Top 12 Easiest Government Contracts to Win
Government contracting is a great opportunity for businesses looking to expand their revenue streams and build stability.
In fiscal year 2025, the federal government spent approximately $755 billion on contracts across a wide range of industries. Of that amount, small businesses secured $183 billion in prime contracts, accounting for nearly 29% of total awards.
While many businesses perceive government contracting as overly complex, based on our experience working with small federal contractors, the most accessible contracts tend to be those reserved for small businesses or structured under simplified procedures.
Why Some Government Contracts Are Easier to Win than Others
Before diving into specific contract types, let’s understand what makes certain opportunities more accessible:
Lower Competition Levels Due to Specialized Requirements
Not all contractsattract the same number of bids. Under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6, competition may be limited when market research shows that only one or a small number of vendors can meet the agency’s requirements. Contracts involving highly specialized capabilities or narrow performance criteria, therefore, tend to receive fewer bids.
Set-Asides for Small Businesses
The U.S. government uses set-aside programs to help small businesses compete for federal contracts. These programs limit bidding to businesses that meet specific eligibility requirements, such as SBA-certified 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses. Because fewer companies are eligible to bid, qualified small businesses often have a stronger chance of winning these contracts.
Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)
For purchases between $10,000 and $250,000, agencies can use Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) procedures. These streamlined processes cut down on paperwork, speed things up, and make it easier for newer or smaller businesses to compete.
Commercial Item Contracts
Commercial item acquisitions are used when agencies buy off-the-shelf products or commonly available services. Covered under FAR Part 12, these contracts involve fewer compliance steps than custom or research-driven purchases. This simplifies the bidding process and makes these contracts easier to win.
Top 12 Easiest Government Contracts to Win
Based on what we’ve seen helping clients, these contracts offer the best entry points for small businesses.
1. Micro-Purchase Contracts
Micro-purchase contracts cover purchases under $10,000 (or $20,000 for construction) that government buyers make without formal competition. These purchases are often paid using a government purchase card. Micro-purchase contracts are perhaps the easiest government opportunities to win because they bypass most of the traditional competition requirements.
Why They’re Accessible
Micro-purchases skip most of the usual procurement steps. Contracting officers can buy directly, with very little paperwork, as allowed under FAR Part 13.2.
We often see micro-purchases awarded in just a few days. For small businesses getting started, this can be a simple, low-barrier way to enter the federal market.
2. Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) Contracts
SAP contracts are typically valued between $10,000 to $250,000 and follow simplified rules that make government buying faster and less complex.
Why They’re Accessible
Many SAP contracts are set aside for small businesses by default (FAR 13.003). Agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, USDA, and DoD commonly use SAP for recurring needs like office supplies, facility support, or training services.
3. 8(a) Set-Aside Contracts
These contracts are reserved for businesses participating in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, which supports small and disadvantaged businesses.
Why They’re Accessible
These contracts can be awarded directly to certified) firms, without competition, up to $4.5 million (or $7 million for manufacturing).
Tip: Once accepted into the program, actively engage with your SBA Business Opportunity Specialist and attend matchmaking events to start building relationships with contracting officers early.
4. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Asides
These contracts are reserved exclusively for businesses that are majority-owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and certified through the SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification program.
Why They’re Accessible
SDVOSB set-asides limit competition to a smaller group of eligible firms. Agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs actively prioritize SDVOSBs, which reduces the number of competing bidders. In FY 2024, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses received approximately $32.8 billion in federal contract awards, which accounts for roughly 5% of federal contracting dollars.
Tip: Once certified, focus on agencies with strong SDVOSB goals and recurring needs. Many firms find they face far less competition compared to open-market bids.
5. State and Local Government Contracts
These contracts are issued by state agencies, counties, cities, school districts, and transit authorities. Common categories include infrastructure, education, IT, and general services.
