Small Business
Mission
Provide expert small business advice on NGA acquisitions and manage Small Business Programs to find the next small business talent, capabilities and innovation for NGA, in support of the warfighter and national security.
NGA advises acquisition professionals on their strategies and helps them research market capabilities. We actively pursue new and creative ways to engage small businesses to enable NGA to meet its mission-critical needs.
Getting Started with NGA
- Register your company in the System for Award Management (SAM) . All businesses, whether large of small, must be registered in SAM to do business with the federal government.
- Complete your SAM Small Business Profile for Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) . When a small business registers in SAM, there is an opportunity to fill out a small business profile to populate DSBS. NGA uses DSBS to research small businesses in our market.
- Research NGA. Know our mission, what we buy and how your company's products and services can contribute.
- Register with Sam.Gov and the Acquisition Research Center (ARC) 2.0 for the latest business opportunity announcements from NGA. Be sure to take advantage of advance search features to stay on top of NGA's Business Opportunity Notices, Sources Sought announcements, Requests for Information, and Request for Proposal. Your thoughtful responses to these notices help us understand your capabilities and make more informed decisions on our acquisitions.
Mentor Protege Program
Helps eligible small businesses develop qualifications and abilities to compete for prime contract and subcontract awards. The small businesses (protégés) partner with large businesses (mentors) to establish project-based agreements designed to meet NGA mission requirements.
Meeting with NGA's Small Business Office
The best way for us to know your capabilities through a robust profile in DSBS and through your targeted responses to our Sam.Gov and ARC announcements (see getting started, above). If you need specific assistance on an existing contract, please do not hesitate to contact us via email: smallbusiness@nga.mil
Additional Small Business Programs and Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
- Delivers millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.
- Established to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in government contracts. The program is under management of the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).
- Help businesses pursue and perform under contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors.
Contact
NGA Small Business Frequently Asked Questions
What are NGA’s Small Business Goals?
NGA's assigned Small Business Goals for FY24 are:
SB Prime: 15%
SDB: 3%
WOSB: 5%
SDVOSB: 3%
HUBZone: 3%
Where can NGA Future Business Opportunities be found?
How do businesses gain access to the ARC and the Classified ARC?
To gain access to the ARC, users must first register for a free user account on the site. Users are encouraged to sign in to the ARC on each use to access additional site functionality not accessible for non-registered users. Access to the Classified ARC must be requested. The instructions for obtaining Classified ARC access can be found by searching “Classified ARC access” in the search bar on the ARC.
How do businesses contact the NGA Small Business Office (SBPO)?
The Small Business team can be contacted at smallbusiness@nga.mil.
How does the NGA Small Business Office Support small business?
In short, the SBPO advocates for small businesses by working internally with program offices and the Office of Contract Services to identify opportunities for small businesses to serve as prime contractors. The SBPO engages with small businesses to expose and educate them on business opportunities at NGA. The overarching goal is to increase the defense industrial base.
Do small businesses need to apply for the Mentor-Protégé Program with their mentor, or does NGA coordinate that?
The mentor submits the M-P application on the company’s behalf. Interested companies must ensure that the partnership is appropriate and a good fit for both firms. NGA does not pair or facilitate the M-P relationship.
Are the small business socio-economic category (SDB, SDVOSB, WOSB and HUBZone) goals rewarded in source selection evaluations? Can HUBZone offerors receive extra credit on their proposals during evaluation?
NGA acquisition stakeholders conduct market research for every Agency requirement to maximize small business prime contracts or small business subcontracting awards. Where the Contracting Officer believes a requirement will receive two or more responsible offers from small businesses, at fair market prices, the requirement may be set aside for small business (or small businesses in one of the socio-economic categories). There is no order of precedent among the socio-economic categories. In certain requirements conducted using full and open competition, the Contracting Officer may give offers from HUBZone small business concerns a price evaluation preference during proposal evaluations or source selections in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.1307.
Where does NGA post information relating to Small Business Outreach Events, Strategy Summits, and Industry Days?
Planned events, once finalized, will be publicized via the ARC, SAM and the https://www.nga.mil .
Does NGA award 8(a) Sole Source contracts?
NGA utilizes all available procurement vehicles, including 8(a) sole source awards, as appropriate.
What about Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) as a procurement option?
NGA has the authority to utilize OTAs in the areas of research, prototyping, and production when appropriate.
Is a Facility Clearance required for a Vendor to initiate engagement with NGA? Are there any opportunities for unclassified work?
A facility clearance is not required to engage NGA. However, should your firm be interested in pursuing a requirement where a facility clearance is required, that will have to be in place before a contract can be awarded. NGA does have requirements for unclassified work. Please see the monthly NGA Business Opportunities posted on the ARC for specific opportunities.
Does NGA coordinate individual SCIF space for small business entities that hold clearances?
There are SCIF as a service options in both Washington, DC and St. Louis. They are run by private industry, not NGA. NGA does not coordinate space in these SCIFs for small businesses.
Is NGA able to aid non-IT small businesses in partnering with IT companies for entry into AI development?
NGA cannot serve as a broker to partner companies with each other. NGA often hosts Industry Days for specific acquisitions, which may create an environment for companies to connect.
Where can I find “The NGA Software Way” document?
You can find this document and other NGA strategy related documents on NGA's strategy page .