Foreign Ownership Rules Are Expanding—Is Your Vendor Network Putting You at Risk?
If you’re a small business in the government contracting space—especially in IT, telecom, drones, or physical security—your vendor list could be your weakest link. The feds aren’t just scrutinizing what you sell to them; they want to know what’s in your office, who made it, and whether any part of your supply chain touches banned or foreign-owned tech.
Top NAICS Codes for Small Business Federal Contracts in FY2025 (So Far)
If you're chasing federal contracts in 2025, here’s a reality check: the agencies aren’t slowing down, and neither are the opportunities. From IT services to construction to niche environmental cleanup, small businesses are capturing billions in new awards—and it all boils down to which NAICS codes are winning.
The Email You Should Be Sending Every Week to Contracting Officers (But Probably Aren’t)
If you’re a small business trying to win more federal contracts, here’s a truth that’ll save you time and bring in opportunities: most contractors are silent between bids. They show up when the RFP drops, attach their SAM profile like a badge of honor, and cross their fingers. But the real players? They’re showing up every week, keeping contracting officers (COs) warm with just enough value, relevance, and persistence.
FY2025: The Year of Contract Consolidation—and What It Means for Small GovCons
If it feels like the federal contracting landscape is shrinking around you, you're not imagining it. FY2025 is shaping up to be the year of contract consolidation. Fewer, bigger contract vehicles. Less room to compete. More pressure on small and mid-sized businesses to scale up—or get pushed out.
How to Read an RFP Like a Pro: The 10 Most Important Sections to Skim First
If you’re new to government contracting, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) can feel like reading stereo instructions written in legalese. And when you're juggling operations, BD, and proposal prep, you don’t have hours to dissect every word of a 60-page solicitation just to find out it’s a bad fit.
Set-Asides Reset: What FY2025's Federal Contracting Goals Mean for Small Businesses
If you’re a small business trying to break into—or stay in—the federal contracting world, FY2025 is going to be a pivotal year. New SBA rules, a strategic goal reset, and evolving compliance requirements are shaking up the landscape. Whether you're newly 8(a)-certified or running a veteran-owned firm navigating VetCert, this isn’t just bureaucratic noise—it’s your roadmap (or roadblock) to millions in potential revenue.
AI is Rewriting the Rulebook for Small Government Contractors—Here’s How to Keep Up
The federal government is going all in on artificial intelligence, and if you're a small business in the government contracting space, this isn’t just interesting—it’s urgent. New AI-powered initiatives are streamlining how agencies operate, buy, and evaluate everything from predictive maintenance to cybersecurity tools. But with the opportunities come new rules, new risks, and a serious need for compliance discipline. If you’re aiming to stay competitive (and compliant) in FY2025 and beyond, now’s the time to act.
Cyber Rules Are Tightening—Here’s What Small Contractors Need to Know Now
If you're a small business in federal contracting, heads up: cybersecurity and supply-chain rules are tightening fast. New executive orders, FAR/DFARS clauses, and NDAA provisions are raising the bar—and if you're not keeping up, you could find yourself shut out of major contracting opportunities in FY2025 and beyond. But here’s the good news: with the right prep, these mandates can actually give you a leg up.
SBA’s 2025 Rule Shake-Up: What Small GovCon Firms Need to Know Now
If you thought your SBA certification was something you could “set and forget,” 2025 is here to shake up that assumption. A flurry of final rules and executive orders over the past year has rewritten the playbook on small business set-aside eligibility, M&A strategies, and how you hold on to that all-important “small” status. Whether you’re in the 8(a) program, pursuing women owned small business certification, or managing multiple 8a contracts services, these changes have direct—and potentially disruptive—implications.
GSA’s Power Play: What the SEWP and CIO-SP Transfer Means for Small Contractors
In a move that could reshape federal IT contracting as we know it, the General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing to take over two of the government’s largest technology purchasing vehicles: NASA’s SEWP and NIH’s CIO-SP. If you’re a small or mid-size business navigating government procurement, this shift isn’t just an administrative shuffle—it could change how you compete, who you compete against, and what hoops you’ll need to jump through to win.
