You had to charge double what you would the private sector per piece for parts to make the same money per hour.
Problem is you cannot really count on being able to charge what their extra paperwork and such cost - even with the complex tracking and accounting to support that that the "big guys" use (Northrop my first exposure, civilian side, COR and Contracting Officer whilst still in uniform..) ..
There's been a Public Law on the books easily fifty years that no supplier can charge the Government any more than it charges its next-most-favoured NON government customer.
Big Defense has bespoke Divisions meant to never, ever, ever HAVE a non-gummint customer and/or goods that are not ever sold to them, either.
Small shops have been cut a number of breaks over the years, but it is still a slow-pay, admin-heavy road with ever-present threat of the cost and nuisance of special audit hanging over yer head.
Even if an entity has never once set a foot wrong and gets praise for it - that takes time and resources away from earning a crust.
Worse, even customer "loyalty" is banned. Do a superb job every annual contract renewal for long years - still at-risk the next round goes to a lower bidder, so long as "qualified" to perform. Or can sustain the lie that they are qualified for long enough to make it so. It's the Law.
A field for specialists IOW. Virginia actually harbouring more of them than any other State.
Harder ride for mixed-biz generalists, though.