If you are a business doing business with the government-- be it at the local, state, or federal level-- you know that the process can be complicated and time consuming.
And if your initial bid isn't successful, then you don't even earn a return on the work that you've put in.
Or maybe you are a business trying to get into government contracting work, but you aren't sure exactly where to begin.
In either case, an attorney who specializes in public procurement can provide legal counsel in all contractual dealings with the government.
An attorney who is knowledgeable in matters of public procurement can help you with a wide variety of issues:

• Initiation: An attorney can help you make sure that your business is properly registered with the government's System for Award Management (SAM) so that you are eligible to contract with any level of government.
  But beyond simple registry, an attorney can ensure that you are properly labeled so that you have a better chance of securing a government bid.
  For example, a number of government jobs must be contracted to a business that is small or owned by a minority.
  Ensuring that you properly label your business can help gain these jobs.
  

An attorney may also recommend that you begin as a subcontractor as a way to gain experience before you attempt work as a full contractor.

• Contacts: Public procurement attorneys make it their job to know the people who make decisions about who will earn government bids, be it at the local, state, or federal level.
  The awarding of bids can be surprisingly political, particularly at the local or state level.
  Your attorney can work to make sure that your business's presence is felt and that your interests are fairly represented and considered.
  

• Staying abreast of bids: The government does not have one place where all bidding jobs are advertised.
  Instead, a government agency may advertise the RFP in a local paper, on an office bulletin board, or on the web-- each agency varies in how they advertise the work, and the amount of time they accept proposals can be as limited as a month.
  

If you don't have the time to keep ahead of all the bidding work that the government offers, your attorney may be able to do it for you.
Their contacts with government officials may even help you know of upcoming bids before they are made public, giving you a head start to properly prepare your Request for Proposal

• Preparation of Bids: Your attorney can draft Invitation to Bids, also called Request for Proposals, to ensure that they are done according to exacting procedures, which can help secure a bid.
  

• Other legal matters: Once you've won a bid, you may still need legal assistance when it comes to contract negotiations, working with subcontractors and enforcing contractual compliance, drafting joint ventures, and complying with your contract's statues and regulations.
  

Even for businesses who have worked with the government for years, public procurement attorneys can play a vital role in protecting and maintaining the businesses' legal interests.
If you need help with any stage of securing or implementing a government bid, don't hesitate to contact an attorney today.
The investment will pay off in the long run.