Why I Started My Government Contracting Business and Why It Keeps Me From Quitting
Release Date: 04/10/2026
How to Find Government Contracting Points of Contact Using Free Tools
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Finding government contracting points of contact before the RFP drops is one of the most powerful moves a small business can make in federal BD. In this episode, host Eric Coffey walks through his exact process for identifying and reaching the right people inside federal agencies — using free, publicly available tools — so you're building relationships during the planning phase, not scrambling when the solicitation hits. What you'll learn in this episode: How to use Acquisition Gateway to uncover real names and emails — including small business contacts and program managers tied to...
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Why I Started My Government Contracting Business and Why It Keeps Me From Quitting
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Small business owner mindset is the foundation every federal contractor must build before strategy, certifications, or capital — and this episode goes straight to the root. In this session, Eric Coffey challenges contractors and aspiring entrepreneurs to get brutally honest about why they started their business, because when the hard moments come, your "why" is the only anchor that keeps you from walking away. Here's what this episode covers: Why your purpose matters more than your profit goal — Money is a byproduct; the contractors who last are the ones anchored to something deeper...
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SAM.gov Search Strategy That Finds Real Opportunities | EP: 319
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Ever wondered how some small businesses seem to win government contracts before they are even publicly advertised? If you want to know how to get a competitive edge in federal contracting, you need to understand the power of Sources Sought notices on . In this episode of GovCon Giants, your host Eric Coffee breaks down a live walkthrough of finding and analyzing these critical market research documents. Most small businesses make the mistake of only looking at active bids, completely ignoring the "pre-bid" phase where opportunities are shaped. Eric reveals how to filter to find...
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Prime Contractor Teaming Strategy to Win More Government Contracts
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Prime contractor teaming is one of the fastest paths into federal contracting — but only if you know how to find the right primes and reach out the right way. In this episode, Eric Coffey walks through the exact outreach framework he uses with a real cybersecurity and AI startup to get in front of prime contractors, book capability briefings, and position the company as a teaming partner or subcontractor on active government contracts. What you'll learn in this episode: How to use federal spending data to identify the right prime contractors — Eric demonstrates a live search using...
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Government Contracting Skills: How to Identify and Win With What You Know
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Government contracting skills are the foundation of every federal award — and you probably already have more than you think. In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, host Eric Coffey breaks down how small business owners can identify the skills they already possess, build real expertise around them, and position that expertise to win government contracts at every level — from local agency awards to major vehicles like GSA OASIS+. What you'll learn in this episode: 🔍 How to research what agencies actually buy — Learn how to use USA Spend and FPDS to find your NAICS code...
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Sources Sought Strategy: How Small Businesses Win Before the RFP
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Sources Sought notices are one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — tools in a small business government contractor's arsenal. In this episode, Eric Coffey breaks down exactly what sources sought, market research, and RFIs are, why they're critical to your govcon strategy, and how to use them to get your name in front of contracting officers before the competition even knows an opportunity exists. What you'll learn in this episode: 🔍 What Sources Sought really is — and why the terms "market research," "RFI," and "sources sought" are often used interchangeably in the...
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How to Start & Grow a Government Contracting Business: Certifications, Funding & Getting Your First Contract
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Breaking into government contracting isn't just about paperwork — it's about building a business that can survive the long game. In this episode, Eric Coffie walks you through the exact mindset and practical steps to start and grow a federal contracting business from scratch. You'll learn: • Why most small businesses approach primes and agencies the wrong way — and what actually gets you in the door • How to identify agency pain points and position yourself as the solution (not just another vendor asking for a chance) • Which certifications matter most in 2024, including CMMC for DOD...
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What Federal Contractors Must Know About Background Checks & Base Access
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Federal contracting background checks can make or break your ability to win and perform government work — and most small business owners don't know what they're actually signing up for. In this live Q&A episode, Eric Coffie and the Federal Help Center community tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in the space: what vetting actually looks like when you're doing work on federal facilities like VA Medical Centers and military bases. Here's what gets covered in this straight-talk session: Personal vs. company background checks — The difference between a check on you as an...
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Build a $100K Capability Statement in 15 Minutes Using AI Tools
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Government contracting capability statements can make or break your federal business — and AI is changing how fast small businesses can build a winning one. In this episode, host Eric Coffey sits down with Zach Golden to walk through a live demo of creating a professional, high-scoring capability statement in under 15 minutes using AI tools, specifically OpenGovIQ, a platform built on a library of over 100 successful capability statements. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: Why most capability statements score a C+ or lower — and the exact mistakes contractors make by leading...
info_outlineSmall business owner mindset is the foundation every federal contractor must build before strategy, certifications, or capital — and this episode goes straight to the root.
In this session, Eric Coffey challenges contractors and aspiring entrepreneurs to get brutally honest about why they started their business, because when the hard moments come, your "why" is the only anchor that keeps you from walking away.
Here's what this episode covers:
- Why your purpose matters more than your profit goal — Money is a byproduct; the contractors who last are the ones anchored to something deeper than a dollar amount
- How to write your "why" and stress-test it — Eric walks through a practical exercise: write it out, share it with someone you trust, let it sit, then come back and see if it still holds
- Why your "why" builds your team — When you hire people, you're selling them your vision; a clear purpose creates buy-in, loyalty, and a team that fights for what you're building
- The distractions that pull you off course — Chasing trends, seeking outside approval, and reactive pivoting are the silent killers of early-stage businesses
- Real stories from the community — Danny (2 months in) and Bernard (4–5 years in) share what drives them, showing this conversation matters at every stage of the journey
EPISODE CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Welcome to the Federal Help Center podcast intro
0:27 - Why don't you quit: the question every owner must answer
1:24 - Capital, bonding, and the reality of early business challenges
2:20 - Community shares: Why Bernard and Danny started their businesses
3:15 - How your why shapes your company vision and mission
4:11 - Distractions and pivots that derail small business owners
5:08 - Purpose over profit: what actually drives lasting success
6:07 - How to write, test, and anchor your why statement
7:00 - Why your mindset and team culture depend on your purpose
8:27 - Step-by-step process to uncover and build your why
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