The Readiness Checklist
Click each item that is true for your business right now. Your readiness score updates automatically.
- My business has been operating for at least 2 years
Track record matters to primes. Two or more years shows stability. - I have a valid EIN and a dedicated business bank account
Required for SAM.gov registration. - I hold an active FFL license
If applicable. An FFL is a federal credential that qualifies you for programs others can't touch. - I have at least 2 documented past performance references
Prior LE clients, institutional customers, manufacturer contracts — written down with client name, scope, dollar value. - I have (or qualify for) an SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, or 8(a) certification
The single biggest lever. Even "in process" counts — you can tell primes when you expect to be certified. - I am registered (or ready to register) on SAM.gov
Without this, nothing else matters. Registration is free and takes 7–10 business days. - I can commit 2–3 hours per week to outreach and follow-up
Over 6–18 months. Federal subcontracting rewards consistent effort over time, not sprints. - I understand that the first contract will likely be small
A test engagement before larger work. The first dollar is a milestone, not the destination. - I have (or can write) a one-page capability statement
Specific to your capabilities and past performance. Generic statements don't get responses. - I have consistent, reliable capacity to deliver on a contract
You won't be able to grow a prime relationship if you can't deliver consistently on the first engagement.
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Your Next Steps by Score
Check items above
Your personalized next-step guidance will appear here based on your score.
You've Finished the Guide
You now know how federal subcontracting works, what it pays, how to get compliant, how to find the right primes, and what to say when you reach them. The rest is execution.
One last thing
Other services charge hundreds of dollars per month to provide access to the same federal contract data this guide is built on. ZRConnect is free. The data comes directly from USASpending.gov. We built this because the firearms industry — gun ranges, gunsmiths, FFLs, and manufacturers — deserves the same intelligence that well-funded contractors have always had.
Use it.