HX5 offers a concrete example of what a women-owned business can achieve in the federal contracting market. Founded in 2004 by Margarita Howard, the Fort Walton Beach, Florida company has grown into a firm with more than 1,000 employees across 34 states and 90 government locations, delivering professional mission support services to the Department of Defense and NASA. Howard serves as sole owner and CEO/president, making HX5 one of the more prominent women-owned firms operating in the government contracting space.

Howard has been candid about the uneven terrain women still face in the industry. “It’s still somewhat challenging for women in this industry, and while progress has been made, some biases unfortunately remain to be overcome,” she said. At the same time, she sees genuine movement. “It’s rewarding to see that women are making significant strides in the government contracting industry, over the years, breaking barriers and more often assuming leadership roles in this industry and within government agencies that we work with.”

Scaling Through Competitive Bidding

Central to HX5’s growth was Margarita Howard‘s early choice to pursue competitively bid contracts rather than rely on protected set-aside work. After HX5 entered the federal 8(a) program and quickly won four contracts in a single year, Howard kept pushing the firm to win work on its own. “And once the program was over after nine years, they were done. They had never competed,” she said of firms that stayed dependent on sole-source awards. HX5 was not going to be one of them.

Howard invested in building an operation that could stand up to the scrutiny that comes with full and open competition. “Businesses must invest in educating themselves about these regulations and ensure strict adherence to them,” she said. “It’s important that a company’s records are impeccable when working with the government due to the compliance reporting and audits that companies have to agree to perform on government contracts.”

For Margarita Howard and HX5, the result is a firm that has earned its position through performance. “Working side by side with civil servants and the military, supporting their respective missions, is a privilege,” Howard said. “I love this business and the work that we do. I’m extremely proud of it.” That commitment, sustained over two decades, is what has kept HX5 competitive and growing. Refer to this article to learn more.

More about Margarita Howard on https://www.margaritahoward.com/