🚨 Are you looking for government opportunities in the same places—and wondering what else is out there? This week’s Skool community call is about Beyond the State Portal: Finding More Buyers and Bid Opportunities! We’ll discuss how to expand your search to include: ✅ City and county purchasing portals ✅ School districts, colleges, and universities ✅ Individual departments and facilities ✅ Platforms such as PlanetBids, OpenGov, Public Purchase, and BidNet Direct ✅ Purchasing groups and their participating agency lists We’ll also talk about free searches versus paid alerts, finding direct quote opportunities, and building a manageable list of buyers that fit what your business offers. Bring your questions and be ready to share what you sell or the services you provide. Let’s turn searching into a more focused plan of action! 📅 Check our scheduled community event for the call details and Zoom link. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83628756598?pwd=qc8F2kS9LzRnakTIUSQuWYORTm1m8A.1 What’s one portal you currently use to find opportunities? Drop it below! 👇

🚨 October 31, 2026 3:00pm PST Saturday 🆓 FREE Government Contracting Q&A 📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026 🕚 3:00pm – 3:30pm (PST) Whether you're just getting started or have questions along the way, join us for a live Government Contracting Q&A! We'll discuss topics such as: ✅ SAM.gov Registration ✅ Certifications ✅ Finding Government Opportunities ✅ Where to Get Started ✅ General Government Contracting Questions Everyone is welcome! Please use the Zoom link below to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81093230434?pwd=1g6BOHy8T2TPFwZanJbnh88HsNp1Gc.1 Tomorrow’s Community Call: Finding Opportunities—and Knowing Which Ones to Pursue! 😊 We’re continuing last week’s conversation about state and agency purchasing portals with the next step: evaluating the opportunities you find. We’ll discuss product versus service contracts, working with suppliers and subcontractors, and knowing when to move forward—or move on. What happens when the manufacturer is bidding directly? What if OEM products or authorized reseller documentation are required? Are equivalent products allowed, and can you compete profitably? I’ll share examples from our week at CFS, along with how we’re using systems and support to keep opportunities moving. Bring your questions or an opportunity you’re evaluating. The Zoom link is posted—looking forward to connecting! ⭐ Government Contracting Monthly Subscription Members Program 🕦 3:45pm - 4:45pm PST Government Contracting Members will receive a separate Zoom invitation for our exclusive members-only training by email. During this session, we'll continue our in-depth training with topics including: - Live contract searches - Government portals - Bid opportunities - Real-world examples - Lessons learned - Member Q&A We look forward to connecting with you all, have a great day.

It’s been a little while since I posted a welcome, so to everyone who has joined us recently, and those who have been here along the way, thank you for being part of this community! 💙 Whether you’re exploring government contracting, growing a business, or figuring out your next chapter, you belong here. Business growth doesn’t always happen on the timeline we imagined. Sometimes we have to pause, learn something new, change direction, or start again. That doesn’t erase the experience we’ve gained, it gives us something to build on. Your second chapter can be just as meaningful as your first. It’s never too late to restart, pivot, or pursue something new. And you don’t have to figure everything out alone. Ask questions. Make connections. Build relationships. A conversation can open a door you never knew existed. Whether you’re pursuing government contracts or growing another type of business, having people you can partner with and reach out to matters. Suppliers, fellow business owners, and community members can become valuable sources of knowledge, resources, and opportunities. We see this daily at CFS. When we need a product, a resource, or help solving a problem, being able to contact someone directly makes a tremendous difference. Those relationships take time to build, but they can help you serve customers better and move your business forward. Be willing to offer support, too—strong relationships grow through mutual respect and helping one another. Government contracting takes preparation, patience, and follow-through. You may not win every opportunity, but each proposal, conversation, and lesson can help you become better prepared for the next one. This community is a place to ask questions, share resources, make connections, celebrate progress, and encourage one another. Introduce yourself below: What are you building, and what connection or resource would help you take your next step? I’m glad you’re here. Let’s keep learning and moving forward together! 🙌🏽

Following this morning’s NASA session, I wanted to share the purchasing categories highlighted on their “Top Kennedy Space Center NAICS Codes” slide. NAICS codes describe industries and help you research where your business may fit: • 336414: Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 541715: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology* • 236210: Industrial Building Construction • 561210: Facilities Support Services • 541330: Engineering Services • 541512: Computer Systems Design Services • 561612: Security Guards and Patrol Services • 541380: Testing Laboratories and Services • 325120: Industrial Gas Manufacturing • 541519: Other Computer Related Services The presentation listed the older research code 541712; check the code used in each current solicitation. Don’t count yourself out because your industry isn’t on this list! Our medical equipment business wasn’t listed here either. But when I introduced CFS and asked a question, the team directed me toward contacts and locations that may purchase what we offer. These categories are a starting point for research—not a list of open contracts or a complete picture of everything NASA buys. Contact the agency’s small business office, ask about upcoming information sessions, and explain what your business can provide. NASA calls its office OSBP; other agencies may use OSDBU. Showing up, asking questions, and building relationships can open doors you didn’t know existed. 😊 Do any of these categories connect with your business—or a partner you could work with? Share below! -CFS Community Team

October 24, 2026 11:30am PST Saturday Live