Why They’re Accessible
State and local contracts often have simpler requirements, shorter timelines, and less competition than federal opportunities. Many states also run preference or set-aside programs that give small businesses an edge in bidding.
Tip: Register as a vendor on your state and local procurement portals so you get alerts when new opportunities are posted. For example, California has an official goal of awarding at least 25% of state contract dollars to small businesses in its procurement system.
6. Subcontracting Opportunities
Subcontracting means working under a prime contractor that holds the main government contract.
Why They’re Accessible
Subcontractors typically face fewer compliance and post-performance requirements than prime contractors. On larger contracts, especially those over $750,000 (or $1.5 million for construction), prime contractors are required to submit small business subcontracting plans.
Tip: Look up prime contractors on SAM.gov or the GSA eLibrary and reach out with a short, clear capability statement that highlights what you do best. Subcontracting is often a practical way to gain experience and position your business for future prime contracts.
7. GSA Multiple Award Schedule Contracts
The GSA Schedule, also known as MAS or Federal Supply Schedule, is a long-termcontracting program for commercial products and services thatfederal, state, and local agencies can use to buy from approved vendors.
Why They’re Accessible
Once a business is on the schedule, agencies can purchase from it without running a full competition each time. Contracts can last up to 20 years, providing vendors with ongoing visibility and repeated access to government buyers.
Tip: Getting on the GSA Schedule takes some upfront effort, but it often pays off over time. Vendors with competitive commercial pricing are especially well-positioned to see steady orders.
8. Maintenance and Facility Support Contracts
These contracts cover services such as janitorial work, groundskeeping, HVAC, building maintenance, pest control, and other facility-related needs.
Why They’re Accessible
The federal government owns or leases approximately 2.7 billion square feet across nearly 266,000 buildings nationwide. Keeping all of those facilities running creates steady, ongoing demand for maintenance and support services. Because this work is usually well defined and recurring, it tends to be a good fit for small and mid-sized service providers.
Tip: Agencies often look for vendors that can respond quickly when on-site support is needed. Local or regional providers are often a strong match for routine maintenance and time-sensitive work.
9. Commercial Item Contracts
Commercial contracts cover products and services already sold in the private market and are governed by FAR Part 12.
Why They’re Accessible
These acquisitions involve fewer government-specific requirements and compliance steps. The focus is on standard, off-the-shelf products or services, which makes bidding easier for companies already selling commercially.
Tip: If your pricing, terms, and delivery model work well in the commercial market, you are likely already well-positioned to sell to government buyers under these rules.
10. Training and Educational Services
Federal and state agencies regularly invest in instruction, certification programs, professional development, and workforce training for federal and state agency staff.
Why They’re Accessible
Civilian and defense agencies have ongoing needs for training in areas like soft skills, technical upskilling, compliance, and leadership. In many cases, agencies focus more on subject matter expertise than on long-term government past performance.
Tip: If you already provide professional training in the private sector, your existing programs may qualify with only minor adjustments.
11. Disaster Response and Recovery Contracts
When natural disasters or emergencies occur, government agencies award contracts to support response and recovery efforts. These include federally declared events such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or public health emergencies.
Why They’re Accessible
In urgent situations, agencies often use expedited procurement methods and limit competition so they can mobilize resources quickly. FEMA and other agencies regularly contract for services such as debris removal, temporary shelter, emergency repairs, and logistics support. To give a sense of scale, FEMA’s overall spending reached about $35.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, covering disaster response, recovery, grants, operations, and contracted services.
Tip: Register in SAM.gov and monitor FEMA and state disaster announcements so you are ready to respond as soon as an emergency is declared.
12. HUBZone Set-Aside Contracts
Businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones may qualify for contracts reserved specifically for HUBZone-certified firms.
Why They’re Accessible
Only a limited number of businesses nationwide hold HUBZone certification, which helps keep competition lower. The federal government aims to award at least 3% of its contract dollars to HUBZone-certified firms. But agencies do not always meet that target and typically award only 2-2.5%, leaving room for qualified businesses.
