Any have any experience here? I'm not talking large projects, mostly small scale stuff (in the <50k range). I've viewed some of the contract listings but it appears they don't post everything, just a general description of the work and it seems its up to the business to contact them with interest. And well, you can't even find out what the nature of the work is until you have a business.

1/22/2011 4:01:57 PM

i know a little about SBIRs but it has been my experience that the solicitations are written in such a way so that only certain predetermined organization would have the know how/capability to respond. often these organizations are not small businesses, just more corporate politics as usual.

1/22/2011 4:42:32 PM

Are you looking at FBO listings? Are you trying to apply for the work as an individual or for a company? All you really need to be able to bid on a lot of the stuff is a DUNS number and the ability to performance bond the cost of your work. Keep in mind that a few of the items come across the FBO website as open bid when in fact they've already decided who they're going to get to do the work, and they are only going through the process as a formality. Most of the work is open bid though, with preferential treatment given to small business with additional disadvantaged status (women owned, veteran owned, service-disabled veteran owned, HUBZONE, etc.)

1/22/2011 5:17:55 PM