Become a U.S. Defense Contractor

The United States Government employs thousands of individual and corporate defense contractors every year. The Department of Defense, the various branches of the military, and the companies these agencies contract with employ thousands of people as security personnel, IT specialists, analysts, administrators, scientists, doctors, accountants, etc. The government also contracts with both large and small businesses to provide services and supplies that are used in every facet of maintaining the country’s defense. Breaking into defense contracting requires going through a lot of red tape, and can be difficult at first, but if you are motivated and able to obtain a security clearance, there are many opportunities to be had in the defense industry.

Steps

Becoming an Individual Defense Contractor

1. Become a U.S. Citizen. Almost all U.S. defense contractor positions require applicants to be United States citizens. If you are not a native citizen, you can go through the naturalization process to obtain your citizenship, which involves taking an extensive test on English and Civics.
2. Be able to acquire security clearance. You cannot actually obtain a security clearance until you are employed in a government job, or have been sponsored by a company or agency who wishes to hire you. However, you should try to determine if you are eligible for clearance before you begin. If you have previously had a security clearance in the past, this is a good indicator that you will be able to obtain one again. The following are some of the factors that generally prevent a person from obtaining a security clearance:
   • Past criminal convictions that lead to jail time of 1 year or more.
   • Current use of illegal or controlled substances.
   • A determination of mental incompetence by a DoD-approved mental health professional.
   • A dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces.
   • Unwillingness to surrender a foreign passport.
   • Severe, repeated financial problems.
   • Intentional false statements made in the application process.
   • Repeated alcohol abuse.
   • A pattern of criminal or conduct or rule violation.
3. Be willing to relocate. Defense contractor jobs are available throughout the world, however, to have the best shot at obtaining the kind of position your are interested in, you should be willing to relocate.
4. Talk with other defense contractors. The best way to learn the ins and outs of becoming a U.S. defense contractor is to talk with people who already have the kind of position you are hoping to land. These individuals can give you insider tips on how to locate jobs, red flags to look for on job listings, and perhaps most importantly, position-specific instructions on how to format your resume and complete your application in a way that gets you hired.
5. Check on-line job listings. The Department of Defense maintains a job listing site for civilian employment opportunities with the DoD and all military branches. You can either go to the DoD’s website and click “Employment,” or use the main www.usajobs.gov portal and use the keyword “defense” to look for these jobs. Private companies looking to hire individuals into defense contractor positions usually advertise on major job search websites, like monster.com and indeed.com. Enter “defense contractor” into the search line to locate these positions.
6. Fill out your application completely. Government jobs usually involve a notoriously detailed application process. Read the application thoroughly before beginning, and make sure to fill it out completely before submitting it. And be honest in your application; obtaining a defense contractor position will eventually require a thorough background check, and any errors or omissions in your application are likely to be exposed.
7. Be patient. The hiring process for government jobs moves much more slowly than it does in the private sector. You can expect it to take anywhere from several weeks to a few months to find out if your application made the first cut, and even longer to get all the way through the application and evaluation process. Remember that the payoff in job security, benefits, and salary if you get the job will eventually be worth the wait.
8. Cooperate fully with the security investigation process. If you become a finalist or are offered a position, you will need to complete a rigorous investigation process to obtain security clearance. You must comply with this process fully, answer all questions truthfully and completely, and provide all information that is requested quickly and accurately. It is unfortunate to get through a months-long application process only to lose out at the end over a mistake or omission, but it does happen.

Becoming a Small Business Defense Contractor

1. Know that the United States Government wants to work with you! The U.S. Government doesn’t just work with major companies. The Department of Defense sets aside a substantial portion of its budget to contracting with small business. Small businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities are given further advantages in the bid selection process. Working with the DoD can be a real boon for your small business!
2. Do your homework. Working with the federal government requires understanding and following a lot of complicated rules and procedures. The U.S. Small Business Administration maintains a comprehensive guide for small business that wish to take on federal contracts. The ACQ also maintains a helpful Guide to DOD Contracting Opportunities.It is important to study and understand these materials before seeking out federal contracts.
   • The materials noted above are admittedly dense, but know that the paperwork you will need to keep up with to seek and maintain government contracts will be just as bad, so consider these a litmus test for whether or not you are up for the challenge.
3. Think about your company and what it can offer the government. It is important to have a very good understanding of your own company, and what it has to offer, before seeking government contracts. Identify the specific product or services that you can provide, and think about how much you can reasonably charge to do so, and still make a profit.
4. Be prepared to apply for security clearance. Most defense contracts require that some, if not all, of the employees who will be involved in carrying out the contract have security clearance. Think about your own background and any problems that might be present there. If you did not run background checks on your employees when you hired them, you should discuss your intentions to apply for government contracts with them, and let them know that they may be required to obtain security clearance to continue with the company.
5. Get ready to do a lot of paperwork. Applying for and carrying out a federal contract requires completing a lot of paperwork, and keeping very careful records. Be sure that you are up for the challenge before proceeding, and budget extra time and resources to dealing with this paperwork.
6. Determine the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code for the service or product you want to provide. You will need this information to look for contracts, and complete applications. It can be located at www.naics.com/search.
7. Register as a government contractor. You will need to apply for a D-U-N-S identification number from the company Dun & Bradstreet. Obtaining your D-U-N-S number is free of charge.
8. Check the government website frequently for open contracts. All federal contracts that go out for bid, including those for the Department of Defense and the Armed Forces, are listed on the “Fed Biz Ops” website www.fbo.gov. Check the site frequently for contracts that your business might be able to compete for.
9. Contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for assistance. These centers are located in most states, and can help you figure out the best way to market your product or service to the DOD. They can also offer more general advice on marketing, and to small business in general.
10. Present your proposal to the agency making the request. Be sure to follow all directions in the call for bids in your proposal, and to clearly and specifically explain how your company can provide the product or service that the agency is seeking. Provide detailed product brochures, and any other helpful materials, and make your presentation as professional and clear as possible.
11. Make and maintain contacts in the industry. Databases are very helpful, but having real human contacts in the defense industry is crucial to getting the inside scoop on upcoming opportunities, and how best to market yourself for open contracts. Identify specific agencies that you would like to contract with, and seek out contacts within them. Attend any events that these agencies might hold, and follow closely any websites or publications they maintain.
12. Comply with the security clearance process. If you are awarded a contract that requires security clearance, the agency hiring you will send you information on obtaining security clearance for yourself, your company, and your facility, depending on the nature of the contract. Be ready to complete any preliminary paperwork that is requested, and to fully comply with all facets of the investigation. Failure to comply or to pass the investigation process will lead to the revocation of your contract.

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Sources and Citations

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