Government Procurement Answers
Plain-English answers to the questions vendors most often ask about finding, bidding on, and winning government contracts.
Foundational questions
How do I find government contracts?
Government contracts are publicly posted on agency procurement portals. The easiest path is SAM.gov for federal opportunities plus an aggregator like ProcureTap to cover state an…
Read full answer →How do I bid on government contracts?
Bidding on a government contract usually involves four steps: register with the issuing agency, read the solicitation in full, prepare a responsive proposal that addresses every …
Read full answer →What is the difference between an RFP, an RFQ, and an IFB?
An RFP asks vendors to propose how they would solve a complex requirement (evaluation considers price plus technical approach). An RFQ asks for a price quote on a fully defined n…
Read full answer →Do I need to register on SAM.gov to bid on government contracts?
SAM.gov registration is required for federal contracts but not for state or local contracts. State and local agencies have their own vendor registrations — usually free, but sepa…
Read full answer →How do small businesses win government contracts?
Small businesses win government contracts primarily through SBA set-aside programs (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) that reserve specific contracts for qualifying firms, and by leve…
Read full answer →What is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov is the System for Award Management — the federal government's consolidated portal where vendors register to do business with federal agencies, where federal contract oppo…
Read full answer →What is a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)?
A UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned by SAM.gov to every entity registered to do business with the US federal government. It replaced the older DUNS number system in …
Read full answer →What is a CAGE code?
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is a five-character identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to firms doing business with the US federal government. It …
Read full answer →What is the simplified acquisition threshold?
The simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) is the federal dollar limit below which agencies can use streamlined "simplified" procurement procedures instead of full negotiated pro…
Read full answer →What is an IDIQ contract?
An IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity) contract is a federal contracting vehicle that lets agencies place multiple orders against a single award over a period of yea…
Read full answer →What is the GSA Schedule?
The GSA Schedule (now called Multiple Award Schedules or MAS) is a federal contracting vehicle managed by the General Services Administration that pre-approves vendors and pricin…
Read full answer →What is a GWAC?
A GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract) is a federal IDIQ contract designated by OMB for use by all federal agencies. GWACs are IT-focused and let any federal agency place …
Read full answer →How long does it take to win a government contract?
From identifying an opportunity to receiving an award typically takes 60-180 days for federal RFPs, 30-90 days for state and local RFPs, and 7-30 days for simplified acquisitions…
Read full answer →How much do government contracts pay?
Government contract values range from a few thousand dollars to multi-billion-dollar programs. The federal government spent roughly $760 billion on contracts in FY2024 across 11 …
Read full answer →Do I need a bond to bid on government contracts?
Bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds are required on most federal construction contracts over $150,000 and on many state and local construction projects. Service contr…
Read full answer →What is the Davis-Bacon Act?
The Davis-Bacon Act requires federal construction contractors and their subcontractors to pay at least the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits to workers on federal cons…
Read full answer →What is the Service Contract Act?
The Service Contract Act (SCA) requires federal service contractors to pay at least the locally prevailing wages and benefits for service workers on federal contracts over $2,500…
Read full answer →What is past performance and how do I get it?
Past performance is your documented record of completing similar contracts on time, on budget, and to specification. Federal agencies evaluate past performance through CPARS rati…
Read full answer →What is best-value procurement?
Best-value procurement is an evaluation method where the agency considers price plus non-price factors (technical approach, past performance, management plan) and awards to the o…
Read full answer →What is an RFI and should I respond?
A Request for Information (RFI) is a pre-solicitation document where the agency asks vendors for capability information before issuing an RFP. RFIs are not contracts and create n…
Read full answer →What is a sole-source contract?
A sole-source contract is awarded to a single vendor without competition, based on a written agency determination that only one source can perform the work. Federal sole-source a…
Read full answer →How do I get on the GSA Schedule?
You get on the GSA Schedule (now MAS) by responding to the open MAS solicitation on SAM.gov with documentation of your commercial pricing, past performance, financial capacity, a…
Read full answer →What is a set-aside contract?
