How to Apply for Housing Authority Small Business Contracts and Procurement Opportunities

July 28, 2013 - PRLog -- Housing authorities are solid outlets for small business contracts and procurement opportunities. As an enterprise in any area of the country, a great number of requests for proposals (RFPs) exist for those companies seeking to get more vendor contracts.

How to Register Your Small Business with Housing Authorities

If you are a small business owner, you can register your company with housing authority offices easily today -- because many of the registration applications are available online.

How the Registration Process Works

First and foremost, as an entrepreneur, you should find the appropriate office(s) with which to register your company.  Many areas have several housing authorities.  And, depending on your type of business, you can target a handful of agencies, or a multitude of agencies.

For example, if you are an office supply enterprise and you sell office products nationwide, you will not be limited to a specific region for targeting request for proposal solicitations.

However, if you are a real estate professional, foreclosure cleaning business, lawn care company, or a real estate maintenance contractor, you may want to target a specific region heavily for local procurement contracts (ie, foreclosure cleanup, handyman and lawn maintenance contract work).

Housing Authorities: Completing the Application

Once you find the list of housing authorities with which you want to register your small business for procurement contracting, go to these organizations’ websites and start completing vendor applications via the internet for RFP solicitations.

Following Up with Small Business Registration

As a potential vendor, you will almost always have to send follow-up information via snail-mail, email attachments, document uploads, or via facsimile, at some point.

For example, you may need to send a W-9 form (see the Internal Revenue’s website for more information about this form); and you may need to provide business registration and liability insurance information, etc. at an early stage of the game.  Some offices will simply let you register to receive bids and will request this information later when you actually start bidding.

Though you will have to follow-up with necessary paperwork and credentials for some agencies, you can start registering today by filling out online housing authority applications . The initial forms are often very simple, because their main purpose is to get you on the list, in the database, to actually receive bid solicitations and RFPs.

How to Find Housing Authority Small Business Contracts and Procurement Opportunities

Once you visit a housing authority’s website, search for clickable links that may be worded as such: doing business with, procurement opportunities, business, register your business, bid solicitations, vendor forms, etc.

Follow these hyperlinks, which can lead you to vendor registration and vendor application pages.  

The Navigation Process to Finding Contract Opportunities

Some housing authorities are huge and the navigation process to the correct area for vendor registration can be confusing. On the other hand, some offices are very small, but the vendor registration information and procurement opportunities may be buried on pages upon which you may not think to search.

It’s not uncommon for the same businesses to win the same bid awards, year after year. So prepare to dig so you are privy to contract bidding opportunities that may not be easily visible. Search diligently for these contracts in your area so you can indeed bid and win contracts.

The process will start with finding the links so you can register our company.  So keep in mind that OFTEN the finance department is the area that handles vendor procurement.

Resource Tool for Registering Your Business

See the 2013-2014 Directory of Housing Authority Bidding / Procurement Opportunities and Vendor Applications, Volume 1, Edition 1 --  http://www.e-junkie.com/stonecottagebooks/product/489880.php -- for an easy-to-use resource for registering your business and finding contracting opportunities in housing authorities.

Schedule Time to Register Your Company with Agencies for Contracts

Schedule a few hours each week to register your company with as many housing authority agencies as you can. This way, you will be on the lists to receive bid solicitation requests and procurement opportunities; and, you can start winning contracts and growing your business.

One contract can catapult a small business from a mini outfit to a large company overnight.  Good luck to you!