govcon.forum

How do government contracts actually work from the vendor side, start to finish?

Ask a question
Asked Active Viewed 1 timeAnswered
Short answer · from the accepted reply
  • After you submit a proposal for a federal contract, the government evaluates it against the criteria outlined in Section M of the solicitation, selects a winner, awards the contract, and then manages performance and payment.
Read the accepted answer
2answers

Hey everyone, I'm Jordan, first-year bidder from Jacksonville. My company does landscaping and grounds maintenance. I'm trying to wrap my head around the whole government contracting process. I saw a presolicitation notice on SAM.gov for groundskeeping at a local naval air station, NAICS 561730, a small business set-aside. The notice said an RFP was coming in October.

What happens after I submit a proposal? Who evaluates it, how long does that take, and how do they pick a winner? What does the actual contract document look like, and how does payment work once the work starts? I need to understand the whole lifecycle before I sink a ton of time into this.

beginnerawardsam-govset-asidesrfp
ShareReport
asked Jordan P. First-year bidder, landscaping and grounds · Jacksonville, FL · 168 rep

2 answers

1
Accepted answer

After you submit a proposal for a federal contract, the government evaluates it against the criteria outlined in Section M of the solicitation, selects a winner, awards the contract, and then manages performance and payment.

For federal contracts, the process is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). A team of government evaluators, often subject matter experts and contracting personnel, reviews proposals to determine which one offers the best value to the government. This evaluation can take weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the requirement and the number of proposals received. The contracting officer makes the final award decision based on the evaluation findings.

The contract document itself incorporates the solicitation and your proposal, often with specific clauses and terms. Payment usually occurs after you perform services and submit invoices through a government system like WAWF or PIEE. For state and local contracts, the process will follow their specific state procurement codes and the guidelines on their procurement portals.

ShareReport
answered Jo R. Freelance proposal writer · Denver, CO · 409 rep
Thanks, this helps. I am looking at a solicitation right now, and I will find Section M to see what they are looking for. I appreciate the guidance. · Jordan P. ·
0

The government also determines if you are a responsible prospective contractor before awarding a contract. This means the contracting officer will assess your integrity, experience, and financial resources, among other factors, to ensure you can perform the work. Jordan, what Jo said about the payment system is correct for federal contracts: you'll likely use WAWF or PIEE to submit invoices. For state contracts, like the Georgia term contracts my firm holds, you use the state's own system, such as Team Georgia Marketplace. Each state procurement portal has specific guidelines for invoicing and payment.

ShareReport
answered Keisha W. Verified vendor8(a) firm founder, staffing and training · Atlanta, GA · 244 rep

Your answer

Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

Related questions