Government Contracting Guides

SAM & registration

• How Long Does SAM Registration Take?

  Learn how long does sam registration take, what can delay approval, how to check your status, and what to do before bidding on federal contracts.

• SAM.gov Registration Problems and How to Fix Them

  Fix sam.gov registration problems with steps for entity validation, rejected records, stuck applications, and support so your business can prepare to bid.

• System for Award Management Renewal: How to Renew SAM

  System for award management renewal keeps your federal registration active. Learn when to renew, what to check, and how to fix an expired registration.

• SAM Registration Scams: Is SAM Registration Free?

  A sam registration scam may ask you to pay for a free federal registration. Learn to spot fee demands, fake renewal notices, and protect your business.

• SAM Registration: Step-by-Step Guide (It's Free)

  Learn sam registration steps, what information to prepare, how to get a UEI, and how to keep your free federal registration active before bidding.

• What Is a UEI Number and How to Get One (Free)

  Learn what a UEI number identifies, how to get one free from SAM.gov, when full registration is required, and how to look up a federal contractor's ID.

• What Is the System for Award Management (SAM)?

  Learn what the system for award management is, how SAM.gov registration works, when you need it to bid, and how to keep your business record active.

Getting started

• Government Contracts for Small Business: Beginner's Guide

  Learn how government contracts for small business work, where to find federal bids, how to register, qualify for set-asides, and submit a strong offer.

• How to Find Government Contracts (Free Tools)

  Learn how to find government contracts with free federal search tools, research past awards, narrow bids by fit, and prepare to compete step by step.

• How to Get Government Contracts: A Beginner's Guide

  Learn how to get government contracts, from choosing a market and registering in SAM.gov to finding bids, pricing work, and submitting a strong proposal.

Bidding

• What Is a Capability Statement and How to Write One

  A capability statement helps buyers assess your business. Learn what to include, how to write one, and how to use a capability statement template.

• How to Write a Government Proposal

  Learn how to write a government proposal, follow an RFP's instructions, build a compliant response, price the work, and submit it on time with care.

• Government Subcontracting: Win Work Through Primes

  Learn how government subcontracting works, how to find prime contractors, assess subcontract offers, and win work supporting federal contracts.

• How to Bid on Government Contracts

  Learn how to bid on government contracts, find suitable opportunities, prepare a compliant proposal, price your work, and submit a stronger offer.

• Government Contract Pricing: How to Price a Bid

  Learn government contract pricing, build a defensible bid from labor and other costs, choose a margin, and check your numbers before you submit.

• RFP vs RFQ vs IFB: What's the Difference?

  Learn the difference in RFP vs RFQ, when an IFB applies, and how to read each solicitation so you can choose the right response and bid with confidence.

Codes & basics

• What Is a CAGE Code and How to Get One

  Learn what a cage code is, why federal vendors need one, how to get it through free SAM registration, and how to look up or update a code before bidding.

• Federal Fiscal Year Explained (and Why September Matters)

  Learn how the federal fiscal year works, why September can affect federal buying, and how to plan bids without counting on year-end spending patterns.

• What Is a NAICS Code and How to Choose Yours

  Learn what is a naics code, how to choose your six-digit industry code, check its size standard, and find federal bids that fit your business.

• What Is a PSC Code (Product Service Code)?

  Learn what a psc code means, how it differs from NAICS, where to look up codes, and how to use them to find relevant federal contract opportunities.

Set-asides

• 8(a) Certification: Requirements and How to Apply

  Learn 8(a) certification requirements, who may qualify, how to apply through SBA, and how the program can help your firm pursue federal contracts.

• HUBZone Certification: Requirements and How to Apply

  Learn hubzone certification requirements, how to check the HUBZone map, prepare your SBA application, and pursue federal set-aside contracts.

• SDVOSB Certification for Service-Disabled Veterans

  Learn how SDVOSB certification works, who qualifies, how to apply through the SBA, and how certification can open federal set-aside opportunities.

• Small Business Set-Aside Contracts Explained

  Learn how a small business set-aside works, who qualifies, how to find set-aside bids, and what to check before you submit a federal proposal for your firm.

• WOSB Certification for Woman-Owned Small Businesses

  Learn what WOSB certification requires, how to apply for woman-owned small business certification, and how to find federal set-aside opportunities.

Contract vehicles

• Firm-Fixed-Price Contract vs Cost-Plus: Key Differences

  Compare a firm-fixed-price contract with cost-plus terms, understand who carries cost risk, and choose the right fit for your business before you bid.

• GSA Schedule: What It Is and How to Get On It

  Learn what a gsa schedule is, how the GSA Multiple Award Schedule works, and the steps small businesses can take to apply and pursue federal orders.

• What Is an IDIQ Contract?

  An idiq contract sets terms for future orders, not a guaranteed workload. Learn how IDIQs work, how to compete, and what small firms should check.

• Micro-Purchase Threshold: Selling Under the Limit

  Learn how the micro-purchase threshold works, how purchase cards are used, and how small businesses can find, price, and pursue low-dollar federal sales.

Industries

• How to Get Government Cleaning Contracts

  Learn how to get government cleaning contracts, find janitorial bids, meet registration and insurance requirements, and submit a competitive proposal.

