FedBiz'5

New Administration, New Challenges: How to Stay Ahead in Government Contracting

• Fedbiz Access • Season 4 • Episode 61

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In this episode of the FedBiz'5 podcast, host Bobby Testa sat down with senior government contracting specialist Frank Krebs to discuss the changing landscape of government contracting under the new Trump administration. With small businesses wondering what 2025 holds, Frank provided key insights and strategies to stay competitive.

What Small Businesses Should Expect

With the administration’s first 100 days underway, many agencies like the Department of Education and the EPA are facing potential budget cuts, creating uncertainty. However, Frank emphasized not to panic—billions in government contracts will still be available, particularly in stable sectors like the Department of Defense and Homeland Security.

Additionally, businesses should anticipate a slowdown in new government contract awards as agencies reassess budgets and priorities. While this may seem like a setback, it also presents an opportunity to refine strategies and establish stronger relationships with contracting officers.

Key Strategies for Success

  1. Reassess Your Position – Review your SAM.gov and DSBS profiles to ensure accuracy and relevance. Make sure they align with your current business goals and capabilities.
  2. Update Your Capability Statement – Your capability statement is often the first impression contracting officers get of your business. Ensure your NAICS codes, past performance, and contact details are up to date.
  3. Increase Government Marketing – Now is the time to reach out to contracting officers before they get overwhelmed. Building relationships now will keep you top-of-mind when contracts become available.

Why Market Now?

Although new contract awards may be slow, contracting officers are preparing for an influx of work. They are currently reviewing potential vendors, making this the perfect time to establish connections. By reaching out now, sending capability statements, and scheduling briefings, businesses can position themselves ahead of the competition.

Another key factor is the expected reduction in available contracting officers due to hiring freezes and potential agency restructuring. When contracts begin flowing again, many officers will be handling the workload of multiple people. If your business has already established a relationship with them, you’re far more likely to be on their radar when they need vendors quickly.

Final Thoughts

Frank advises small businesses to stay informed through the FedBiz Access website and continue positioning themselves for upcoming opportunities. Being proactive, staying compliant, and refining marketing efforts now will put businesses in a prime position for future government contracts.

If you haven’t already, start optimizing your government contracting strategy today. Need help navigating government contracting? Schedule a free consultation with a FedBiz Specialist today! Call 888-299-4498 or visit FedBizAccess.com.

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Intro - My name is Bobby, and I work with small businesses in the Government Marketplace. You're listening to FedBiz Five. Get informed, get connected and get results on everything government contracting.

Bobby - We are back with another episode of FedBiz Five. I'm your host, Bobby Testa, bringing you the latest insights into the ever evolving world of government contracting. Today's episode is a topic that everyone government contracting is discussing. What are the expectations for small businesses in 2025 under the new administration? To help shed some light on the topic, we have our senior government contracting specialist Frank Krebs, back with us. Glad to have you back with the FedBiz Five. Frank.

Frank -  Hey, always enjoyed being on FedBiz Five, Bobby, and you are right. Today's topic is certainly one that everyone in industry is discussing. 

Bobby - Well, you are the man with all the up to date insights. So let's jump right in now. First, I've got to ask, what should our small business listeners be doing as we are now, three weeks into the 2025 Trump administration. 

Frank- All right, Bobby first, let me just say, do not panic. I've heard from a number of small business clients that they feel like the small business market is going to dry up. Well, we all know that's not going to happen. There will be changed, however, that's for sure, but there will still be billions spent annually by the federal government on a multitude of contracts, not to mention all the state, county and local government contracts that will be available. Now we're in what each President refers to as their first 100 days where they attempt to set the tone for their presidency. It's been my experience over my 40 years in the industry that the only thing you can count on during this time is a slowdown in new government contracts being awarded. Agencies such as Department of Education, State Department HHS and the EPA are right now trying to figure out if they're going to be cut or maybe even eliminated. So at this point, I would not push reaching out and marketing to these agencies, but instead having your focus be on those with a more stable spending budget, such as the Department of Defense or, right now, Homeland Security, 

Bobby - So essentially, you are saying change is inevitable. So stay calm! Great advice, Frank.

Frank - Absolutely. Hey, I feel like Kevin Bacon from Animal House, remain calm.

Bobby - Well, now we've all heard that President Trump wants to potentially eliminate the Education Department, roll back environmental regulations with the EPA. So you're saying so avoiding those at this time makes sense. But what else should small businesses be doing at this point? 

Frank - Well, the best advice I can give small businesses right now is reassess your current position and dramatically, not just little but dramatically increase your government marketing. So first review the information that you are presenting to government agencies. By that, I mean, include optimizing your sam.gov and DSBS dynamic small business search records by making sure that they align and that they include every area you're currently going after and pursuing, not necessarily everything you can do, but everything you're willing to pursue, there's a difference, and it's a big difference. So remember that next review your capability statement during this let's call it a slowdown in government contracting. It's time to take the opportunity to review your capability statement and make sure it accurately portrays the picture of your company. At this point in time, we all get caught up in business and life situations, and sometimes we do forget about the simple things. So make sure you include the correct NAICS codes that you've updated your past performances. You need to ensure you keep your reference information current and most importantly, do you have the correct and updated contact information for your company snapshot? Remember, you have but one chance to make a good first impression. And many, many times the capability statement is that first impression. Now, finally, increase your government outreach and marketing. I already hear folks saying, wait, wait. The government's currently in a low time for contracts, and you want us to increase our marketing? Yes, exactly. So why is this a good time to market your company? Contracting Officers are very soon going to be in full out busy mode. Right now they're not so catch their attention before they become slammed. Government Contracting Officers are currently facing an unknown future, like all of us. So if you can help them in any way, they'll love that, and you will become one of their favorite vendors. They're facing spending freezing, freezes, hiring freezes, early out options, and all of these are just to say that when the dam breaks and contracts are flowing once again, there will be a shortage of contracting officers. These folks will be doing the task of two, three people. So by marketing now, you and your company will be fresh in their minds, and when they have to start their market research and identify vendors that they won't have the time to do your information is going to be right there. Email them, send them your capability statement, ask them for a short five to 10 minute capability review, and do this with the contracting officers you know at your target agencies. This is the time to market your firm.

Bobby -  So all in all, now is the time to assess your strategy, update the capability statement and market, market, market, and I'm sure there are tons of contracting officers just waiting for small businesses to be setting up those capability briefings as always Frank, awesome information.Any final thoughts?

Frank - Yeah, Bobby, I'm not sure they're waiting for that, but you know, this is the time to reach out to them also. Our listeners should be reviewing the FedBiz Access website at FedBiz access.com and they should do that on pretty much a daily basis, and look for our government contracting news. They can locate the news button near the top of the web page and receive regular contracting news, as well as tips on government contracting, because it's during periods like this that you need to stay abreast of the changing environment and government contracting and taking advantage of these free articles and tips is one way to stay informed. Hey, I appreciate the opportunity to talk and educate our listeners, Bobby and I hope to join you again real soon. 

Bobby - Yeah, absolutely. And thanks again, Frank and to our listeners, thanks for tuning in until next time. Keep pushing forward, keep innovating, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. Stay resilient friends.

Outro -  Thank you for listening to the FedBiz Five, where you get informed, get connected and get results on everything government contracting. Today's podcast has made courtesy of FedBiz Access. Government Contracting Made Simple. Visit them at FedBiz access.com where you can find all the FedBiz five podcasts, related blogs, government contracting, news and, of course, information on the various products and services that can assist your business and becoming visible to the government buyers, FedBiz Access can be reached by calling them at 888-299-4498,