Finding Subcontracting opportunities:
- SBA’s SubNet directory – primes post opportunities for interested subcontractors
- SBA’s Directory of Federal Government Primes with Subcontracting Plans
- GSA’ s Subcontracting Directory – large businesses awarded federal contracts over $700,00 ( $1.5 M for construction).
- DoD’s Prime Contractor Directory – company names, contract numbers, periods of performance, NAICS codes & points-of-contact
- USASpending.gov – identify prime contractors that are awarding subcontracts in your local area.
Remember that in your proposal to a large business, you must self-certify that you are a small business for the specific NAICS code listed in the solicitation – so that your subcontract can count toward the prime’s small business subcontracting goals.
Limitations on subcontracting:
If a contract valued at over $150,000 is set-aside for award to a certain small business category ( 8a; woman-owned; veteran-owned etc) that small business must perform a certain minimum level of the work – generally 50% of the personnel cost for a service contract; 15% for general construction; and 25% for specialty trades. More details can be found at the SBA website
Subcontracting rules and regulations:
The rules and regulations that govern the subcontracting program are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and individual agency supplements.