A set-aside contract is a procurement that is reserved exclusively for a specific category of vendors — typically small businesses or businesses certified under SBA preference pr…
Read full answer →Can I bid on government contracts as a sole proprietor?
Yes, sole proprietors can bid on federal, state, and local government contracts. The same SAM.gov registration and certification rules apply as for corporations and LLCs. Sole pr…
Read full answer →What is a bid protest?
A bid protest is a formal challenge to a federal procurement decision — typically the award of a contract to a competitor or the terms of a solicitation. Protests are filed with …
Read full answer →How do I find state procurement contracts?
State procurement contracts are posted on each state's official procurement portal — California uses Cal eProcure, Texas uses ESBD, New York uses NYSCR, etc. There are also many …
Read full answer →What NAICS code should I use?
Your primary NAICS code should be the code that best describes your primary line of business — usually where you generate the most revenue. You can register multiple NAICS codes …
Read full answer →What is the Buy American Act?
The Buy American Act requires federal agencies to give preference to domestically produced goods on federal contracts. The act applies broadly to federal procurement of supplies …
Read full answer →What is prevailing wage?
Prevailing wage is the locally prevailing hourly wage and fringe benefit rate that the US Department of Labor (or state labor departments) determines for each job classification …
Read full answer →Do I need FedRAMP to sell cloud services to the government?
Yes for most federal cloud services. FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is required for cloud services used by federal agencies, with three impact levels…
Read full answer →How do I get construction bids from government agencies?
Register as a vendor on SAM.gov for federal work, state DOT/general-services portals for state work, and cooperative platforms (BidNet Direct, DemandStar, Bonfire) for local gove…
Read full answer →What is 8(a) certification and how do I qualify?
8(a) is an SBA business development program that gives socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses exclusive access to set-aside and sole-source federal contracts fo…
Read full answer →What is HUBZone certification and how do I qualify?
HUBZone is an SBA program for small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones. Certified firms get set-aside contract access and a 10% price evaluation pref…
Read full answer →What is WOSB certification and how do I qualify?
WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) certification lets women-owned small businesses compete for set-aside federal contracts in industries where women are historically underrepresen…
Read full answer →What is SDVOSB certification and how do I qualify?
SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) certification lets qualifying veteran-owned firms compete for federal set-aside and sole-source contracts. Now unified at t…
Read full answer →How do I become a certified small business contractor?
Register on SAM.gov with your Unique Entity Identifier, self-certify as a small business under the applicable NAICS size standard, and then apply for any relevant socioeconomic c…
Read full answer →How do I write a government proposal that wins?
Read the solicitation twice, structure your response in the exact order and format the RFP specifies, address every numbered requirement explicitly, price competitively based on …
Read full answer →What is a capabilities statement and what should it include?
A capabilities statement is a one-page marketing document that summarizes your company for federal contracting officers and prime contractors — it should include your NAICS codes…
Read full answer →How do I price a government contract?
Government contract pricing depends on the contract type. Fixed-price bids need full-loaded rates with reasonable margin; cost-plus bids require documented direct + indirect rate…
Read full answer →What is a technical proposal and what should it contain?
The technical proposal is the section of a government bid response that explains HOW you will do the work. It typically includes your technical approach, staffing plan, project s…
Read full answer →What should be in a past performance narrative?
A past performance narrative should identify the contract by name, number, and value; the customer with a live contact; the scope of work in language matching the current solicit…
Read full answer →What is a teaming agreement in government contracting?
A teaming agreement is a written contract between two or more companies (typically a prime and one or more subcontractors) to pursue a specific federal opportunity together. It d…
Read full answer →What is a subcontracting plan and when do I need one?
A subcontracting plan is a formal document that large prime contractors submit with their federal proposal committing to specific dollar or percentage goals for subcontracting to…
Read full answer →What is a task order in government contracting?
A task order is a specific order for services placed against an existing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle. The base IDIQ awards the potential; task…
Read full answer →What is a bid bond and when do I need one?
A bid bond is a surety instrument that guarantees you will honor your bid if awarded the contract. Typically required on federal construction contracts >$150K and many state and …
Read full answer →How do I file a bid protest?
