How to Do Business with NASA
1. Identify Your Product or Service
- Know the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes (http://www.census.gov/naics/) for your products or services.
- Prepare a capability brief in both printed and electronic versions with an emphasis on Government work.
2. Register Your Business
- Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (https://www.dandb.com/product/companyupdate/companyupdateLogin?execution=e1s1).
- Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) (http://www.sam.gov).
- Register with the NASA Vendor Data Base (NVDB) (https://osbp.nasa.gov/vendor_database.html).
3. Identify Your Target Market Within NASA
- Identify what each NASA Center (http://osbp.nasa.gov/about-centers.html) procures by reviewing its top NAICS code and the NASA Acquisition Forecast (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/forecast/).
- Review the NASA website (http://www.nasa.gov) and industry publications such as Space News, Aviation Weekly, and Physics Today.
- Contact the Small Business Specialists (SBSs) (http://osbp.nasa.gov/map.html) located at each NASA Center for assistance on how to do business with that particular NASA Center.
4. Identify Current NASA Procurement Opportunities
- Identify current procurement opportunities in your product or service area by checking the Contracting Opportunities website (https://beta.sam.gov/), which can assist you in identifying NASA requirements and send you e-mail notifications of released requirements.
5. Familiarize Yourself with NASA Contracting Procedures
- Be familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) (https://www.acquisition.gov) and the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf).
6. Investigate Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contracts
- Contact the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) (http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100611) for information on how to obtain a Federal Supply Schedule contract. Many NASA purchases are, in fact, orders on FSS contracts.
7. Seek Additional Assistance as Needed
- Request training and counseling on marketing, financial, and contracting issues at minimal or no cost from Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) (https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/). PTACs are located in most states and are partially funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to provide small business concerns with information on how to do business with DOD and other Government agencies.
- Consult with the SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) (http://www.sba.gov/content/procurement-center-representatives) and the SBA Business Development Centers (https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/sbdc). The SBA provides each NASA Center with a liaison.
- Get free and confidential mentoring by former CEOs through SCORE (http://www.score.org ).
8. Explore Subcontracting Opportunities
- Obtain information on subcontracting opportunities through the SBA’s SUB-Net (http://web.sba.gov/subnet/).
9. Investigate NASA Small Business Programs
- Explore other small business programs, such as the NASA Mentor-Protégé Program (http://osbp.nasa.gov/mpp/index.html), the Small Business Innovation Research Program (http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/), and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions Program. Information on these and other programs is available on the NASA Office of Small Business Programs website (http://osbp.nasa.gov).
10. Market Your Firm Well
- After you have identified your customers, researched their requirements, and familiarized yourself with NASA procurement regulations and strategies, it is time to market your product or service. Present your capabilities directly to the NASA Centers that buy your products or services. Realize that, as with yours, their time is valuable. If the match is a good one, you can provide them with a cost-effective, quality solution to their requirements. Good luck!
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