How Architects can Land a Government Contract

Posted by editor on February 27th, 2009

Architectural Record recently posted a great article for any architects or architecture firms looking to break into the lucrative government contracting sphere.  As the private sector economy continues to slow down, more and more businesses - especially those in the architecture, engineering and construction industries - are turning to the government in hopes of landing contracts stemming from the economic stimulus (for more on this topic, see our Succeed in an Economic Crisis section).

How Architects Can Land a Government Contract features a variety of best practices for breaking into the contracting world.  Long-time Government Contracting Best Practices readers will recognize strategies such as partnering and teaming and using Procurement Technical Assistance Centers to get a foot in the door.  The article also includes practical real-world advice from contracting experts including Gerald Hines, chair of the Public Architects Committee for the American Institute of Architects; Anthony Bell, chief of small business programs at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Carl Roeling, president and CEO of SmithGroup.

I recommend this article to any architect who wants a beginner or refresher course on government contracting.

To read the full article, click here.

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Federal Government Contracts

Jovita Lucas said,

March 1, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

Hi
I’m just a mom who wants to learn how to write goverment contracts, for a second job. I just want to know is there a team here that can guide me to be the best that I can be.
My former occupation is a correction officer, my goal is to write contracts and retire happy.
Please point me in the right direction.
Thank You

editor said,

March 2, 2009 @ 11:12 am

Hi Jovita,

There are dozens of articles in our RFP and Proposal Writing section, at http://gov.onvia.com/category/rfp-and-proposal-writing/, that should help you hone your proposal writing skills. You should also check out our “Write a Winning Government Proposal” whitepaper at http://gw.vtrenz.net/?IHRKAX55BM. Once you’ve sharpened your skills, look in your local newspaper and on sites such as http://www.craigslist.org to find job openings for proposal writing in your area. You might also try contacting government buyers or vendors that you encountered during your time as a corrections officer - networking is a great way to hear about job opportunities. Best of luck!

Russ Lowery said,

March 11, 2009 @ 6:52 am

Hello,
I work for a company called Quality Systems, Inc. We manufacture a product called PermaCrete which is an architectural and Structural concrete finish system. My position is Architectural Liaison and my primary job function is to contact Architects, tell them about our product and have them specify it on their projects. I am aware that there will be a lot of stimulus money available to the government agencies so my question is: What is a good resource to find Architects that are seeking these government projects? Our market areas are highways, bridges, pedestrian walkways, airports, etc..
Thanks

editor said,

March 11, 2009 @ 12:35 pm

Great question, Russ. There are several best practices around finding prime contractors for government contracts. One of the best ways to find prime contractors is to research government award data to find which contractors have won similar contracts in the past. For more on this topic, read Resources to Help You Identify Government Project Primes and Using Award Data, Bidders Lists and Planholders Lists: Tips for Subcontractors. Another way to get specified on projects is to go directly to the government agency - convince the people writing the RFP of the value of your product and you can be specified in the RFP. Read Building Government Contacts and Bidding on Government Contracts for more on finding the right people to talk to. I’ll let one of our Contracting Experts know to email you to discuss in greater detail how you can use government research to win more business.

Robin Mattson said,

September 22, 2009 @ 10:16 am

Hello,
We are a small custom fabrication business in Tampa, Fl. We would like to know how we can get our name in the hat for small custom projects in aluminum or stainless steel.
We would like to work within the state of Florida and in particular, surrounding counties of the Tampa Bay area.
Any insight you could provide would be helpful.
Thanks

editor said,

October 23, 2009 @ 12:39 pm

Hi Robin, an Onvia Contracting Expert will be in touch with you.

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