Sub-contract on a prime's federal deal → CPARS rating → qualifies you to prime your own contracts.
The past-performance chicken-and-egg: agencies won't award you a prime contract without federal past performance, but you can't get past performance without a prime contract. Solve: subcontract to an established prime on a federal contract. Once completed, request a CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment) rating from the prime. Those ratings count as YOUR past performance when you later bid as prime. 2–3 successful subs → prime-ready. Also builds relationships with agency contracting officers.
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Socially/economically disadvantaged owners get 9 years of set-aside contracts + sole-source awards up to $4.5M.
Business in a designated HUBZone + 35% of workforce living in HUBZone = federal set-aside + 10% price preference.
Service-disabled veteran (or veteran) owners get federal set-asides + sole-source + VA 3% procurement goal.
Women-owned businesses (economically disadvantaged track) unlock federal set-asides + sole-source awards.
Get on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule — pre-approved to sell to any federal agency without re-competing.
Register on SAM.gov (free) and sell up to $10K per federal purchase order with zero bidding.
Partner with a large prime contractor via SBA-approved JV — bid on set-aside contracts using their past performance.
Non-dilutive federal R&D grants: $50–275K Phase I → $750K–$2M Phase II → unlimited Phase III sole-source.