Do you run a cleaning business targeting schools but are not getting jobs? If YES, here are 7 guaranteed steps to getting cleaning contracts with schools.
Keeping an environment is a challenging work; more so if the environment in question is a school. You will need to be skilled and have an attention for details to be able to effectively clean the various classrooms, offices, gyms, lawns etc that schools have.
Why Target Schools for Cleaning Contracts?
Students whether in colleges, high schools or elementary are notorious for littering and generally making the school environment untidy.
It should be noted that the more students that are in a school, the higher the tendency of the school in general being really dirty. The importance of a clean classroom can however not be overemphasized.
A clean school environment will ensure that the health of the students will not be compromised and thus prevent the spread of diseases.
This will in turn help to prevent unnecessary medical expenses because the students will be free from diseases. Furthermore, a clean environment contributes towards successful learning.
The process of getting a cleaning contract with private and public schools in the united states differs somewhat. In the case of a private school, you can meet with the management of the school and prepare a proposal to clean the school for them for a stipulated amount of money. Alternatively, you can try the following:
How to Get a Cleaning Contract in a Private School
1. Networking
One of the best methods of getting a school cleaning contract in a private school is to make yourself and your company well known among the school and local community.
2. Flyers and mails
You can make use of flyers and direct mails to let the school management know about the services that your cleaning company has to offer.
3. Newspaper Ads
Newspaper is yet another tool that can help to obtain potential clients for your cleaning business. By placing an ad in the classified section, you may be able to grab the attention of a school that is in need of a cleaning service.
4. Referrals/word of mouth
One of the oldest and still effective forms of advertisement is the word of mouth. People usually take the recommendation of a family member, friend or colleague. Be sure that you do a good job for your current customers so that they can recommend you to others.
In public school on the other hand, you will have to bid for and win a government cleaning contract. When bidding for a government school janitorial contract, you should bear in mind that having the lowest bid does not necessarily mean that your bid will be chosen.
The process factors in a lot of other determinant in order to arrive at a final choice. You should approach the bidding process fully prepared so as to have the best chance of winning the contract. To secure cleaning contracts in a government school, you will have to do the following;
How to Get a Cleaning Contract in a Public School
1. Obtain your D-U-N-S number
Every government contract bidder, be you a janitorial contractor or otherwise, must first get a Dun or Bradstreet number, also known as D-U-N-S number. The Dun number is a 9 digit number that helps to indicate the locality in which your business is in.
This implies that if your office exists in multiple locations, you will have to get a Duns number for each of them. Obtaining a D-U-N-S number in the United States is free of charge, though you will be required to fill out a form that will contain informations like the size of your business and of course, the name of your business.
2. Complete SAM registration
To bid for any government janitorial contract, you will also be required to register your business with the System of Award (SAM).
In order to complete this registration, you will be required to provide a North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS code). For janitorial services, the code is 561720.
3. Seek out schools in need of janitorial contractors
You don’t have to fold your arms and wait for schools to contact you; you will have to be proactive. You can do this by visiting websites like FBO.gov to find federal agencies and schools that are in need of janitorial services so that you can place a bid. You can also visit GovCB.com to get details of state schools that may be in need of your service.
An idea for increasing your chances will be to partner with larger companies or companies that are made up of minority, veteran or are women owned so as to be able to access and bid on janitorial contracts that are made specifically for those classes of people.
4. Provide complete bid information
Once the opportunity provides itself for you to place a bid, you should endeavor to provide your complete details. Fill in the section that shows how your service beats other janitorial services that are out there in terms of experience, quality of service and ability to always deliver.
Explain the experience of both yourself and your staff in providing specific types of janitorial services. Make sure you return the bid before the deadline and check back with the agency in order to find out if there has been any new development.