Assignments
#1 Spending Research (CA and Federal)
Determine How Much Money the Government is Spending on Your Products and Services.
California
Step 1: Click Here to Review CA State Spending by Agency and Department (Explore the different spending transactions in Open Fi$CAL)
Step 2: Click Here to Identify Your CA UNSPSC Codes (United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes)
Type in Your Product or Service in “Code Name” (Ex. “Construction”, “Information Technology”, “Training”)
Click “Search”
Choose all codes that best relate to your business (Write down, keep handy for the next step)
You will need these codes for your Capability Statement and your business profile.
Step 3: FI$Cal SCPRS Search (This page is buggy, if you encounter a problem, click the “Back” button or Close the browser, then click the link again and refresh the page)
Click “Advanced Search Criteria”
Enter in your UNSPSC code or codes in the UNSPSC box
Check mark the box for each UNSPSC code you enter and “Click the Magnifying Glass”
Click the plus (+) sign to add more UNSPSC codes
Click “Search” You will see a list of contracts (Takes some time)
Identify how many transactions and Download Search Results (Required for Assignment #1)
CA Spending Assignment Review – Complete at the end of the section
Use the tools listed above to identify how much money the CA Government is possibly spending on your products and services.
What are your UNSPSC codes?
Download Search Results, how many transactions?
Report any findings or interesting discoveries you learned from your research.
NOTE. If you are having problems with Fi$cal, try using the CA DGS spending research tool.
Step 1: You must copy and paste the link below (Highlight, right click mouse, copy) – Direct link will result in error.
Step 2: Top left of page, click tab “Search by UNSPSC Code” (You can also search by Description)
Step 3: Input each UNSPSC code one-by-one to indicate spending
Step 4: View “Total Spend” column
https://cdgprod.ondemand.sas.com/SASVisualAnalyticsViewer/VisualAnalyticsViewer_guest.jsp?reportName=UNSPSC+Spend&reportPath=/CDG/Dashboards/&appSwitcherDisabled=true&reportViewOnly=true&propertiesEnabled=false&commentsEnabled=false
Federal Spending
Determine How Much Money the Federal Government is Spending on Your Products and Services.
Federal
Step 1: Obtain Your NAICS Codes
Enter “Keyword(s)” relating to your product or service
Review the NAICS summary to ensure the code relates to your business
Write down and keep handy
Step 2: Go to USASpending.gov
Go to Tab “Award Search” then “Advanced Search”
Use the Fiscal Year filter on the left column and select FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2021, FY2022 (Last Two Years is a Good Range)
Under Award Type choose “Contracts”
Under Location, Place of Performance Choose “United States”
Under State, Choose “California” or “All states” for nationwide spend
Under “Type of Set Aside” Choose the type of Set Aside you would like to see results (Small Business Set-Aside – Total)
Scroll down to NAICS Code and “Enter in Your NAICS Code(s)”
Click “Submit Search”
Assignment Preview – Complete at the end of the section
What are your NAICS codes?
How Many Prime Contracts have been awarded for your NAICS codes?
Report any findings or interesting discoveries you learned from your research.
#2 Build Your Capability Statement
Instructions and Assignment
Review the Anatomy and Structure of a Capability Statement Below
>> Choose a Template: Download a Blank Capability Statement Template (MS Word)
>> Complete the Template and Upload When Your Finished
Use Your Capability Statement to Market Your Services to Government
Note: Certifications, DUNS, SAM, CAGE, and other Registrations Take Some Time to Obtain – If you don’t have all this information, it’s okay. You can add to your capability statement later when you receive.
Anatomy of a Capability Statement
Company Information and Contact Information
Overview of Services (Describe Who You Are)
Core Competencies or Key Business Areas (Describe What You Do)
Past Performance (List Any Past Performance)
Socioeconomic Certifications and / or Self Certifications (If Applicable)
Complete list of CA Certifications
CA DEPT OF GENERAL SERVICES
Supplier Clearinghouse – California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
CALTrans
Federal Small Business Association
8a, Women Owned, HubZone, Service Disabled Veteran (If you need more assistance, contact your local SBA center)
DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) – Serves to Profile Your Business
DUNS Number requests can take up to 30 business days to process.
