Self-performance requirements are where most new government contractors get their prime sub and teaming deals protested, and in this episode David Rambhajan breaks down exactly how he stayed compliant while subcontracting out as much as 85% of a federal contract.
If you are trying to win work you can bond but can't fully perform yourself, this is the teaming and joint venture playbook that keeps you inside the FAR rules instead of getting knocked out after award.
David walks through the real mechanics of prime sub relationships, like-kind subcontracting, affiliation risk, and the one sheet he attaches to every subcontract to keep the job profitable and protest-proof.
- How like-kind subcontracting lets a set-aside prime count a veteran-owned, woman-owned, HUBZone, or small business sub toward self-performance
- The self-performance percentages that change by NAICS code (services around 50%, general construction 15%, specialty around 25%) and why you must verify them before you bid
- What affiliation actually means, why over-reliance on a large business sub can get your contract protested, and how David managed that risk with backbonding
- The detailed expectations sheet David signs and attaches to every subcontract to kill the miscommunication that causes most job problems
- How to handle backbonding and bond costs honestly with a sub without blowing up trust or your profit margin
EPISODE CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Prime sub relationship and learning the federal rules
1:30 - Self-performance percentages that change by NAICS code
2:40 - Like-kind subcontracting toward your self-performance requirement
4:30 - Affiliation risk and subcontracting to a large business
6:00 - Managing risk and backbonding larger subcontractors
7:30 - Teaming on a mostly electrical contract you cannot fully perform
9:00 - Why front-loaded details beat moving fast
10:00 - The expectations sheet attached to every subcontract
11:00 - Handling bond costs and protecting trust with subs
Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them.
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