Many smaller and newer companies rely on delegation to assist the big established contractors on their huge jobs. The established contractor, also known as a Prime Contractor, is the main proprietor of the contract while the smaller company helping them on a part of the whole is called a ‘Subcontractor’.
The ‘Prime’ Contractor might benefit the most from the arrangement but if you do a good job, you likely will have made a quality connection for future work and a higher chance to get hired as a Prime in the future.
Subcontractors sometimes choose to stay the same even as a mid-sized established business because the responsibility for the project ultimately is up to the Prime and consequences for not performing the task because of Subcontractors still fall to the Prime Contractor.
SUBCONTRACTORS often join bigger established contractors (prime contractors) and their teams to provide a solution to facet of an existing large contract. It much easier to start in the industry as a sub (subcontractor) than to apply for RFPs of government jobs with no history of success.
Subcontracting is an excellent way to enter this lucrative crucible & gain invaluable industry-specific reputation which the government loves to see. Subs are also great for prime contractors because they definitely need the help in certain areas & rely on it!
SubNet – free .gov hub for B2B and mini job contracts with ability to post your own opportunities for other subcontractors. Definitely recommended to utilize and post upcoming and ongoing jobs.
GSA Subcontracting Directory of Small Business – .gov database of major contractors (prime or otherwise) who have received federal contracts for goods & services (other than construction) valued at $700K+ and for construction valued at $1.5M+.
BidSync -.gov portal with FREE access to government bids from over a thousand public agencies.
FedBizOps – .gov search engine update daily that has posted all RFPs valued $25K+. Also called FBO for shorthand. Must use for the latest information on official contract opportunities.
Bonus fact: All .gov websites are owned by the government and not private entities.
United States internet users only. VPNs may cause sites to not work, ours do not.