ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certificationOur students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.2. Land high paying sales executive jobs with companies in the public sector.3. Increase government contracting revenue for companies selling to the US government.
The US government spends over $600 million a year on landscaping services, and it's paying small businesses to mow lawns, trim trees, and maintain grounds on nearly every military base, VA cemetery, and federal building in the country.I pulled real, open contract awards and active solicitations from USASpending.gov and SAM.gov to show you exactly what the government is paying for landscaping right now, including a $36 million grounds maintenance contract at Fort Myer, VA, a $2.7 million mowing and trimming contract at Andrews Air Force Base, and grounds maintenance work at Riverside National Cemetery and West Point, with the average landscaping contract worth $228,000 a year.I also break down the overlooked "sources sought" strategy that lets you build a relationship with the contracting office and shape the requirements before the solicitation ever gets posted, putting you ahead of the competition before you write a single proposal.0:00 The Government Pays $700 Million a Year to Mow Lawns1:23 Where to Find the Data: USASpending.gov (NAICS 561730)1:52 Which Agencies Spend the Most: Army, Air Force, Navy2:14 Where the Landscaping Dollars Go by State2:45 How Much the Government Spends on Landscaping3:45 Why Landscaping Beats the 23% Small Business Rule5:29 The VA's Special Rule for Veteran-Owned Businesses5:45 Real Opportunity: $36 Million Contract at Fort Myer, VA6:41 Real Opportunity: Andrews AFB, Riverside Cemetery7:20 Where to Find Solicitations: SAM.gov8:03 How to Search SAM.gov by NAICS Code9:15 Real Opportunity: NOAA Landscaping Solicitation 9:59 Why You Can't Talk to the Office Once It's Posted11:52 The Secret Move: Sources Sought13:33 Real Opportunity: Army Corps of Engineers 14:33 The Rule of Two: Eliminate Competition17:26 How Much You Can Actually Make Selling Landscaping 19:30 The Pipeline Math: Why You Need $10M to Make $1M21:36 Go/No-Go, Teaming Partners, and the Email Trick That Confirms Receipt––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––RESOURCES MENTIONED––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––GovClose Program Overview (free 20-minute training): https://www.govclose.comUSASpending.gov (government contract spending data): https://www.usaspending.govSAM.gov (find contract opportunities): https://sam.gov––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––ABOUT RICK HOWARD––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Rick Howard is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former DoD acquisitions officer who managed over $82 billion in federal contracts. He is the founder of GovClose and the DoD Contract Academy, with 400+ graduates working as government contract consultants, federal account executives, and business owners winning federal contracts.Rick Howard expresses his opinions as a former government contracting officer and presents public data on government contracts that he analyzes. GovClose makes no guarantees whatsoever about federal spending data or government contracts.Government contracting data changes constantly, and we make no claims of perfection when presenting data. All data can be looked at from different angles, and it is up to the viewer to do their own research, their own data analysis, and decide if government contracting is for them.Disclaimer: This video reflects Rick Howard's personal opinions and independent analysis of publicly available government data. It does not represent an official position, endorsement, or statement of the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense.