VA’s New Review Process Could Delay Your Next Award—Here’s What Contractors Need to Know
The Department of Veterans Affairs just changed the playbook for how it handles high-dollar and mission-critical contracts. On May 13, 2025, the VA issued a new acquisition memo that adds an extra—and mandatory—layer of review for certain contracts. If you’re a small or mid-sized business in IT, professional services, or dealing with large-dollar awards, this change could slow things down unless you’re ready.
SBIR Scrutiny Is Rising—Here’s What Contractors Need to Know About Foreign Influence Risk
The SBIR/STTR programs have long been a lifeline for tech-focused small businesses looking to fund innovation and bring new products to market. But in 2025, these “America’s Seed Fund” programs are under intense scrutiny—not for how much they fund, but who they fund. If you’re a small business eyeing these grants, or already holding one, foreign affiliations are now a make-or-break factor. And agencies aren’t treating these risks equally.
CMMC 2.0 Is Here—What Small Contractors Need to Do Now
If you’re a small business working in the defense space, 2025 just got a lot more real. The Department of Defense finalized the long-awaited Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 rule in December 2024, and implementation has already begun. This isn’t just another bureaucratic update—CMMC 2.0 changes the rules of the game for every contractor and subcontractor in the DoD supply chain.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Federal Government Contracting for Small Businesses in 2025
If you're a small business owner looking to tap into the massive pool of federal government spending, the process can feel overwhelming—especially if you're just getting started. Acronyms like SAM, NAICS, UEI, and FAR might sound like alphabet soup now, but with a little clarity and a solid roadmap, you'll be well on your way to landing your first government contract.
DoD’s Software Acquisition Pathways: A New Door Opens for Agile Contractors
The Department of Defense just made it easier—and faster—for software-focused small businesses to break into federal contracting. If you’re in the business of governance, compliance, or risk management tools, the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) and Software Fast Track (SWFT) programs could be your express lanes to securing DoD contracts. Here's what you need to know—and how to act.
SLED Contracting Just Got Easier—If You Know the Right Codes
Trying to break into state and local government contracts—or scale up your wins? Then you’ve probably wrestled with the alphabet soup of codes used in procurement. But here’s the thing: if you’re a small business focused on state, local, and education (SLED) markets, understanding Product Service Codes (PSCs) vs. NAICS codes isn’t just helpful—it’s strategic.
Pentagon’s New Procurement Playbook Could Be a Gamechanger for Small Contractors
The Department of Defense just issued a seismic shift in how it does business—and small businesses should be paying close attention. On April 9, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base.” It’s a sweeping directive that reimagines how the Pentagon buys goods and services, with bold promises to slash red tape, speed up awards, and reward agility over bureaucracy.
The Best NAICS Codes for Small Businesses Going After SLED Contracts in 2025
State, local, and education (SLED) contracts can be a goldmine for small businesses, but only if you know how to position yourself. One of the most overlooked (but powerful) ways to boost your visibility and competitiveness? Picking the right NAICS code.
FY2026’s Skinny Budget: What It Means for Your Government Contracts
You might’ve seen the headlines: on May 2, 2025, the White House dropped its Fiscal Year 2026 “skinny budget” blueprint, calling for a $163 billion cut to non-defense discretionary spending—nearly 23% across domestic agencies—while boosting defense outlays by 13% to about $1.01 trillion . For government contractors and small businesses, this isn’t just politics as usual; it’s a roadmap of where opportunity—and risk—will lie in the year ahead.
Tariffs Are Back—and Government Contractors Need to Pay Attention
New tariffs are hitting supply chains hard, and if you're a government contractor—especially with fixed-price contracts—you're likely already feeling the squeeze. In early 2025, the federal government rolled out sweeping new import duties, including a 10% “reciprocal tariff” on most goods and even harsher penalties for imports from China. For government contractors, this isn’t just another trade headline—it’s a cost crisis with real contract performance risks.