Small businesses have many requirements to be eligible for government grants and contracts. The list usually includes:

• Business name and legal organization

• Address and contact information for the business and owners

• Fictitious Name Certificate (dba – doing business as)

• EIN (Employer Identification Number) or Social Security number. Please never use your social security number if possible.

• IRS Tax Returns

• Proof of insurance and or bonding

• Business Plan with financial projections

One thing that has been overlooked recently when applying for a federal grant or contract is the SAM Number (System for Award Management). It is a Unique Identification Number assigned to your business or nonprofit. As of March 2022, the federal government has replaced the old DUNS Number with the UIN Number.

It is not difficult to get a SAM number; go to www.SAM.gov for details. Be careful that you are using the correct URL; a URL that says sam.gov/xxx is a scam. If you are being charged for a SAM number, get off that site immediately, as there is no charge for a SAM number!

For nonprofits, in addition to many of the requirements for businesses to get a federal grant or contract, you may also need an SAM number. Importantly, in California, your nonprofit must register with the CA Secretary of State and the CA Attorney General’s Office.

Use the following link to register your business or nonprofit with the CA Sec. of State:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/starting-business-checklist

To register with the CA Attorney General’s Office, go to:
https://oag.ca.gov/charities

Don’t miss out on federal grants or government contracts for your small business or nonprofit. Did you know that Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses? The U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses.

The SBA works with its resource partners to assist small businesses in pursuing government grants and contracts. Contact the Sierra SBDC at www.sierrasbdc.com for registration as a client to receive no-cost, confidential business advice to help you understand what options may be available to you, navigate the sam.gov process, and much more.