FAQs

At class, will I be able to address specific issues I have about my own company?
Absolutely. The Instructors are always in the room, and available to answer any questions you might have. You will also have the opportunity to meet with a B2G Instructor in private outside of the classroom. Bring any paperwork or marketing materials with you on the weekend of the Mastery Program to show the Instructor and discuss.

Who are the Instructors?
Each Mastery Program will have different Instructors, who rotate on their selection for the different locations. Our Instructors are all actual Consultants in the Business-to-Government arena, ranging from 10 to 40 years of experience. Many are CEOs of their respective consulting companies. One of our Instructors was formerly with the U.S. Department of Navy, after which he worked with IBM to negotiate NASA projects with the government. They are all very successful in the government arena and were chosen because of their ability to teach the material and their history of success. Their bios are on the www.B2Ginstitute.com Web site.

What sort of things will I learn that can actually grow my business with the government?
You will learn a 14-Step system we created for performing and executing specific skills that will enable you to consistently participate in the opportunity. The first seven steps are fully accomplished by the time you leave class, and the remaining seven that we execute in the classroom with hands-on exercises are repetitive each time you want to submit a proposal.

How do we know if our company has a product or service the government needs?
The government buys everything, from soup to nuts. Enter those into FedBizOpps, and you’ll see soup and nuts actually come up for bid! They buy dogs, pictures for office walls, and every service that could possibly be thought of. On day one of class, you will do a SWOT analysis. That is, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This helps the Instructor and you position yourself properly, seek your opportunity with the correct agency, work on eliminating weaknesses, and get a better fit for your product or service. In effect, it finds the right road map.

Is this class just about getting a GSA schedule?
No. This class will teach you how to go about getting a schedule, but if you already have one, it will teach you how to maximize and use it to your best benefit.

What is a NAICS code, and do I need it?
We used to have SIC codes. Now NAICS (North American Industrial Classifications) has taken its place, simply adding Canada and Mexico. The code is very specific, usually six digits, that is given to a company as a designation for its product. Having one is very important, because it can be entered into a site like FedBizOpps to reduce the number of proposals displayed to only those that are specifically in your product line. Your NAICS is used all the time to dial in opportunities, and also to allow those searching for you to find you with a classification system.

I am a one-person (or two-person) small business. Will this training give me everything I need to get contracts on my own?
Yes. The process is the same whether you are a one-person company or a 100-person company. You still have to learn the process. If you truly would like a piece of the pie that is being offered to you, you can do it by going through the training we offer.

How do I know if I am qualified for a minority or small-business designation? How does it help me?
The various requirements for each designation are too numerous to answer here, but the Mastery Program will deal with this in a very specific manner. Almost, if not all, businesses in the class will qualify for one of the possible designations, and they will all learn how to maximize it. The government has a goal of awarding 39 percent of its dollars to those designations. The designations therefore have an “edge” in their bidding, an advantage that can sometimes mean 10 percent in added entitlements to their bid, or the ability to go to the front of the line! Also, having a specific designation, once again, allows a company searching for opportunities to have another factor specific that minimizes time and effort.

I already have my minority designation, but I am still not getting anywhere. Will this class help me?
As a matter of fact, this class is specifically for you! This class will assist you in maximizing the designation, acquiring the entitlements that may be associated with your specific designation, and acquiring some contracts. You need some very specific training and knowledge to properly maximize the designation, and this class will train you to do this. Also, you will have an opportunity to have some one-on-one time with the Instructors, who would be more than willing to steer you in the right direction!

I am a Caucasian male who cannot acquire any minority designation. What can I do to gain an advantage?
To the federal government you are considered a small business. Twenty percent of all contracts are aimed at small businesses, and are small enough denominations that will fit the amount you may be capable of acquiring.

I am a little confused. What’s the difference between an RFP and IFB?
An RFP is a Request for Proposal. An IFB is an Invitation for Bid. There is a big difference between the two because an RFP requires a lot of specifications and writing; much more information is required than with an IFB. With an IFB, you will be required to fill in the blanks. In addition an IFB is awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, while with an RFP the award goes to the bidder with the best value to the government.

I am already working with an RFP (Request for Proposal) Consultant. Do I still need this class?
It would certainly be a huge advantage! It’s much better to own the information and know it for yourself. Otherwise, you may depend on a Consultant who gets ill, retires, doesn’t consider you his most lucrative client, or is so busy you don’t get the time of day! This information is presented in a concise and easy-to-understand informational format that you can learn in three days and then depend only on yourself!

What is CCR.gov?
CCR (Central Contractors Registration) is just a place to register your company’s name, should you ever do business with the government. It does not bring you business. Half of all registrants never do any business with the government in their entire business careers. It is a beginning point to opening up the possibility of a future relationship with the U.S. government.

Everyone mentions the "Prompt Pay Act." So why does it take me 45 days to get paid?
In order to qualify under the act, there are five things you must do correctly to get paid in a timely fashion. Unless you do these, the payments can take as long as six months or more! The class will deal with these five things. Also, you must be aware of agency issues, such as FEMA, that work on Plus-Ups, these always involve slow pay issues. Learning the valuable lesson of what to seek will be something we will tackle in class!