ND APEX Accelerator

Federal government contracting solicitations frequently impose page limits on proposals. Failing to strictly abide by those limits may have serious consequences. It is common sense that if a prospective contractor, for example, submits a 50-page technical proposal when the solicitation limits responses to 25 pages, the proposal likely will be excluded from the competition; allowing […]

Written by: Robbie Graham, Government Contracting Advisor Welcome to the world of government contracting! The North Dakota APEX Accelerator, along with our colleagues across the nation, is here to help you succeed in selling your products and services to state, local, and federal agencies. We provide no-cost assistance to help businesses navigate the complex world […]

Under a program called “Veterans First,” service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses can get a powerful leg up in federal government contracting. For SDVOSBs, VOSBs, and potential teammates, understanding the contours and limitations of this powerful program can make a big strategic difference in selling to Uncle Sam. What is Veterans First? Veterans […]

Why sell to the VA? VA is one of the federal government’s largest buyers—especially of health care goods and services, information technology, facilities support, and professional services. The VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) actively champions opportunities for small businesses, including veteran-owned firms. How VA buys Regulations: VA follows the Federal Acquisition […]

Federal law requires that the government as a whole, as well as individual procuring agencies, attempt to meet certain goals for awarding prime contracting and subcontracting dollars to small businesses and certain subcategories of small businesses. Understanding the government’s small business goals can make a company more competitive in the federal government marketplace. What Are […]

RFS, LLC, a construction company specializing in fire suppression, has leveraged the resources of the North Dakota APEX Accelerator to strengthen its position in government contracting, especially in the defense marketplace. The business uses our Bid Match service, enabling the company to receive tailored solicitations aligned with its capabilities. To further build their contracting knowledge, […]

The primary rulebook for U.S. federal government contractors, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, is in the midst of a top-to-bottom overhaul. This process, known as the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, or RFO, is intended to “return the FAR to its statutory roots, rewritten in plain language” to make the rules easier to understand and follow for contractors […]

Navigating the world of federal contracting can be challenging, but the U.S. Small Business Administration has made it easier with the launch of the Small Business Search (SBS), a powerful upgrade to the legacy Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS). What Is the Small Business Search (SBS)? This free, web-based tool connects small businesses with federal […]

Understanding and Effectively Using Product and Service Codes If you are involved in federal government contracting, you’re probably familiar with North American Industry Classification System Codes, better known as NAICS codes. But government buyers also use a lesser-known type of code, called Product and Service Codes, or PSCs. For contractors, understanding PSCs and effectively using […]

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) branch of the Department of Defense also includes the Space Force (USSF). It was officially established as a separate military branch in December 2019. While it operates under the Department of the Air Force, it has distinct missions, priorities, and procurement processes (and has assets in North Dakota!) Before pursuing […]