Small Business - Assignment Example

GSA Want You" Grade (Feb.8th, "GSA Want You" The electronic process and the security measures present in this approach The electronic submission process entails reading all the documents carefully, to understand the requirements of the solicitation that an individual is interested in, followed by completing the necessary online documents, through filling in all the necessary information that is required, and in the appropriate format that is requested (GSA, 2014). This step is followed by the submission of the already filled-in documents through the relevant internet agency that the solicitation is being sought, which in most cases is the already completed Standard Form. The necessary security measures have been introduced in the electronic solicitation process, with the electronic submission sites already installed with the eOffer/eMod, which is a security system complete with the advanced and current digital authentication technology, which provides for submission of electronic signatures in all the documents submitted, to ensure that data integrity is protected and the security of the solicitors upheld (GSA, 2014). The next step after submitting the standard form is the submission of a well dated copy of pricelist for the products that the individual seeks to sell to the government. The price list requires being prepared such that each item offered has its own Special Item Number (Warren, 2009). The advantage of this method over the classic paper solicitations is that; it offers a secure process of solicitation, where the integrity and security of the solicitor and the solicitation documents is upheld through the use of the electronic signature system. Additionally, the electronic process offers a simplified process that saves time (GSA, 2014). Whether or not your company has as much of a chance of having its bid accepted There are very high chances that my company has a likelihood of its bid being accepted, more than the other large companies. This is because, the government has established the GSA solicitation opportunities mainly to target small companies and businesses, owing to the fact that small businesses are the backbone of the USA economy (Warren, 2009). In this respect therefore, the government is more likely to offer the bid to a small company, as compared to other large companies that are already running in the market. Secondly, the product my company offers is a crucial innovation that the government must be interested in, considering that it entails the provision of small remote control aircrafts capable of long sustained flights, which are particularly important for the government security systems, since they can be applied towards air surveillance in the crucial government installations. Additionally, the advantage offered by my small company is that; it only focus on a specific area that offers the greatest opportunity for the government, an aspect that would make the company have an upper hand in the solicitation bidding, as opposed to the large companies which have various diversified business interests, making them inappropriate for a government contract that is such sensitive as the supply of security surveillance aircrafts. With the above advantages that are not existent in the competing large companies, there is a high likelihood that my company will get the bid. Speculate on how you would negotiate during the contract award process once your solicitation is accepted I would negotiate on the basis of providing the government with a unique product that is of a high security value, since the provision of remote controlled small aircrafts will serve the government well, in ensuring that it is capable of assessing the security situation in its major installations, while also being able to control the nature of the surveillance sought. The negotiation will be based on the fact that; the innovative product offered by my company is far more advantageous than many other security system products, considering that a small remote controlled aircraft that is capable of long sustained flights, offers a greater advantage compared to security cameras, since security cameras are static, while the aircraft can be directed in accordance with the surveillance interest. Therefore, flexibility of the product in achieving the security results will be a major premise for negotiating a good deal for the aircraft product. Secondly, specialization will be the other basis of negotiating with the government for a better deal, since my company will seek to produce the small remote controlled aircrafts for the government only. Since the government would not like competition in such a sensitive issue of national importance, the government will be ready to go with the specialization aspect of producing the aircrafts for the government only, while giving my company a good deal. All the above premises will be applied as the basis for negotiating better prices for the small aircrafts. Determine the value of your most favored customer or class of customers to GSA. Analyze its impact on your small business. The most favored customers to GSA for my company’s product will be the department of homeland security and the department of defense. The value associated with these two classes of customers is high, considering that they are the departments that are responsible for ensuring national security, thus they operate in a field that is highly sensitive and of great value to the nation. The two favored classes of customers will have a great impact on my small business, since they are in a position to steer the company to a major competitive security products company in the country. This is because, the security requirements of the country are vast, and the major installations, facilities and points of interests that require surveillance are numerous, meaning that the two categories of customers