What Are the Sub-Opportunities?

There is a huge market available to you as a subcontractor for a government prime. In FY 2008, for example, about 100 of the top DoD prime contractors were awarded $369 billion in contracts, of which $160.7 billion (or 37.2 percent) was awarded to small businesses. Specific civilian statistics are more difficult to identify, but they are also impressive.

In this section, we'll identify the prime time players--those top 100 large contractors who do the most work for the federal government and, therefore, have the greatest need for subcontractors to help fulfill these obligations.

Then we'll take it one step further and recommend the best 20 companies out of that top 100 that offer the best opportunities for small business subcontracting work.

Moreover, government rules regarding primes and subs have changed over the years, and current regulations are designed to assure sub-opportunities. Even so, a new practice known as contract bundling is changing the way small businesses get contracts from the government.

Finally, we'll discuss the advantages of subcontracting in comparison to being a prime contractor, and why being a sub may just be the best way for your small business to be involved in the federal procurement system.

• Prime-time players and our top picks
• Government rules assure sub-opportunities
• Bundling increases sub-opportunities
• Advantages of subcontracting