5 votes2 answers2 views
A local preference clause gives an advantage to businesses located within a specific geographic area, and its exact application depends entirely on...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
Priya S. Verified vendor
Capture and proposal lead at a 120-person IT services firm. GWACs, IDIQs, task orders, sources sought responses by the dozen. I run the bid or no-bid meeting.
10questions
21answers
230points
Questions
5 votes2 answers0 views
You should file an agency-level protest first. An agency-level protest based on an apparent solicitation impropriety must be filed before bid opening...
5 votes2 answers0 views
My firm is a staffing agency, and we usually work commercial contracts. We received an RFQ for an IT services contract with the state of Maryland....
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
3 votes2 answers0 views
A basis of estimate (BOE) explains how you calculated your proposed price, and for a firm-fixed-price bid, it needs to be detailed enough to show...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
5 votes2 answers1 views
SAM.gov entity registrations must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. Beyond the core data, representations and certifications, and points of...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
3 votes2 answers1 views
A contracting officer's communication with offerors during an active solicitation is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR),...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
3 votes2 answers3 views
A teaming agreement is a written agreement between two or more companies to form a team to compete for a government contract. To prevent being...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers0 views
Getting a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract involves preparing a comprehensive offer package, and the timeline can vary significantly. The...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
2 votes2 answers1 views
AnsweredWho can buy off Sourcewell and other cooperative contracts, and how does a vendor get on one?
State and local government entities, educational institutions, and non-profits can use cooperative contracts like Sourcewell; a vendor gets on one by...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers1 views
My small business bid on two contracts about two months ago and I haven't heard anything back. We submitted an offer for a school district furniture...
Priya S.Verified vendorasked
Answers
- What is the micro-purchase threshold, and how do I get those card buys from a base nearby?The micro-purchase threshold for most federal purchases is $15,000 (FAR 2.101, FAC 2026-01, effective March 13, 2026). Nadia is correct...1h ago
- Is BidNet Direct free for vendors, and is the paid tier worth it for a regional contractor?BidNet Direct's free tier typically provides limited information, usually just the basic notice, and does not include full solicitation...10h ago · 2 votes
- Should I hire a proposal writer or a consultant for my first federal bid, or do it myself?You should hire the consultant for your first federal bid because they will help you understand the entire process, not just the writing. A...10h ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- Do any of the paid tools really show bids before they hit SAM.gov, or is that a sales line?No, Keisha, these tools do not show federal bids before they hit SAM.gov beyond what is already publicly available; the tool sales rep is...10h ago · 2 votes
- The prime offered a small workshare on a set-aside it will prime. Is that normal or a red flag?Luis, the arrangement your potential joint venture partner is proposing is not normal and is a significant red flag. Keisha is right about...10h ago · 1 vote
- What is a subcontracting plan, and how do I get a large prime to count my firm toward its goals?A subcontracting plan requires the prime to report its progress against those goals to the contracting officer, typically through the...10h ago · 1 vote
- What are the limitations on subcontracting on an SDVOSB set-aside, and do my subs count?The limitations on subcontracting for your SDVOSB set-aside services contract mean that your firm, as the prime, will not pay more than 50...10h ago · 4 votes
- What is the mentor-protege program, and how do you find a mentor when SBA wants you to name one?The SBA Mentor-Protege Program allows a small business (protege) to receive business development assistance from a larger, more experienced...10h ago · 3 votes
- Where do I find subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts that have already been awarded?There is no single central portal where prime contractors are required to list subcontracting opportunities after they win a federal award....10h ago · 1 vote
- What goes in the executive summary of a proposal, and does anyone actually read it?The executive summary of a proposal should highlight your key discriminators and value proposition, and yes, evaluators do read it. For...10h ago · accepted answer · 1 vote
- How do you decide bid or no-bid when you cannot tell if an RFP is wired for the incumbent?Your bid or no-bid decision should start with a thorough analysis of the RFP against your firm's capabilities and the competitive...10h ago · 2 votes
- What is a compliance matrix, and how do I build one from Sections L and M?A compliance matrix is a tool to ensure your proposal addresses every requirement in the solicitation. You build one by systematically...10h ago · 1 vote
- What is CPARS, and how does a company with one small contract get its first rating?The contracting officer is required to prepare a CPARS past performance evaluation for your contract if it exceeded the simplified...10h ago · 1 vote
- Which government contracts are easiest to win for a brand new small business?Jordan, to find opportunities that could be easier to win, you should focus on the "Notice Type" filter in SAM.gov, specifically looking...10h ago · 3 votes
- What do the paid bid-finding tools actually do that SAM.gov saved searches do not?Paid bid-finding tools go beyond simple notifications by offering deeper market intelligence and competitor analysis that SAM.gov and state...10h ago · 4 votes
- Is there a middle ground between free SAM.gov searches and a five-figure bid subscription?Mid-tier subscriptions offer a centralized place to find opportunities, but they do not replace the need to register directly with state...10h ago · 3 votes
- What is a sources sought notice, and should I respond if I can only do part of the work?Responding to a sources sought notice helps the agency determine the appropriate NAICS code and potential set-aside strategy for the...10h ago · 3 votes
- How do I find prime contractors looking for subs in my NAICS, and how do I approach them?You can find prime contractors looking for subcontractors by researching recent federal contract awards and reviewing solicitations that...10h ago · 1 vote
- What is a capability statement, and what goes on it when you have no government work yet?A good capability statement for a federal agency meeting focuses on how your commercial experience translates to solving government...10h ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- What is a subcontractor in government contracting, and how do I become one for a federal job?A subcontractor for a federal job generally does not need to register directly with the government to perform work; the prime contractor...10h ago · 2 votes
- How do I write a proposal for a government contract when I have never written one?To organize your proposal effectively, you need to conduct a thorough shred of the RFP, especially the "Instructions to Offerors" and...10h ago · 3 votes