• Government Construction Contracts for Small Firms

  Learn how to find, qualify for, and bid on government construction contracts, including SAM registration, NAICS codes, pricing, and payment basics.

• Government IT Contracts: Where to Start

  Learn how to find, qualify for, and bid on government IT contracts, from choosing NAICS codes and registering in SAM.gov to pursuing subcontract work.

• Government Landscaping Contracts

  Learn how to find government landscaping contracts, review landscaping bids, meet agency requirements, price your work, and submit a strong offer.

• Government Trucking and Transportation Contracts

  Learn how to find government trucking contracts, register, match freight work to your fleet, price bids, and prepare compliant federal proposals.

State & local

• Cooperative Purchasing Contracts: Sourcewell, OMNIA, TIPS

  Learn how cooperative purchasing contracts through Sourcewell, OMNIA Partners, and TIPS work, who can use them, and how small firms can compete.

• City Bids and County Bids: Where to Find Them

  Find city bids and county bids with practical steps to search local procurement portals, compare opportunities and prepare a responsive bid.

• State Government Contracts: How They Differ From Federal

  Learn how state government contracts differ from federal bids, where to find opportunities, which registrations to check, and how to submit a bid.

Research

• Can Foreign Companies Get US Government Contracts?

  Learn how foreign companies can pursue US federal contracts, check eligibility, complete SAM registration, and find prime or subcontracting opportunities.

• Contract Award Notice: How to Read a Government Award

  Learn how to read a contract award notice, identify the winner, value, agency and dates, and use award records to research future government bids.

• How to Use USAspending.gov to Research Competitors

  Learn how to use usaspending.gov to find competitors, compare federal awards, identify buyers and turn government spending data into a smarter bid plan.

Government contracting glossary

Government contract

A legally binding agreement in which a government agency buys goods or services from a business. Federal contracts follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

SAM.gov

The System for Award Management: the free government website where businesses register to work with the federal government and where agencies post contract opportunities.

UEI (Unique Entity ID)

A free 12-character ID that SAM.gov assigns to every registered business. It replaced the DUNS number in April 2022.

CAGE code

A five-character code that identifies a contractor's facility. US businesses get one during SAM.gov registration.

NAICS code

A 6-digit code that classifies a business by industry. Every federal contract carries one, and small business size standards are set per NAICS code.

PSC (Product Service Code)

A code describing what the government is buying in a contract, used alongside the NAICS code.

Obligation

Money the government has legally committed to pay on a contract. Contract spending figures on this site are obligations reported on USAspending.gov.

Federal fiscal year

The government's budget year, running from October 1 to September 30. FY2026 ran from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

Prime contractor

A business that holds a contract directly with a government agency.

Subcontractor

A business hired by a prime contractor to do part of the work on a government contract. Subcontracting is a common first step into government work.

Contracting officer

The government official with the authority to award, change and end contracts for an agency.

Set-aside

A contract reserved for small businesses, or for a group such as 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

8(a) program

An SBA business development program for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people, with access to set-aside and sole-source contracts.

HUBZone

An SBA program for small businesses located in, and employing people from, historically underutilized business zones.

WOSB and EDWOSB

Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business: SBA certifications for women-owned set-aside contracts.

SDVOSB

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business: an SBA certification for contracts set aside for these firms.

Solicitation

A notice asking businesses to submit bids, quotes or proposals for a contract.

RFP (Request for Proposals)

A solicitation where the agency compares proposals on price and other factors, such as technical approach and past performance.

RFQ (Request for Quotations)

A request for price quotes, usually for simpler or smaller purchases.

IFB (Invitation for Bids)

A sealed-bid solicitation where the contract goes to the lowest-priced bidder that meets the requirements.

Sources sought notice

Market research by an agency asking which businesses could do the work. Answering can help persuade the agency to set the contract aside for small businesses.

RFI (Request for Information)

Market research where an agency asks businesses for information about a planned requirement, such as approaches, capabilities or pricing structures. It is not a bid.

Industry day

An event where an agency briefs interested businesses on an upcoming contract and answers questions, often announced in a special notice.

Presolicitation notice

An advance notice that an agency plans to issue a solicitation soon.

IDIQ contract

Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity: a contract for an unknown quantity of work over a set period, with task or delivery orders placed as needed.

GSA Schedule

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule: long-term contracts with pre-negotiated prices that federal agencies can order from directly.

Micro-purchase

A small purchase under the micro-purchase threshold that an agency can make without competition, often with a government purchase card.

Capability statement

A one- or two-page summary of what your business does, its past performance and its codes, used to introduce your firm to agencies and prime contractors.

OSDBU

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: the office in most federal agencies that helps small businesses work with that agency.

USAspending.gov

The government's public website of federal spending, including every contract award.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start government contracting?

Register your business for free at SAM.gov, which also gives you a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Choose the NAICS codes that describe what you sell, check whether you qualify for small business programs, then search open government contracts on SAM.gov and start with smaller bids or subcontracts.

Is SAM registration free?

Yes. Registering in SAM.gov costs nothing. Companies that charge a fee to register for you are optional, and some are scams; you can register yourself at sam.gov.

Can a small business get government contracts?

Yes. Many federal contracts are set aside for small businesses, and the federal government aims to award at least 23% of its prime contract dollars to small businesses each year.