Government Contracting Glossary

The umbrella word for any official government request for bids or proposals.

The full bidding ritual: a written proposal evaluated on approach, experience, and price.

A simple request to send a price for clearly defined items or services.

Sealed bidding — the lowest responsive, responsible bid wins. Pure price game.

A pre-solicitation notice asking "who can do this?" — free to answer, high leverage.

The free federal vendor registry and opportunity board, in one website.

A 12-character ID issued during SAM registration — your company's federal identity.

A 5-character code assigned after SAM registration, used heavily in defense.

The six-digit industry code that gates what you match, what you can bid, and whether you count as small.

The per-NAICS revenue or headcount cap that defines whether you are a "small business."

A contract whose competition is restricted to a category of business (small, 8(a), WOSB…).

An award made without competition — legal under specific programs and dollar thresholds.

A 9-year SBA program for socially and economically disadvantaged business owners.

Set-asides for women-owned small businesses (51%+ owned and controlled) in designated industries.

Set-asides for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

A set-aside for businesses located in designated underutilized zones with local employees.

The dense but uniform rulebook that governs how the federal government buys.

In federal RFPs: the instructions to bidders (L) and how bids are evaluated (M).

The documented record of similar work — the currency of credibility in government bids.

Pass the technical bar, then the cheapest compliant bid wins.

The agency may pay more for a stronger proposal — quality and price are weighed together.

The government official with actual authority to sign a contract.

An official change to a live solicitation that you must acknowledge in your bid.

A walkthrough or meeting before bidding — sometimes mandatory to be eligible.

The contractor who currently holds the contract — the firm you must beat to win it.

The prime holds the contract directly; subcontractors work under the prime.

Formal ways to combine two firms' credentials on a single bid.

The agency's post-decision explanation of why you won or lost — always request it.

A formal challenge to an award. It exists — but is rarely a small firm's best move.

An umbrella contract; the actual work arrives later as task orders.

A specific job issued under an IDIQ or schedule.

A pre-negotiated federal price list — a hunting license, not a guarantee of sales.

Other umbrella purchasing vehicles — same "license to sell" idea as an IDIQ or Schedule.

The contract's work window — often a base year plus option years.

The agency's right to extend the contract another year without re-competing.

The moment an agency legally commits funds — the year-end rush is an obligation race.

The fully-loaded labor rate (salary + overhead + fee) used to price service work.

Federal law requiring agencies to pay invoices in about 30 days or owe interest.