Bid protests are filed with either the agency itself (agency-level protest), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Deadlines are extrem…
Read full answer →How do I bid on Department of Defense contracts?
DoD contracts are competed through SAM.gov (like all federal), the Defense Logistics Agency's DIBBS system for military parts, and various service-specific vehicles. You need SAM…
Read full answer →How do I bid on Department of Veterans Affairs contracts?
VA contracts are posted on SAM.gov like all federal opportunities, with a critical twist: the VA's "Vets First" mandate gives service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDV…
Read full answer →How do I bid on local government (city, county, school district) contracts?
Register with each city, county, and school district you want to bid with — most use platforms like Bonfire, PlanetBids, Jaggaer, or BidNet Direct for their solicitations. Covera…
Read full answer →How do I bid on K-12 school district and higher education contracts?
Register with each school district and university you want to work with, plus the cooperative purchasing organizations they buy through (OMNIA Partners, Sourcewell, NCPA, TIPS). …
Read full answer →How do I get my first government contract?
Register on SAM.gov, identify a specific set-aside category you qualify for, pursue small opportunities under $250,000 (below the SAT threshold), start as a subcontractor to an e…
Read full answer →Is FedBizOpps (FBO.gov) still active?
No. FedBizOpps was retired on November 12, 2019. All federal contract opportunities are now posted on SAM.gov. Any article, tutorial, or training that references FBO or FBO.gov i…
Read full answer →What is the difference between SAM.gov and Grants.gov?
SAM.gov handles federal contracts and vendor registration. Grants.gov handles federal grants and financial assistance. Both are free, both require registration, and both link bac…
Read full answer →What is a sources sought notice?
A sources sought notice is a market research request that federal agencies publish before releasing a formal solicitation. It asks the vendor community who can perform the work. …
Read full answer →How do I find 8(a) set-aside contracts?
Search SAM.gov with the Set-Aside Code filter set to "8(a) Competitive" or "8(a) Sole Source." State and local set-asides equivalent to 8(a) are found on each state's procurement…
Read full answer →What does LPTA mean in government contracting?
LPTA stands for Lowest Price Technically Acceptable. It is an evaluation method where the government awards to the lowest-priced bidder whose technical proposal meets minimum acc…
Read full answer →What is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)?
A Blanket Purchase Agreement is a simplified contracting method where a federal agency establishes ordering terms with one or more vendors, then issues individual "calls" against…
Read full answer →How often are new government bids posted?
Federal agencies post to SAM.gov continuously — typically 300-600 new opportunities per business day nationwide. State and local agencies post to their portals throughout the bus…
Read full answer →How do I get notified of new government bids?
Set up saved searches with email or instant alerts on each portal you monitor (SAM.gov, each state's portal, each local platform). A single-source aggregator like ProcureTap cons…
Read full answer →Can a foreign company bid on US government contracts?
Yes, but with restrictions. Foreign companies can register on SAM.gov and bid on most federal contracts, but the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act limit product origin, a…
Read full answer →What is a cooperative purchasing contract?
A cooperative purchasing contract is a pre-competed contract that lets multiple government agencies buy from a vendor without running their own procurements. One lead agency comp…
Read full answer →What is a contract modification?
A contract modification (mod) is a formal change to an existing government contract — adjusting scope, price, delivery, or terms. Mods are common: they extend option years, add o…
Read full answer →State + industry deep dives
We have a dedicated answer page for every combination of state and industry — over 900 in total. Here are some popular ones:
- How to find construction contracts in california
- How to find information technology contracts in california
- How to find healthcare contracts in california
- How to find professional services contracts in california
- How to find construction contracts in texas
- How to find information technology contracts in texas
- How to find healthcare contracts in texas
- How to find professional services contracts in texas
- How to find construction contracts in new york
- How to find information technology contracts in new york
- How to find healthcare contracts in new york
- How to find professional services contracts in new york
- How to find construction contracts in florida
- How to find information technology contracts in florida
- How to find healthcare contracts in florida
- How to find professional services contracts in florida
- How to find construction contracts in illinois
- How to find information technology contracts in illinois
- How to find healthcare contracts in illinois
- How to find professional services contracts in illinois
What does my state buy?
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