You will receive an email once your D-U-N-S Number has been assigned.
Register in SAM (System for Award Management) to obtain a CAGE code (Commercial And Government Entity)
Registering in SAM:
Assigns a CAGE Code
Sets you up for award management with the Federal Government
Manages representations and certifications
List CAGE code
List Tax ID
Include License, Insurance, and Bonding (If Applicable)
NAICS Codes, SIC – Standard Industrial Classification (SIC Codes If Applicable)
#3 Finding Opportunities
Instructions and Assignment
Submit 1 – 3 opportunities you have found for each platform:
CaleProcure (CA State)
SAM (Federal)
Local LA City and LA County
RAMP City of Los Angeles: https://labavn.force.com/LABAVN/s/
LA County: https://camisvr.co.la.ca.us/LACoBids/BidLookUp/OpenBidList
Click the Complete Assignment Button to Submit Your Assignment
Assignment Tips
Review and Keep Track of:
Opportunity Title, Project Scope and Requirements, Prebid Meetings
Solicitation Number
Due Dates
Hyperlink to Opportunity (Important!)
State SB/DVBE Preference, Federal Set-Aside, or Local Preference for Local Contractors, DBE, MBE, etc…
Create a Compliance Matrix or Checklist of Items
CaleProcure (CA)
State of California Contract Opportunities
Two methods
Basic keyword search
Type in keywords in “Event Name” (For example “Construction or Information Technology”).
Click “Search”
Advanced search
Click “Advanced Search Criteria”
Add in all your UNSPSC Codes
Click Search
Screen Shot – Additional Instructions Below Image
Click “End Date” to sort – This helps you to understand how much lead time you have to submit a bid.
Scroll and Find an Opportunity that Matches your Capabilities (Important)
Click on the Opportunity
Read through the Description and Identify if you can perform and deliver on the required scope.
Click “View Event Package”
Click “View” to download the Solicitation Documents
Download and Review the Document Attachment(s)
Check for any Prebid Meetings, Special Instructions, Amendments, or other information.
Review DGS videos Wayne Gross (Outreach Liason)
How to Register: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njmo6UhOLnE
CaleProcure Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnvDPfxkKIo
If there are no opportunities that match your line of work, try SAM in next section.
SAM (Federal)
Federal Contract Opportunities
Click “Contract Opportunities”
Click on “Advanced Search”
Advanced Search – Filters
Criteria
Keyword – Type in a general keyword relating to the product or service you offer (Sometimes not including a keyword yields greater results, try with and without)
On Left side of page, expand the carrot menus:
“Dates”
Response / Date Offers Due
Choose “Next Month”
“Notice Type”
Choose “Solicitation”
and Choose “Combined Synopsis / Solicitation”
“Products or Service Information”
Add in all your NAICS codes
If you don’t get any results, remove NAICS and use Keyword
“Set-Aside”
Select a Set-Aside
Choose > Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
You can select others if you have one of the federal certifications listed
“Place of Performance”
Choose “CA”
You can select other states if you can perform in respective states
Click on the opportunities that you’re interested in
The Opportunity
Information
Notice ID is the Solicitation #
General Information Section
Check timezone (Important)
Confirm when bid is due “Original Date Offers Due”
Classification
Check if Set-Aside
Check Place of Performance
Read the description
Confirm and download all Attachments
Review the documents
The contracting officer information will be on the bottom of the notice
#4: Capabilities Brief
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Description: A capability brief is a presentation to introduce your company and your company’s core capabilities.
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Format: PowerPoint Slides
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Duration: 2 – 5 minutes
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Complete the slides, you may add more if you need
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Practice your delivery
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Upload your capabilities brief
- Be Clear, Concise, and Convincing to Provide a Crystallized Delivery
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Principle – “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them in summary.”
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Develop and Deliver Persuasive Informational Content