SBA 8(a) Certification

SBA 8(a) Certification

What does it take to be an 8(a) Certified Contractor and what are the benefits. This year we are working towards becoming 8a certified. Our goal is to place our company in the right path for good opportunities. The market is slowly recovering and as we continue to “weather the storms”, when the market recovers we want to be in a good position to respond to the needs of our customers. This week we will explore, exactly what is the 8(a) certification and what are the steps to becoming certified.

I want to create a networking Group to Cultivate Jacksonville Businesses

This week I have met with some incredible individuals and we are in a joint alliance to help one another further our businesses. I am a Construction Manager as well as a Real Estate Developer. I can help you find property, create financials for feasibility as well as generate a budget for construction cost in order to build a project that suits your needs.  What do you do? What if there were a group of professionals that made a decision to set up an alliance in order to help further the Jacksonville businesses.  For instance Property Manager, Architects, Subcontractors, General Contractors and vendors all have one thing in common and that is seeking an Owner in need of our services. I may have an owner that is in need of a service that someone in my group can provide and vice versa. This networking group would be specific, to understanding the projects that are going on in Jacksonville, as well as who some of the key players are for contact. I also believe that we can help one another when we come across difficult issue, being a soundboard to others with less experience. This group can cultivate businesses and friendships that can help to grow Jacksonville.  Please contact me so that we can meet and talk about growing the businesses in the Jacksonville area.

Subcontractor Series: Rising ahead of the competition/Preliminary Documents

As a General Contractor,  when it is time for a bid, I go through the traditional task of sending out invitation to all subs on my bidders list, following up to ensure that they are bidding and sending a scope checklist to be turned in with final numbers. This is something that goes out to all responsive bidders, however there are some subcontractors that I will insist that they are bidding the project, because of the work history that I may share with that sub. While pricing does drive decision on selecting the best subcontractor, sometimes it’s worth the cost to get a responsible subcontractor onboard. So how do you become the apple of the General Contractor’s eye? You begin Marketing as soon as you have been awarded the job! 

On my projects I refuse to shop numbers, I won’t ever entertain the question “Where should my number be.” If you are not making money on my jobsite then I don’t want you there.  My expectation is that you make money on the jobs so that you will prosper to make it to another job with our company, and the nickel and dime syndrome for providing change orders on every small issue will surely ruin your relationship with the GC as well as diminish the relationship for the GC and the owner. So your first task is to submit a responsible and competitive number. Once you are awarded the job, start out strong! First, let’s talk about preliminary info. Have a boiler plate letter detailing all pertinent contacts with all information and get in all necessary documents need by the GC before you are asked. This is not your first rodeo, create a system that everyone must do when a job has been awarded and set it stone. So that if you lose and Admin person, you have a manual that tells the next person every step in starting a project. Consistency is a strong conveyance that your company has everything covered administratively. Next submittals! Check out the next blog on how the GC prefers to see the submittals and what will distinguish you as a Top Firm in your industry.

Creating Relationships with your local subcontractors

In this time of submitting lean and nimble proposals, it really helps when you have good relationships with your local subcontractors. A core group with the perspective that as a team we will do all it takes to get this project. But if you’re new to an area, how do you create those relationships? After working with three fortune 400 hundred companies and now working on my own, that has been a bit of a challenge. Considering I don’t have that big name that tells everyone who I am and how I work in the industry, I have to be creative.  Using networks like ABC, AGC or bluebook will get you bids, but how do you get the BEST number and build a loyal network without ever working with the Key subcontractors in your area? Well the answer is simple, just as you market to your owners you need to market to your subcontractors. I have invited subcontractors over to my office, fed them lunch and walked thorough who we are, our vision as well as our core values. This luncheon is a one on one, introducing them to our contracts, how we pay our subs and what projects we are looking to bid. I also believe in co-op training. Once a month allow a subcontractor to come into your company and train on what they do, issues they encounter and allow them to market their services.  If you are truly looking to form a relationship with the best local subcontractors, you have to let them know who you are and why they should work with you!  Invite larger subcontractor and also invite minority subcontractors for a lunch networking group in order to cultivate a team for government projects that require a certain percentage of minority participation, and this event will help your company get to know the subcontractors as well as supporting the community.  Being proactive is the key. Once a week, meet 1 subcontractor for coffee and begin to get to know who’s doing what in your area.