewers look for

The 8(a) program gives certified firms access to sole-source federal contracts up to $4.5M and competitive set-asides for nine years — but …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in cybersecurity: opportunities for diverse firms in a high-growth market

The federal government spends over $20 billion per year on cybersecurity, and set-aside vehicles like STARS III and CIO-SP4 reserve a large …

· Mario Bailey

Can international businesses win US federal contracts? The real answer

Yes, foreign companies can bid on most US federal contracts above simplified acquisition thresholds. The Buy American Act restricts goods procurement, not …

· Mario Bailey

NAICS 236220 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Commercial and Institutional Building Construction Contracts

Federal agencies award over $8 billion per year under NAICS 236220, with USACE and NAVFAC as the dominant buyers. 8(a) and HUBZone …

· Mario Bailey

How to sell to the Department of Transportation (DOT) as a diverse business

DOT does not buy most of its work directly. It distributes $50B+ in federal grants to state and local agencies, which must …

· Mario Bailey

How to sell to the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a diverse business

The SBA certifies 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB firms — and then buys IT, consulting, and professional services using those same certifications. …

· Mario Bailey

NAICS 561730 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Landscaping Services Contracts

The federal government spends over $1 billion annually on landscaping and grounds maintenance under NAICS 561730, with 8(a) and HUBZone set-asides making …

· Mario Bailey

Executive orders and supplier diversity: what federal contractors must know in 2025

EO 14173 changed how federal agencies operate internally, but the statutes governing small business set-asides and subcontracting plans were passed by Congress …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Washington DC: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Washington DC sits inside the densest federal contracting market in the country. Winning here means mastering both federal certifications and DC's local …

· Mario Bailey

WOSB and EDWOSB certification: the complete guide for women-owned businesses

WOSB and EDWOSB certification gives women-owned businesses access to federal set-aside contracts in roughly 700 NAICS codes. This guide covers the eligibility …

· Mario Bailey

SDVOSB and VetCert certification: the complete guide for veteran-owned businesses

[SDVOSB certification](/guides/sdvosb/) opens federal sole-source contracts up to $4.5M for services and $7.5M for construction. Since January 2023, all certifications run through …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in healthcare: certification opportunities for diverse businesses

Hospital systems and federal health agencies collectively spend billions annually through supplier diversity programs. NMSDC MBE and WBENC WBE are the credentials …

· Mario Bailey

Guide · 14 min

SBA 8(a) Certification: The Complete 2026 Guide

The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program gives disadvantaged-owned small businesses nine years of access to sole-source federal contracts up to $5.5 million. …

· Mario Bailey

Black-owned business certification and contracts: a complete guide

A founder's walkthrough of the certifications a Black-owned business can actually use, what each costs and how long it takes, and the …

· Mario Bailey

How to sell to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a diverse business

DHS is one of the federal government's largest buyers, with over $15 billion in annual contract obligations and an active Mentor-Protege Program …

· Mario Bailey

NAICS 541611 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services Contracts

Federal agencies spend over $5 billion annually under NAICS 541611, and a significant share goes to 8(a), WOSB, and HUBZone set-asides. Here …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier Diversity Statistics 2026: Key Numbers, Benchmarks, and Federal Data

Sourced numbers behind supplier diversity in 2026: federal procurement totals, set-aside performance by certification type, certifying body program sizes, and corporate spend …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier Diversity vs DEI in 2026: Why One Survived the Rollback and One Didn't

Supplier diversity and DEI get lumped together, but they live in different parts of the law. DEI is voluntary HR policy that …

· Will Moss

NAICS 561210 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Facilities Support Services Contracts

The federal government spends over $10 billion annually under NAICS 561210, and DoD accounts for the majority of it. Large bundled contracts …

· Mario Bailey

NAICS 561320 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Temporary Help Services (Staffing) Contracts

Federal agencies spend over $3 billion annually on temporary help services under NAICS 561320, and a large share flows through 8(a), WOSB, …

· Mario Bailey

Guide · 12 min

How to Bid on a Government Contract: Your First Proposal Step by Step

Found an opportunity on SAM.gov and wondering what to do with it? Here is exactly what happens from solicitation to award — …

