The Dynamic Small Business Search

The SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search is a vital component of any small business’s government marketing strategy. Many vendors overlook this step or create an ineffective profile which may limit their chances of being found.

Register in the System

To register within the DSBS system, vendors must first complete their SAM registration and will need to be classified as a small business under the SBA’s size standards for their NAICS codes. Once the SAM has been submitted, you will be able to log in to the DSBS system to complete the rest of your profile through SBA Connect.

From the SAM registration, you will already have a Login.gov account so you can log in through the Sign in with login.gov button on the account.

Once inside SBA Connect, you will fill out the profile information and can then access your DSBS profile by adding your UEI. You will then need to wait for your account to be approved by the Office of Government Contracting & Business Development (GCBD).

Display Your Capabilities

You should fill in all applicable questions on the DSBS page with as much detail as possible, but with the most precise and effective wording that you can. Most areas have limits on the number of characters that can be used, so you will need to be very particular. It is also not a good idea to reuse words or phrases that are in other sections of your DSBS page since they will already appear in the search.

Keywords

When filling in keywords, try to use the best descriptive words that provide the most information about your company. These words should not be characteristics you strive for or items that are not based on what you provide as a service or product.

For example, a flooring contractor may use carpet, title, or refinish. They would not want to use honesty, quality, or affordability.

Capabilities Narrative and Special Equipment/Materials

Your Capabilities Narrative should describe your company’s capabilities and not be a listing of keywords. This should be written in complete sentences and focus on the products and services that are being marketed to the federal government.

This is similar to the Special Equipment/Materials section since this should be trimmed to what is necessary and only what the federal government would purchase from your entity.

The Special Equipment/Materials section can go more into detail on the items that further specialize and differentiate your company from your competitors by showcasing the benefits a federal buyer would have in choosing your company.

Past Performance

This last section is the one that is most often left blank and is the one that you should pay the most attention to and that is the Past Performance References page.

All companies should fill something in some portion of this to give interested parties an idea of what their company is capable of performing. Most buyers will look to see if someone has performed a job or has relevant past performance.

This section does not need to be government past performance, it can be from the private sector or relevant past performance from the principal.