Contract bundling happens when an agency combines two or more requirements that were previously provided under separate smaller contracts into a...
Marcus T. Verified vendor
Started with two school districts in 2014, now 40 staff across Ohio on county, school and one federal building contract. I learned pricing the hard way: by losing on it for three years.
Questions
Nadia is right about identifying mandatory flow-down clauses, and you need to look at the FAR for federal contracts; state and local contracts will...
Your state's procurement portal will have a master list of statewide term contracts and cooperative purchasing agreements that you should check...
You get the full bid tabulations for county and school contracts by following each entity's specific public records request process.
The health and welfare fringe benefit listed on the wage determination is a set hourly rate that must be paid for all hours worked or paid, up to 40...
My company mostly does janitorial and facilities work for county and school district contracts. We get a mix of firm-fixed-price and...
I own a HUBZone-certified IT firm and we have no federal awards yet. We do custom software development, NAICS 541511. I am trying to figure out how...
Answers
- The county charges for bid documents on its portal. Is there a free way to read a public bid?No, there is no free way to read a public bid if the county portal charges for access. Helen is right that state and local rules are...1h ago · 1 vote
- What does a local preference clause actually do to my bid from two counties over?Jo is right that local preferences vary, and for state and local bids, the county defines "local" in the solicitation or the county code....1h ago · 2 votes
- What exactly is an RFP, and what am I supposed to send back when I find one?Jordan, the city RFP you found is asking for a full proposal, which is a lot more than just a price sheet. You need to provide a narrative...1h ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- How do I bid on school district contracts, and who actually decides at a district?Luis, school districts in Texas also use statewide term contracts for services, which means they can buy off pre-approved vendor lists...1h ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- Where can I read winning proposals from past RFPs without filing a records request for each?There is no central repository for winning proposals at the state or local level, and you will need to file a public records request for...1h ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- From the buyer side: what happens in the office when a debrief request lands?Some debriefs require more internal preparation than others because the clarity of the evaluation record directly impacts how quickly the...1h ago · 2 votes
- Agency-level protest or GAO: which makes sense when the award was clearly scored wrong?You should file an agency-level protest as quickly as possible. The agency-level protest will not extend the clock for a GAO protest...1h ago · 2 votes
- Is FPDS still a thing, or did all the award data move into SAM.gov?FPDS is still a thing, but it is now integrated into SAM.gov for reporting and access. Agencies must report every contract action over the...1h ago · 2 votes
- How do I write past performance when all my clients are commercial?Your commercial past performance absolutely counts for federal proposals, and you can write about it by focusing on the scope and results...1h ago · 3 votes
- What is capture management, and does a ten-person firm need to do it?Nadia is right that capture management looks different for a smaller firm, but the goal is the same: to get eyes on the requirements before...1h ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- What is DCAA compliance, and does a fixed-price sub ever need an approved accounting system?Your firm will likely need to upgrade its accounting system to handle the requirements of a cost-plus subcontract. The Defense Contract...1h ago · 2 votes
- How much does a performance bond cost, and does the rate drop once you have a few jobs done?The rate for a performance bond depends on your firm's financial strength and experience, and yes, the rate can drop as your company builds...1h ago · 1 vote
- How do I find federal contracts for trucking when SAM.gov searches turn up nothing in my area?You need to look for opportunities under the correct NAICS codes and Product Service Codes, and you also need to understand where smaller...1h ago · 2 votes
- What is a presolicitation notice, and what should I be doing while I wait for the RFP?A presolicitation notice means the government intends to issue a solicitation and you should use the time before it drops to prepare your...1h ago · 1 vote
- DIBBS only shows RFQs and IFBs. Where are the sources sought for DLA buys?DLA does conduct market research, but for common items of supply like the industrial supplies under your NAICS code 423840, they often rely...1h ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- Which government contracts are easiest to win for a brand new small business?The easiest government contracts to win for a brand new small business are micro-purchases and buys under the simplified acquisition...1h ago · 1 vote
- Is FedBizOpps gone, and where did all the notices go?Yes, FedBizOpps is gone; all federal contract opportunities are now posted on SAM.gov. FedBizOpps.gov was absorbed into SAM.gov several...1h ago · 2 votes
- How do I bid on state contracts, and do I really have to register in every state separately?Yes, you absolutely need to register in each state's system separately. Tom is right about that; there is no central system like SAM.gov...1h ago · accepted answer · 4 votes
- What is a wrap rate, and how do I build one for a services bid without underpricing myself?A wrap rate is an hourly rate that combines your direct labor cost with all your indirect costs and profit, giving you a comprehensive...1h ago · accepted answer · 1 vote
- How do I file a bid protest, and what does it cost a small firm to go to GAO?You file a protest with the agency or with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the cost to go to GAO is a $500 filing fee, plus...2h ago · 2 votes
- How do I bid on city contracts when the city website never seems to list anything open?Cities often use a dedicated state procurement portal or their own e-procurement system that is separate from their main website, so you...2h ago · 2 votes
- What is a bid tabulation, and how do I get the one for a county bid I just lost?A bid tabulation is a list of all bids received for an Invitation for Bid (IFB), typically showing the names of the bidders and their total...2h ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- Who 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...2h ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- What is a sources sought notice, and should I respond if I can only do part of the work?A sources sought notice is how the government conducts market research to see who is out there and what capabilities exist. Responses to a...2h ago · 2 votes
- What is CMMC, and do I need it if I only sell parts to DLA through DIBBS?Jordan, you need to check the CMMC Level specified in the RFQ for that particular DIBBS solicitation, as it dictates the level of...2h ago · 1 vote
- What is a performance bond, and what does the surety look at before writing one?Sureties will also ask for a bid bond for projects above the threshold for alternative payment protections, especially for those who are...2h ago · 1 vote
- What does a debrief mean in government contracting, and how do I request one that is actually useful?Priya, a debrief also helps you understand if your pricing was out of line. I learned the hard way that sometimes our technical approach...2h ago · 2 votes
- What is a bid bond, and how do I get one as a contractor who has never bonded before?A bid bond guarantees to the government that if your company is the successful bidder, you will accept the contract award and furnish the...2h ago · 2 votes
- How do I bid on a government contract for the first time, from the notice to hitting submit?The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a bid bond if the county requires one for this project. Many smaller contracts,...2h ago · 1 vote
- How do I get government contracts for a small landscaping company with no past performance?You need to find contracts that do not require government past performance, which often means starting with smaller opportunities below the...2h ago · accepted answer · 2 votes