· Mario Bailey

How to Get Past Performance When You Have None: Breaking the Catch-22

Federal agencies want past performance before they hand you a contract, and you can't get past performance without a contract. Here are …

· Mario Bailey

SBA Small Business Size Standards: What They Are and Why They Matter

Size standards determine who legally qualifies as a small business for federal set-asides and contracts. They vary by NAICS code, measure either …

· Mario Bailey

Sole-Source Government Contracts: What They Are and How to Get One

A sole-source contract is a federal award made directly to one vendor, skipping competition entirely. The four justifications in FAR Part 6.302, …

· Mario Bailey

How to sell to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a diverse business

NIH obligated more than $6.4 billion in contracts in FY2023. The agency uses 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone set-asides across IT, research …

· Mario Bailey

State MBE certification vs federal 8(a): which comes first?

State MBE and federal 8(a) are not competing certifications — they serve entirely different markets. The right pursuit order depends on where …

Jul 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

DBE certification in North Dakota: Requirements, Process, and Benefits

DBE certification in North Dakota is administered by the North Dakota Department of Transportation's Unified Certification Program. It opens access to FHWA, …

Jul 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

HUBZone Certification: Requirements, Map, and How to Apply in 2026

HUBZone certification gives qualifying small businesses access to set-aside contracts, sole-source awards up to $5.5 million, and a 10% price evaluation preference …

Jul 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Veteran-owned business certification: SDVOSB, VOSB, and VBE explained

There are two separate worlds of veteran certification, and they don't transfer. SBA VetCert gets you federal set-asides for free. NaVOBA's VBE …

Apr 10, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Teaming agreement vs joint venture: how small firms partner to win federal work

Both let a small firm bid work it couldn't win alone, but they carry different liability, control, and SBA size consequences. Here's …

Apr 3, 2026 · Mario Bailey

The SBA Mentor-Protégé Program and joint ventures in 2026: how small firms win bigger work

A small firm can team with a larger mentor and bid as a small business on work it could never win alone. …

Feb 18, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Picking NAICS codes for federal contracts (and why size standard matters)

The contracting officer, not you, sets the NAICS code on each solicitation, and that code decides whether you count as small. Here's …

Feb 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Is a GSA Schedule worth it? How to get on the Multiple Award Schedule

A GSA Schedule is a contract that lets agencies buy from you faster. It's worth real money for some businesses and a …

Feb 3, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Federal vs Third-Party Certifications: How to Build Your Strategy

Federal certifications and third-party certifications open different markets, run on different rules, and pay back on different timelines. A practical sequencing framework …

Jan 28, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to register on SAM.gov: the step-by-step a small business actually needs

Registering on SAM.gov is free and not that hard, but one validation step trips up most first-timers. Here's the order to do …

Jan 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Federal set-asides explained: 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB, and sole-source

Set-asides are how the government reserves contracts for small and diverse businesses. Here's how the small business and socioeconomic set-asides work, and …

Jan 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

The federal capability statement that wins contracts (with a template)

A contracting officer asks for a capability statement before almost anything else. Here's what goes in the six sections, how to write …

Jan 21, 2026 · Maya Okonkwo

How to find federal contract opportunities (without wasting months)

Registered on SAM.gov and staring at a wall of solicitations? Here's where opportunities live, how to read the buy before it's a …

Jan 19, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Your DSBS profile: the free SBA listing buyers actually search (now Small Business Search)

Contracting officers search the SBA's small business database during market research. As of July 2025 it's called Small Business Search, it's built …

Jan 19, 2026 · Mario Bailey

CPARS and past performance: how to build a record from your first federal contract

Your first federal contract creates a CPARS record that contracting officers read before they pick you again. Here's how to earn a …

Jan 14, 2026 · Maya Okonkwo

The Cheapest Path to Federal Contracts in 2026

Federal contracting has a marketing layer (paid SAM packages, paid certification services, paid capability-statement designs) and an actual layer (forms anyone can …

Jan 9, 2026 · Mario Bailey