Has ISO certification helped anyone qualify for or win government contracts?

Our company has recently started exploring opportunities in the government sector, and during that process I’ve noticed that quality management and operational controls seem to receive a lot more attention than they do in many private-sector projects.

A colleague suggested that pursuing ISO 9001 certification could strengthen our position when bidding on government contracts, but I’m struggling to determine how much of a difference it actually makes. Some people I’ve spoken with say certification can improve credibility and help during vendor evaluations, while others claim that unless it’s specifically required in the solicitation, it doesn’t carry much weight.

We’re a relatively small company, so obtaining certification would require a significant investment of time and resources. Before making that commitment, I’d like to understand whether companies that work with government agencies have seen a tangible benefit from being ISO certified.

I’m particularly interested in real experiences from businesses that have participated in public tenders or procurement processes. Did ISO certification help you meet qualification requirements, improve evaluation scores, or make your company more competitive? Or was it simply one of many factors considered during the selection process?

I’m not looking for theoretical answers or marketing claims. I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through government bidding processes and can share whether ISO certification had a meaningful impact on the opportunities available to them.

Understanding how certification is viewed in actual procurement decisions would help us decide whether it’s something we should prioritize as part of our long-term growth strategy.