FAQ

We take great pride in the strong, collaborative partnership between the Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the Florida APEX Accelerator. Our Florida SBDC and Florida APEX teams often share office spaces and work closely together, offering an added benefit to our clients. This close-knit relationship enables our teams to collaborate effectively in meeting the diverse needs of our clients. While Florida APEX is focused on supporting businesses capable of contributing to America’s resilient and dynamic defense and industrial base, Florida SBDC serves a wide range of businesses, allowing us to build Florida’s vibrant economy together.

No. Thanks to funding made possible by the Department of Defense, state and local partners our services are offered at no cost to businesses.

Yes. The Florida APEX Accelerator provides consulting services to Florida-based businesses interested in government contracting opportunities at the federal, state and local level. Check your readiness for government contracting on our “Get Started” page.

If your business is located out of Florida, please find your nearest APEX Accelerator at

https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/service-area-locator

The Florida APEX Accelerator plays an important role in the state. The U.S. government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, and every year contracts are available to businesses at the local, state and federal levels.

In 2023, the Florida APEX served 2,209 new clients, resulting in 4,428 jobs supported and helping Florida businesses secure $461,107,360 million in government contracts. View our results page for the Florida APEX Accelerator’s full impact on our state’s economy.

The federal government procures goods and services from businesses of all sizes across the nation, spanning various sectors from professional services to commodities. Explore opportunities aligned with your interests to discover which companies were awarded the latest contracts. Go to www.usaspending.gov or https://sam.gov/content/home for recent awards.

You can find out which local businesses in your industry have registered to be able to sell to the government at the System for Award Management (SAM) website. https://www.sam.gov

• Get a Unique Entity ID number
• Find your NAICS codes and Product Service Codes
• Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)
  • Make sure the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) is complete.
• Work with a Procurement Specialist
• Search bids
• Go after opportunities
• Seek sub-contracting or partnering opportunities
• Build relationships
• Attend training classes and networking opportunities

Remember:

• Beginning with a smaller contract, even if it is not your ideal size, is recommended as it helps establish a track record of successful performance. 
• Take attainable steps. If your current sales are at $50,000, avoid committing to a $300,000 contract unless you are partnering with others or have prior experience at that scale. 
• Do not stretch yourself too thin. Overextending yourself carries risks, including past performance records and depleting financial resources.
• To find more government contracting resources visit: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/how-win-contracts 

If you have questions about your readiness for government contracting, we encourage you to review our Checklist.

To find more government contracting resources, visit https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/how-win-contracts

• Be proactive by understanding whether your offerings are subject to public bidding and when the next bidding cycle is anticipated.
• Familiarize yourself with your competitors and the requirements of the agency.
• Understand the bidding process. If the scope is limited (for instance, to a specific manufacturer), inform the contracting officer about the value of competitive products with established track records. If they insist on maintaining the same scope, explore opportunities to establish new partnerships before the bid release.

When engaging with potential referral sources, ensure they have a clear understanding of your business offerings and target audience; avoid assuming prior knowledge.

• Work with the person you are talking with to determine if you offer a product or service that aligns with their purchasing criteria. Keep in mind there are often publicly bid contracts for recurring purchases.
• If you have contracts with other agencies, remember to bring copies for reference. Share a list of satisfied customers or completed projects to demonstrate your track record of success.
• Understand the agency’s protocol for reaching decision-makers and present your information in a concise format that highlights your capabilities effectively.

• Always request a debriefing.
  • Ask who won the contract.
  • Ask how you can improve for the next opportunity.
  • Ask what future opportunities will be available.
• If you believe there are potential opportunities for small purchases within that agency that your company can fulfill and your initial contact shows limited interest, consider if directly calling purchasing/departments would be appropriate. You can often find these contacts by searching their website or calling the general number on their website.
• Build relationships and be sure to support their goals, not pressure sales.
• Review your marketing plan.

Available opportunities at the Florida APEX Accelerator will be listed here when available.

https://careersmanager.pageuppeople.com/997/cw/en-us/listing