Subcontracting and Other Partnerships

There are multiple ways to partner with other contractors to maximize your chances of selling to GSA. GSA’s OSDBU provides guidance on the process of forming a partnership but does not provide direct oversight.

• Subcontracting
• Joint Venture
• Contractor Team Arrangement

Subcontracting

Subcontracting allows businesses to participate in Federal procurements by working for prime contractor(s). Use GSA’s Subcontracting Directory (below) and GSA eLibrary to find potential prime contractors.  Use Small Business Administration’s Subcontracting Network (SubNet) to search and view posted subcontracting opportunities.  

GSA’s Subcontracting Directory

Federal contracts awarded to OTSBs, over a certain dollar threshold, must contain a small business subcontracting plan. In this plan, which follows the requirements of FAR 52.219-9, the prime contractor sets goals for what it plans to subcontract to small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Subcontracting reports are required for contracts with subcontracting plans.

GSA’s Subcontracting Directory lists GSA’s OTSB prime contractors who have been awarded contracts requiring small business subcontracting plans and that have submitted subcontracting reports in the past fiscal year.

Tips:

• Narrow the list by typing in the “filtered results” box
  • Search by NAICS code or keyword to narrow the list by industry category
  • Search by city or state acronym to narrow the list by contractor location
• Sort by clicking the arrows on the column header
• Search the Unique Entity Identification (UEI) or contractor name in FPDS.gov, USAspending.gov, and/or GSA eLibrary (as applicable) to see the contractor’s list of prime contracts

If you need more information about the directory, reach out to your local OSDBU Small Business Technical Advisor.