are able to make huge orders for the products that my company is producing. This would mean that securing a contract with the two customers will provide ample business for the company to grow, since the company will be required to have a high production capacity, which means that it will have to expand in the long run. Therefore, these customers offer a great opportunity for the company to grow from a small business to a major security products firm in the country, which can manage to compete with other large firms. This forms the basis of selection of the two categories of customers, as the favorable and most valued customers for the business. Compare and contrast the advantages of being a small company over being a lager firm (e.g., Boeing) in terms of contract administration and management. There are various advantages offered by small business in terms of contract administration and management, compared to the larger firms. First, there is little bureaucracy involved in the contract administration and management of contracts (Lieberman, 1997). This means that it is easier for the small business to acquire a contract, because it only requires the preparation and approval of the contract document from a few people, and most of the times from the owner of the small business. In contrast, large firms engage in a long list of bureaucratic procedures before they finalize their contracts and have them approved, since the approval has to go through various levels of the organizational management, effectively making the process more complicated. Secondly, the decision-making aspect of a small business is easier, since there are few considerations to make. In this respect, it is quicker for a small business to acquire and effectively manage a contract, since flexibility is a major advantage that can allow the small business to quickly adjust to the requirements of the contractors. On the contrary, larger firms have less of flexibility in issues of management and administration, making it difficult for such firms to adjust to the requirements of the contractors, should an important aspect of the contract that needs to be changed quickly arise (Lieberman, 1997). Another major advantage of small businesses in relation to the administration and management of contracts is that; some aspects of contracts requires that an organization should train its employees on the modalities of accomplishing the contract, to avoid situations where the contract is poorly implemented (Lieberman, 1997). In this respect, it is easier for a small business to coordinate its training for employees, since they are few, as opposed to the training of the large organization’s employees, which will be a difficult task to coordinate and accomplish, while also requiring that more resources should be utilized towards this course. Finally, the financial aspect of contract administration and management for a small company is better compared to that of a large organization, considering that the administrative expenses required for a large organization to manage a contract are higher, while the same for a small company are lower (Lieberman, 1997). This means that at the end, the small business company will benefit from high returns from the contract, since their expenses on the contract are less. Assess the different marketing methods used to market to the federal government. Select three (3) most effective methods you would use to market your product or service to the U.S. government. Provide a rationale for your selection. FedBizOpps (FBO) This method also referred to as the Federal Business Opportunities, offers a better opportunity for marketing to the government, considering that it is a major point of entry to achieving the government contracts. The great advantage offered by this method is that, it is a free entry method, which does not require any registration or password to enter, yet it is a home to many procurement contracts that various government agencies seek (GSA, 2014). Therefore, the choice of this method as one of the methods for marketing the business to the government is based on its simplicity and high access to contracts. Federal Acquisition Jump Station This is another viable method for a business to market itself to the government, since it is one of the more simplified methods, where the government agencies that need of businesses to meet their contracts are well classified on the agency basis, making it easier for a business to easily locate the agency it seeks to serve, under the category of the products it offers (Warren, 2009). Further, this method provides information regarding the upcoming procurements contracts, thus preparing a business in advance, to bid when the procurement is open. Commercial Business Daily (CBD) This method offers information in relation to the past procurements that have been made and the prospective expiry dates, making it possible for a business to market itself to such agencies that seeks new contracts after the expiry dates are reached (GSA, 2014). This way, the Commercial Business Daily (CBD) method affords a business the opportunity to prepare in advance to apply for the upcoming contracts, while preparing the necessary requirements. This makes it easier for the business to win the next contract, since it will have met all the requirements through advance preparation. References General Service Administration. (2014). How to Sell to the Government. Retrieved February 8, 2014 from http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/105344 Lieberman, R. D. (1997). Elements of contract administration: Practical advice on performing government contracts. Washington, DC: George Washington University. Warren, C. (June 29, 2009). How to Sell to the Federal Government. MoneyWatch. Retrieved February 8, 2014 from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-sell-to-the-federal-government/ Read More