This "boring" government website generates an average of $3.2 million in annual revenue for more than 56,000 small businesses — yet only 0.15% of the 36 million small businesses registered in the US ever win a federal prime contract. Instead of waiting for an RFP, I walk through a real, live sources sought notice step by step — an actual Air Force requirement — and show you how to write a response that can shape the solicitation in your favor. You'll see how SDVOSB set-asides, GSA MAS recommendations, NAICS size standards, and strategic requirement suggestions can legally eliminate your competition before the solicitation ever drops.0:00 This Boring Website Makes Small Businesses $3.2M a Year0:25 How Companies Use SAM Dot Gov to Generate Revenue0:57 Why Only 0.15% of Small Businesses Win Federal Contracts1:59 Registering Your Business in the SAM Database2:15 The #1 Mistake: Starting With the RFP2:30 The Sources Sought Strategy Explained2:54 Live Demo: How to Find Sources Sought Notices3:30 3,740 Open Sources Sought Right Now3:37 Real Example: Air Force Golf Cart Contract3:54 Sources Sought vs. Proposal (Why It's Easier to Write)4:21 The Language That Scares Companies5:15 Inside the GovClose Community6:22 Reading the Notice: Randolph AFB / Joint Base San Antonio6:46 The Contracting Officer on the Other Side7:19 SDVOSB Set-Asides: Your Unfair Advantage7:58 NAICS Codes & Small Business Size Standards Explained9:09 Filling Out the Questionnaire (What Most People Miss)9:58 Salient Characteristics: Meeting the Specs10:22 How to Shape Requirements & Eliminate Competitors11:37 Requesting a Set-Aside (and the Rule of Two)12:12 Recommending GSA MAS as the Contract Vehicle13:00 What to Do If You DON'T Have a GSA Schedule13:39 Highlighting Differentiators the Government Might Adopt14:42 How Requirements End Up in Solicitations15:02 Why Sources Sought Beat Waiting for the RFP15:50 Tell Us Your Industry (Comment Below)16:15 Learning to Sell to the Government––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––RESOURCES MENTIONED––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––GovClose Program Overview (free 20-minute training): https://www.govclose.com––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––ABOUT RICK HOWARD––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Rick Howard is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former DoD acquisitions officer who managed over $82 billion in federal contracts. He is the founder of GovClose and the DoD Contract Academy, with 400+ graduates working as government contract consultants, federal account executives, and business owners winning federal contracts.Rick Howard expresses his opinions as a former government contracting officer and presents public data on government contracts that he analyzes. GovClose makes no guarantees whatsoever about federal spending data or government contracts.

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certificationOur students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.2. Land high paying sales executive jobs with companies in the public sector.3. Increase government contracting revenue for companies selling to the US government.Government contracting data changes constantly, and we make no claims of perfection when presenting data. All data can be looked at from different angles, and it is up to the viewer to do their own research, their own data analysis, and decide if government contracting is for them.Disclaimer: This video reflects Rick Howard's personal opinions and independent analysis of publicly available government data. It does not represent an official position, endorsement, or statement of the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense.