# Small Businesses Struggle Securing Government Contracts in Tennessee

A small technology business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has experienced nearly two years of difficulty securing government contracts, primarily due to reliance on cold emailing contracting officers without success. Community feedback from contracting professionals emphasizes that successful government contracting requires building relationships, submitting compliant and well-scoped proposals, leveraging Small Business Administration (SBA) resources, and actively pursuing solicitations aligned with business capabilities. Cold outreach to contracting officers is generally ineffective, while subcontracting and partnership with prime contractors are recommended strategies to gain traction in government procurement.

- Procurement professionals should recognize that new small business entrants often face challenges without relationship-building and proposal compliance
- Contracting officers respond better to businesses demonstrating understanding of solicitation requirements and capability alignment rather than unsolicited emails
- Small businesses are encouraged to engage SBA resources and pursue subcontracting opportunities to build credibility and access prime contracts
- This insight highlights the importance of outreach strategies and proposal quality in small business government contracting success, particularly in Tennessee markets

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Professional Services
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- Small Business Administration (SBA)

### Key Quotes
> Government contracting isn't sending emails to CO, it is having an established business with a real service or product, source opportunities that align with your capabilities, submit bid, get awarded, manage transition period, deliver, receive payment.
> — Original poster

> Writing good RFIs that clarify the scope or writing a good compliant proposal that shows us that you understand it and can deliver is the best way to get noticed.
> — Community commenter (Contracting Officer)

> Link up with a prime that’s chasing the same services you are. Build some relationships through sub work. CO’s are busy people and they respond better to customer intimacy. Cold emails annoy them.
> — Community commenter

### Sources
- [2 years passed and nothing](https://www.reddit.com/r/GovernmentContracting/comments/1whbghk/2_years_passed_and_nothing) - reddit-governmentcontracting