Field Notes

Dispatches from building a federal contracting business.

Honest documentation of breaking into government contracting as a small business — the registration process, working with prime contractors, and the realities of running a dual-track operation from Huntsville, Texas.

Latest

How to Get Started as a Federal Contractor: My Journey and What I Learned About It

A few weeks ago, I became a SAM-registered federal contractor. CAGE Code 18MC2, cleared to work as a subcontractor supporting NASA Johnson Space Center. Getting here taught me more about federal procurement in three weeks than I learned in three years of casually thinking about it.

Federal Contracting SAM Registration Feb 7, 2026

In The Pipeline

What the SAM Registration Process Actually Looks Like

Technical Vetting for Aerospace Contracts: What I Look For

Running a Small Business in Huntsville, Texas