FedBiz'5

Hosted by Fedbiz Access

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

FedBiz’5 is your quick-hit resource for navigating the government contracting marketplace with more confidence, clarity, and strategy. Designed for small businesses, federal contractors, and companies looking to win more government contracts, FedBiz’5 delivers practical government contracting tips, market insights, compliance updates, sales strategies, and expert guidance in about five minutes. Each episode helps simplify the federal marketplace, from SAM registration and small business certifications to capability statements, market research, agency targeting, contracting officer outreach, GSA opportunities, proposal readiness, and award strategy. Backed by the FedBiz Access team’s 25+ years of government contracting experience and more than $36 billion in client awards, FedBiz’5 gives contractors the knowledge they need to find better opportunities, make smarter decisions, and compete more effectively in today’s evolving government marketplace. Whether you are new to government contracting or looking to grow your federal sales pipeline, FedBiz’5 helps you take the next step from registration to revenue, and from opportunity to award.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 19, 2026Episode 955 min

5 Ways to Find Government Contracts With Less Competition

Send us Fan Mail Finding government contracts isn't the same as finding a competition your business is prepared to enter. And a search that returns fewer opportunities might tell you more about your filters than your actual chances. This FedBiz'5 episode explores five practical ways to investigate where the eligible field may be narrower, historical participation may be lighter, or your capabilities may give you a stronger position. We follow one hypothetical small maintenance company as it moves beyond broad searches and starts asking better questions about the work, the buyer, and the competition. Along the way, we unpack why a single-offer award isn't automatically an opening, what a set-aside really tells you, and how commercial experience and service coverage can change the way you evaluate a pursuit. No promises of easy awards. Just a more useful way to decide which opportunities deserve your proposal budget. Before you chase another bid because you could perform the work, listen to this episode and consider whether you have a credible reason to compete. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

September 30, 2026Episode 949 min

After the September Rush: Your FY2027 Pipeline Playbook

Send us Fan Mail September can fill your inbox without building your next quarter’s pipeline. Once the rush eases, how much of what you’re tracking is a real pursuit, and how much is just a saved notice? In this episode of FedBiz'5, we map out an October-through-December plan for small and mid-sized government contractors who want to start FY2027 with better targets, stronger positioning, and fewer last-minute proposal scrambles. We explore how to identify agencies that actually buy what you sell, connect award history with future requirements, and use procurement forecasts without mistaking a planning signal for a promised contract. You’ll also hear how to turn early research into useful buyer conversations, identify teaming gaps before they become emergencies, and make your capability statement work harder for each pursuit. The real test comes at the end of December: can you explain why each opportunity belongs in your pipeline, what still needs confirmation, and what happens next? Listen before you spend another quarter collecting opportunities you never get into position to win. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

September 16, 2026Episode 9311 min

Faster to a GSA Schedule? What FASt Lane Beyond IT Really Means

Send us Fan Mail Could GSA’s expedited FASt Lane process soon become relevant to companies outside the information technology market? MAS Refresh 33 proposes expanding FASt Lane eligibility beyond IT, potentially giving qualifying professional-services firms, facilities contractors, product suppliers, logistics companies, and other non-IT businesses a faster path through GSA Schedule offer review. But “faster” does not mean automatic, and it definitely does not mean easier. In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we separate the headline from the fine print. You’ll learn what FASt Lane actually does, why the proposed expansion matters, what evidence may be needed to qualify, and why market demand, pricing support, past performance, and offer readiness still determine whether a company has a viable path to award. We also examine the question many contractors skip: What happens after the Schedule is awarded? If the possibility of faster processing has you reconsidering a GSA Schedule , listen before you rush into an offer. The real opportunity is not simply reaching review faster. It is reaching review prepared. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

August 24, 2026Episode 9211 min

Before the RFP Drops: How Small Businesses Can Shape the Set-Aside

Send us Fan Mail By the time an RFP hits SAM.gov, one of the most important decisions about the competition may already be over. Will the requirement be reserved for small businesses? Targeted to an 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or SDVOSB program? Or opened to everyone? In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we go inside the pre-RFP window where agencies are conducting market research and deciding whether the small-business community is capable of performing the work. You’ll learn why sources sought notices and RFIs deserve far more attention than most contractors give them, how your SBS profile can affect whether you are even counted as a capable source, what contracting officers actually need to see in a strong market-research response, and how procurement forecasts can give you a head start before the competition gets crowded. There is no trick here and no shortcut to a set-aside. The advantage is showing up while the government is still asking questions , with credible evidence that small businesses can deliver. If your capture process begins when the final solicitation drops, this episode may change when you start competing. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

August 11, 2026Episode 9110 min

Follow the Money: 10 Federal Agencies Small Businesses Should Target in 2026

Send us Fan Mail Small businesses won roughly $179 billion in federal prime contracts in FY2025 . But those dollars were not spread evenly across the government. Some agencies send a surprisingly large share of their contracting dollars to small businesses. Others offer enormous opportunity, but come with tougher competition, higher barriers to entry, or very different ways of buying. So where should your company actually focus? In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we follow the money and look at 10 federal agencies that deserve attention from small business contractors in 2026. More importantly, we explain why the agency spending the most may not be the best target for your business. You’ll hear where small businesses are winning, which agencies offer particularly strong small-business participation, and how to narrow a massive federal marketplace down to the agencies, offices, and buyers that actually purchase what you sell. Because the goal is not to chase more contracts. It is to chase the right ones. If your government contracting strategy still starts with “Who has the biggest budget?”, this episode may change where you look next. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