Geographic Advantage: Businesses in qualifying areas face a much smaller competitive field.
Tip: If your principal office is in a qualifying area, check whether at least 35% of your employees live in a HUBZone. If so, pursuing HUBZone certification could give you a meaningful edge in federal bidding.
Criteria That Make Government Contracts Easier to Win
Over time, we’ve noticed clear patterns in the government contracts small businesses win most often. These patterns highlight the factors that tend to make certain opportunities more accessible, especially for newer vendors or those without extensive past performance.
Small Business Preference Programs
The federal government maintains a goal of awarding 23% of prime contract dollars to small businesses. As we mentioned before, in fiscal year 2020, the government exceeded that goal, awarding $183 billion or 28.8% of all eligible contracts.
Specific socioeconomic programs provide additional advantages:
- Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB): 5% goal
- Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB/ 8a): 5% goal
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB): 3% goal
- HUBZone Small Businesses: 3% goal
Pre-Qualification Status
Getting listed on government contract vehicles significantly increases win probability, because agencies can buy from you directly without full open competition. Examples include:
- GSA Multiple Award Schedules
- Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts
- Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
These vehicles allow agencies to place orders directly without full competition, making wins substantially easier for listed vendors.
Lower Entry Barriers
Contracts with these characteristics typically prove more accessible:
- Simplified technical requirements
- Limited past performance requirements
- Standardized evaluation criteria
- Shorter proposal response times
Federal procurement data shows that contracts with fewer evaluation factors result in higher small business participation rates.
Geographic Targeting
Contracts with specific geographic requirements limit the competitive pool:
- Local set-asides
- On-site service requirements
- Regional preference programs
For example, military bases often issue contracts requiring contractors to be within specific distance ranges, limiting potential bidders.
Expert Tips for Winning Government Contracts More Easily
After helping hundreds of small businesses win their first federal, state, or local contracts, we’ve noticed several patterns in what works and what leads to avoidable losses.
Target the Right Opportunities
Focus on contracts aligned with your capabilities and experience. The federal government’s Contract Opportunities portal (beta.SAM.gov) allows filtering by size, type, and set-aside status.
Begin with smaller contracts to build past performance before pursuing larger opportunities. Businesses with at least three successful government contracts are 30% more likely to win subsequent bids.
Prepare Stronger Proposals
Follow instructions precisely – many proposals are disqualified for non-compliance with formatting or submission requirements.
Address evaluation criteria explicitly and directly in your proposal. Contracting officers report that clearly organized proposals addressing all evaluation factors score much higher on average.
Build Strategic Relationships
Winning government work is not just about paperwork. Relationships matter too. Businesses that connect early with contracting officers, attend pre-bid meetings, and stay in touch with small business specialists are often more visible to agencies.
Subcontracting with experienced prime contractors is also a smart way to get your foot in the door, build past performance, and gain credibility with agencies you have not worked with before.
Maintain Proper Registrations and Certifications
Even strong businesses can miss out on opportunities if their registrations are not up to date. Your SAM.gov profile should always be active, accurate, and include the right NAICS codes.
If your business qualifies for programs like 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, or HUBZone, keeping those certifications current can open the door to more set-aside contracts.
For state and local work, it is also important to register in the relevant vendor and procurement systems.
Use Forecasting Tools
Almost all the major agencies publish procurement forecasts that outline what they plan to buy in the coming fiscal year. These forecasts are easy to overlook, but they can be very useful.
Reviewing them early helps businesses plan ahead, prepare resources, and start shaping proposals before opportunities are officially posted.
How Road Map Consulting Can Help
Navigating government contracting becomes significantly easier with expert guidance. Road Map Consulting specializes in helping businesses identify, pursue, and win government contracts through services including:
Our clients experience a higher win rate on government contract proposals compared to the industry average, with 98% client retention demonstrating our effectiveness in this specialized market.
