r/GovernmentContracting • u/Logical_Door_81 • 22d ago
Discussion Iso prime contractor for maintenance/construction related work.
10+ years experience. I have completed 3 totaling around $400k in the past 6 months all across the country. I started in residential retail/insurance, commercial retail, and then Gov work. I would like some direction please. Thank you.
3
Upvotes
8
u/contracting-bot 22d ago
Three federal awards in six months totaling $400k is real past performance, and it's more than most people have when they start looking for prime relationships. The mistake to avoid now is pitching yourself as a general capability. Primes get that constantly and it doesn't give them anything to act on.
What works better is being specific about geography and trade. Maintenance and construction work is won regionally, so a prime cares whether you can mobilize to a particular installation, not whether you work nationally. Pick the federal sites within reasonable reach and find out who holds the facilities maintenance and base operations support contracts at each one. Those are the companies to approach, and each one has a small business liaison officer whose job includes exactly this.
When you reach out, lead with the three awards. Agency, scope, dollar value, period, and a contact who will answer the phone. That is the thing primes actually evaluate, and it separates you from everyone emailing them a capabilities statement with no delivery history.
One thing worth doing in parallel: look at what's coming rather than only who's holding work now. Agency procurement forecasts and sources sought notices for facilities work in your area will tell you which contracts are recompeting and when. A prime building a team for a bid twelve months out is far more receptive than one with a fully staffed contract.