Landing your first SLED (state, local, and education) contract is a huge milestone. But let’s be honest, it’s just the beginning. The real challenge (and opportunity) is turning that first win into a flywheel for future growth. Most small businesses don’t struggle with getting a SLED contract. They struggle with knowing what to do after they get one.

If you’ve already dipped a toe into the federal contracting world, you’re probably familiar with SBA 8a certification, women owned small business certification, and other set-aside programs that flow through federal procurement. But when you shift gears and look at the SLED market, state, local, and education agencies, you’re playing by a different set of rules.

If you're a small business trying to break into government contracting, you’ve likely heard the term SLED—that’s state, local, and education procurement. Compared to the federal space, SLED is a patchwork of thousands of independent agencies, each with their own rules, platforms, and processes. Which means finding the right opportunities can feel like hunting for needles in a haystack… across 50 different fields.

If you’ve been laser-focused on chasing federal contracts but haven’t looked into SLED procurement, you’re leaving serious money on the table. SLED stands for State, Local, and Education, a massive and often-overlooked public sector market that’s rich with opportunity for small and midsize businesses.