Brooklyn's Progress
March 2004

By Mack Tham

If you are a Brooklyn-based manufacturing or construction company, have you considered government contracts?  Let's demystify the notion that “only insiders win” in government contracting.

Government contracts can be your new source of customers.  It is a very good way to diversify your market base.  Very often, the government markets are counter-cyclic to private markets.  The sources of these governmental contracts are the local mayoral, local independent, and regional independent agencies.  There are also the state and federal contracts.  The types of contracts range from goods (parts, equipment and supplies), services (business and technical) to construction (products and services).

To supply goods and services to the government, your first step is to register and be certified.  Before you consider becoming certified as a Minority & Women Owned Business (MWBE) and/or Locally Based Enterprise (LBE), you want to ask yourself these questions:

• Does the Government buy what I sell?
• Will I be competitive?
• Is it feasible for my firm to pursue the government market process?
• Can I supply, stock and service the goods governmental agencies buy?
• For construction companies (LBEs):  Are you a prime or sub contractor?

So you still think you want to do business with the city, state or federal government?  Learning about how the government procurement process works and how to navigate it can be daunting.  The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce can assist you in your certification process.  Please contact Fred Graves at (718) 875-1000 ext. 114 for MWBE and Mack Tham at ext. 142 for LBE (small construction and construction-related firms).