July 27, 2026Episode 9011 min

12 Local Government Contracts Small Businesses Can Actually Win

Send us Fan Mail Some of the most accessible government contracts may be sitting much closer to home than you think. Across more than 91,000 local governments and tens of thousands of public schools, cities, counties, school districts, utilities, libraries, parks departments, and other public entities purchase products and services every day. The opportunity is enormous, but most small businesses are still looking in the same crowded places. In this episode of FedBiz’5, we reveal 12 local government contract categories that may offer realistic entry points for established small businesses. These are recurring, location-dependent purchases that often reward responsiveness, commercial experience, local knowledge, and the ability to solve a clearly defined problem. You’ll also learn why “easier” does not mean effortless, how local procurement differs from federal contracting, where future opportunities may appear before the bid is posted, and what separates a promising local contract from a pursuit that wastes your time. Your next government customer may not be in Washington. It could be the city, county, school district, utility, or public authority right down the road. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

July 13, 2026Episode 8913 min

3,000 Counties, 50 States, One Overlooked Market: Why Small Contractors Should Be Looking at SLED

Send us Fan Mail Federal contracting gets most of the attention, but it is not the only government market small businesses should be watching. In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we look beyond SAM.gov and explore the state, local, and education market hiding in plain sight. Across counties, cities, school districts, universities, utilities, public authorities, and state agencies, there are thousands of public-sector buyers with real needs and active budgets. But here’s the catch: many contractors miss these opportunities before they ever become public bids. Why? Because in SLED, timing matters. The real buying signals may show up in budget documents, board meetings, capital plans, expiring contracts, local projects, or procurement activity long before an RFP appears. This episode breaks down why SLED is not just a backup plan, how small contractors can stop reacting late, and why the companies that win are often the ones seeing the market earlier. Listen now to learn why the next growth lane for your business may be closer than you think. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

June 23, 2026Episode 8812 min

AI, Cybersecurity, and Federal Buying: Where Small Contractors Can Still Break In

Send us Fan Mail AI is moving fast in federal contracting, but the real opportunity for small businesses may not be where everyone thinks it is. In this episode of FedBiz’5, we break down how AI, cybersecurity, and federal buying are converging, and why that creates both pressure and possibility for small business contractors. Agencies want AI-enabled solutions, but they also need security, governance, data protection, compliance, human oversight, and practical implementation support. That is where small contractors can still break in. You’ll learn how AI is showing up in RFIs and RFPs, what “AI security layers” really mean in procurement terms, why CMMC, FedRAMP, CUI, and data governance matter more than ever, and which AI-adjacent lanes may be most realistic for small businesses heading into 2026. If you support cybersecurity, data modernization, compliance, cloud, training, governance, analytics, or mission-focused IT services, this episode will help you see where federal AI demand is headed and how to position before the market gets even more crowded. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

June 15, 2026Episode 8711 min

The $350K Sweet Spot: Why Small Contractors Should Rethink Simplified Acquisitions in 2026

Send us Fan Mail The Simplified Acquisition Threshold has moved to $350,000 , and that creates a bigger, faster lane for small business contractors who know where to look. In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we break down why simplified acquisitions may be one of the smartest places to build early federal wins in 2026. These opportunities are often more focused, less burdensome than larger RFPs, and ideal for contractors looking to build past performance, buyer relationships, and real momentum. You’ll learn why the $350K range matters, how agencies use simplified acquisition procedures, what small businesses should do before the opportunity drops, and why “smaller” does not always mean “easier” or “lower risk.” If you’re tired of chasing massive contracts you’re not positioned to win yet, this episode will help you rethink your pipeline and focus on federal opportunities that are realistic, strategic, and built for traction. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

June 8, 2026Episode 869 min

Teaming Without Trouble: How to Partner with Primes Without Triggering Affiliation Risk

Send us Fan Mail Teaming can unlock bigger contracts fast. It can also quietly trigger affiliation risk and get your “small business” bid thrown out after a size protest. In this episode of FedBiz’5 , we break down how to team with primes the right way, without accidentally looking like a pass-through or an “ostensible subcontractor.” You’ll learn what SBA affiliation really means in plain English, the red flags that make evaluators and competitors pay attention, and the practical checks you should run before you sign a teaming agreement. If you’ve ever thought “we’ll just let the prime handle the heavy lifting,” or you’re relying on a larger partner for key personnel, proposal writing, or delivery, this episode will help you protect your eligibility and keep your teaming strategy safe, scalable, and built to win long-term. Visit us: FedBizAccess.com Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on LinkedIn Need help in the government marketplace? Call a FedBiz Specialist today: 844-628-8914 Or, schedule a complimentary consultation at your convenience .

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