`Doing business with Government agencies is quite different as compared to Commercial companies. When a commercial company looks to buy an item, the buyer is very familiar with the item being bought and knows exactly what type of process is used in making the particular item.

On the other hand, when the government buys, it knows the item it needs, but it does not know the process or type of company that makes the item. The buyer is merely given a requirement and the technical data package and puts them out for bidding. Therefore, when the government is looking for a supplier, it thinks in terms of the item and looks for companies that have indicated that they can produce that item.

You must keep in mind the following points while bidding for Government projects:

Identify Your Customers:
One way to locate potential government customers is through the internet. FedBizOpps.com (Federal Business Opportunities)

Get Registered:
Before you can start bidding on contracts, the government needs to know who you are and what you do. To do this, you must register your company with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov, the primary database of government vendors and suppliers. The CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of federal projects and missions.

Find Bid Leads:
The government is required by law to inform all potential contractors of what they're looking for, but are you listening? There are a number of outlets for this information, and one is best way to find bid leads is through FedBizOpps (http://www.fedbizopps.gov),

Get the Bid Package:
Once you have found a bid that you are interested in, the next step is to get the bid package (solicitation package). To get the package, you can do one of the following: • Contact the buyer and request the bid package. The buyer's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address are listed on the bid notice. • Locate the web page address in the bid notice and download the bid package off the Internet.

Review the Bid:
When you submit your bid, all you have to do is fill in some of the blanks on the forms contained in the package and send the package back to the government. But here's the catch: Even though the government itself generated and provided the package, when you send it back to the government, it becomes your offer, and the government will look at it as if you had put the entire package together yourself and as if they had never seen it before.

Get Technical Data:
To successfully complete your bid, you'll need to do some research. The local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can provide you with the specs you need and, in most cases, will either charge only a small fee or provide them for free.

Price It Out:
In a competitive bidding process, price is the determining factor. And if your bid is accepted, it will literally make or break your company, so know what factors to consider. Here are some things to consider in determining your price: • Consider Pricing History. • Cost Out All Special Requirements. • Think Carefully about Quality Requirements. • Factor in Bidding Costs. • Don't Forget Overhead and Profit.

Write Your Proposal:
This is a formal procedure that must be completed exactly. There are two situations that you should be prepared for: Writing a proposal when the solicitation is an Invitation for Bid. Writing a proposal when the solicitation is a negotiated bid, such as a request for Proposal..

Submit Your Bid:
The final step is to submit your bid after you have filled in all your details. Be careful not to miss on to any category.