Government Relations Consultants

The purpose of a government relation’s consultant is to guide clients through various federal government processes.  This service can be particularly important to small businesses that are trying to sell their products and/or services to the federal government.  Consultants can assist in a number of different ways, depending on the needs of the client.  If you’re a small business that is not yet on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, then a consultant can help you through the often confusing process of getting on the GSA Schedule.  This will ultimately make it much easier for your business to sell its products/services to the government.  Schedule contracts are 5-year contracts, with one five-year option for approved vendors to provide products/services to any Federal agency.  Schedule contracting takes approximately two weeks, whereas regular contracting is a minimum of 268 days.

Benefits of Retaining a Consultant
The federal government provides funding to federal agencies for various projects and initiatives each fiscal year.  It is required that a portion of agency funding goes to contract with small businesses.  In addition, many of the larger contracts require small business participation, which leads to other opportunities to respond to a request for proposal as part of a larger team.  Consultants can assist clients in developing a strategy for achieving their goals and preparing responses to requests for proposals and unsolicited bids.  Consultants can be especially useful in helping a small business learn about government contract opportunities in that company’s area of expertise.  They can also offer suggestions on how to grow the business by teaming with other companies to bid on contracts.

Capabilities of the Consultant
Because they work closely with the government, consultants should be well aware of the current political atmosphere and can offer clients insight on agency activities and potential opportunities.  They will also know where to draw upon additional resources including potential teaming partners or coalitions that may be beneficial for clients to join.  Knowing with whom clients should speak and being able to get meetings with those key officials is one of the main reasons that businesses look to consultants for help and keep the ones who are successful in this regard.  The true value of hiring consultants is the time and energy saved by having someone with the expertise and experience helps you through the government relations process rather than doing it on your own – often by trial and error. 

We are a small business, so we understand the challenges that come from working with the government.  The importance of packaging your products and services to highlight your company’s strengths and enables government contract administrators to see clearly why your company offers them the best option cannot be underestimated.  Alone, this might be the most valuable service that a government relation’s consultant can provide to its clients. 

Conclusion
There are many government relations consultants in our nation’s capital.  The key is to use them effectively to help your business maneuver not only through the process of selling your products/services to the federal government, but also to help develop effective marketing strategies to ensure your company’s long-term viability and return on investment. 

Established in 1994, Capital Concepts is a small, woman-owned firm that specializes in providing government relations, association management and public affairs expertise to its clients.  Located in Washington, DC, Capital Concepts represents a diverse group of clients ranging from one of the world’s largest defense and technology firms to growth-oriented small businesses,  broad-based national coalitions, non-profit organizations and both large and small membership-based trade. The firm can be reached at (202) 223-2630.