Apr 11, 2011

Advantage Consulting

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Small Businesses – Update Your DSBS Profile to Make a Match

By Bill Hamilton, Vice President, Advantage Consulting, Inc.

Many businesses ignore the utility of SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS), or submit as little information as possible to this search capability because they are afraid that they are giving out company secrets. 

Contracting Officers and Small Business Specialists are frequently tasked to identify candidate companies for bidders in specific procurements that are narrow in scope or so small the Government does not want the expense of a formal “full and open competition.”  Often, the first place they look is the DSBS where they can search for companies by many factors, including: geographic location, Congressional District, and Government certifications including (8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, Hub Zone, etc. 

The government can search by specific North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and very quickly identify three or more candidates.  The reviewer can then refine the search by analyzing the summaries of work listed in the DSBS entries. In many cases, the review and analysis of the DSBS results in the development of a small number of qualified contractors who can then be contacted and invited to bid.

DSBS is an excellent service; however, the only way that a company can benefit from it is to have a complete and well-thought-out entry. Companies need to make them as appealing and succinctly informative as possible. If you did something, say so! When you select past contracts for your Performance History, choose a reference that knows your company well. Contact the customer and tell them you are listing them and maintain contact with that person.

DSBS is a valuable tool for the small business as well as for the Government. If your company is selected as a possible bidder, the Government Contracting Officer will welcome your support. The more complete information they have, the better the competition will be.

Use this system to help grow your business. A well-developed DSBS entry can serve the same purpose as a well-developed web page or a personal referral. It can position you to be a bidder and possibly win an effort you would have otherwise never seen.

Want to discuss ways to grow business or ways small companies can become big ones?  Contact Bill Hamilton, Vice President,  Advantage Consulting Inc. at bhamilton@acibiz.com or 703-642-5153.