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.