Getting registered in Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) system is a key first step toward doing business with the State – but it’s only the beginning. To truly tap into the contracting opportunities available, it’s important to take a few strategic next steps that can position your business for growth, visibility, and long-term success in the public sector.
Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your WEBS profile, explore certification with OMWBE, or build relationships across agencies, this guide breaks down what to do next and how to make the most of your registration.
Here are the next steps to take in the process of working with the State of Washington:
- If you have not yet registered your business with WEBS, check out our blog on 5 Reasons why you should and fill out our registration inquiry form to receive personalized assistance in getting set up.
- Make sure that your WEBS profile includes accurate NAICS codes for every capability your business is willing and able to work on. Enable notifications so you don’t miss any upcoming or active competitive solicitations relevant to your listed NAICS codes.
- Attend the Department of Enterprise Services’ monthly open house focused on State Contracting Opportunities presented the third Thursday of each month. DES provides information specific to woman-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses looking to level up their understanding of the state contracting process.
- Consider certifying your business with OMWBE. The Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises maintains certifications for MBE, WBE, and MWBE businesses in Washington. Being OMWBE-certified puts your business in an exclusive database of diverse businesses and opens up opportunities for growth and contracting throughout Washington state.
- Familiarize yourself with the state government and its various agencies. With more than 100 different agencies and public institutions of higher education in Washington, it’s important to understand which areas would better fit your business and capabilities. By being deliberate in your approach to public contracting, you can minimize the resources spent on seeking opportunities and target specific agencies or institutions that are more likely to buy what you are selling.
- Attend trade shows, contracting fairs, and public sector networking events. Building relationships with key individuals or specific state agencies is crucial to maximizing your chances of securing state contracting work. Developing relationships with large prime contracts or other businesses presents opportunities to team, partner, or subcontract on larger statewide contracts. Proving the capabilities of your business opens up the possibility of securing direct buy contracts in the future.
Public sector contracting may seem daunting at first glance, but there are fortunately numerous resources available from both the State and from various organizations to guide you through the process of mastering public contracting and taking advantage of the multitude of growth opportunities available.