0 votes1 answer12 views
My company is teaming up with another small business for an 8(a) Business Development Program competitive bid on a federal contract. This is for...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
Luis A. Verified vendor
Army veteran, founded a court reporting and legal support firm in 2017, SBA-certified SDVOSB since the certification moved to SBA. Mostly VA and DoJ work through BPAs, some county courts.
12questions
25answers
280points
Questions
5 votes2 answers8 views
For many firms under 50 people, standard office productivity suites and disciplined file management are sufficient for proposal development, even for...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
5 votes2 answers13 views
I recently tried using an AI assistant to draft the technical approach section for a federal VA Request for Proposal (RFP) for court reporting...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers15 views
AnsweredThe prime offered a small workshare on a set-aside it will prime. Is that normal or a red flag?
This is not a normal arrangement for a joint venture on an SDVOSB set-aside; it raises a significant red flag regarding the limitations on...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers10 views
AnsweredWhere do I find subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts that have already been awarded?
Luis, while Priya is correct that there isn't a central federal portal for post-award subcontracting opportunities, you can also look for...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
3 votes2 answers7 views
Luis, school districts in Texas also use statewide term contracts for services, which means they can buy off pre-approved vendor lists without a new...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers8 views
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 the...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers8 views
The contracting officer's statement that CPARS ratings are only for larger contracts is incorrect. A CPARS past performance evaluation is required...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
4 votes2 answers7 views
CMMC Level 2 incorporates the 110 security requirements of NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2. CMMC Level 2 builds on NIST 800-171 by adding assessment and...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
2 votes2 answers9 views
AnsweredIs SAM.gov registration free, or do I need to pay one of the services that keep emailing me?
SAM.gov registration is free, and you do not need to pay any third-party services to complete it. The SAM.gov help desk is available to assist users...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
3 votes2 answers8 views
The Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal contracts in excess of $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
7 votes3 answers8 views
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government that manages and supports the basic functioning of...
Luis A.Verified vendorasked
Answers
- Why does the surety want my personal financial statement and net worth before writing a bid bond?The surety wants your personal financial statement and net worth because the personal indemnity agreement makes you, the owner, personally...6 min ago
- How do you manage subs on a public job so their mistakes do not land on my certified payroll or my rating?Your subcontracting agreement should include specific language about the prime's right to withhold retainage and progress payments until...43 min ago
- What is a DBE certification, and how is it different from the state MBE one I already have?Nadia is right that a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification is a federal program. The Uniform Certification Program (UCP)...6h ago
- What is SAM.gov, and do I really have to register before I can bid on anything?SAM.gov is only for federal contracts, but it is not just for bidding; you need to be registered in SAM.gov to receive a federal contract...13h ago
- What is a bid bond, and how do I get one as a contractor who has never bonded before?A bid bond ensures that if you are the low bidder, you will enter into the contract and provide the required performance and payment bonds....14h ago · 1 vote
- The amendment moved the due date but the portal still shows the old one. Which one counts?The amendment date always counts, and for federal contracts, the contracting officer will go by the date in the latest official amendment,...1d ago · 3 votes
- The Q&A came back as an amendment that changes the scope. Do I need to rework my whole proposal?Nadia, you must update your entire proposal and compliance matrix to reflect the new scope introduced in Amendment 0002. For state and...1d ago · 1 vote
- Which clauses do I have to flow down to my subs on a federal job, and which can I skip?Nadia is right about identifying mandatory flow-down clauses, and you need to look at the FAR for federal contracts; state and local...1d ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- What is contract bundling, and what can a small firm do when its work gets rolled into a big IDIQ?Contract bundling happens when an agency combines two or more requirements that were previously provided under separate smaller contracts...1d ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- What is a subcontracting plan, and how do I get a large prime to count my firm toward its goals?A subcontracting plan is a formal document that large prime contractors must submit to the government when their contract is expected to...1d ago · 1 vote
- What is DCAA compliance, and does a fixed-price sub ever need an approved accounting system?Your company will need a DCAA-compliant accounting system for a cost-plus subcontract because the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)...1d ago · 1 vote
- What is a wage determination, and where do I find the one that applies to my bid?You need to use the wage determination that is current as of the date the solicitation was issued. The Service Contract Act applies to...1d ago · 2 votes
- What is a contract vehicle, and which ones should a small IT services firm actually chase?A contract vehicle is a pre-negotiated agreement that allows agencies to fulfill requirements quickly, but it also carries strict...1d ago · 1 vote
- What is a contracting officer allowed to tell me, and when is it OK to email them?A contracting officer is allowed to communicate with offerors during an active solicitation to ensure transparency and fairness, but they...1d ago · 1 vote
- Looking for a sub or a prime on a specific bid: how do I post a teaming request here?The one thing people get wrong about teaming requests on a federal set-aside is the limitations on subcontracting rule. You cannot just...1d ago · 1 vote
- How do the RFP discussion threads work, and how do I find the one for my solicitation?The biggest thing people get wrong about these threads is not understanding the distinction between a Request for Information (RFI) and a...1d ago · 1 vote
- What can and cannot be posted about a live bid in an RFP thread?One thing people often miss is how the rules change for state and local government bids compared to federal ones. The rules about what you...1d ago · 4 votes
- Firm fixed price vs cost plus vs time and materials: which contract type is safest for a small sub?Marcus, a firm fixed price (FFP) contract is generally safer for a small subcontractor, but you still need to ensure your subcontract with...1d ago · 2 votes
- How long does SAM registration take, and why has mine been stuck on Submitted for three weeks?SAM.gov registration typically takes about 10 business days to become active after all required documentation is submitted, but it can take...1d ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- What is prevailing wage, and does it apply to my county janitorial bid?Prevailing wage requirements apply to your county janitorial bid because the county is likely following state or federal guidelines for...1d ago · 1 vote
- What is a UEI number, and is there any way to get one without finishing the whole SAM registration?The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric value assigned by SAM.gov during registration, and you can obtain a UEI...1d ago · 3 votes
- What is a subcontractor in government contracting, and how do I become one for a federal job?A subcontractor in government contracting is a firm that performs work for a prime contractor, which holds the direct contract with the...1d ago · accepted answer · 2 votes
- What is a CAGE code, how do I get one, and why has mine not shown up yet?The CAGE code will typically be assigned automatically after your SAM.gov registration is active, but you can also check the status or...1d ago · accepted answer · 3 votes
- What is prevailing wage, and does it apply to my county janitorial bid?Your first step is to submit your questions in writing to the county procurement office. In my experience with state and county contracts,...1d ago · 1 vote
- What is SAM.gov, and do I really have to register before I can bid on anything?Yes, you generally have to register in SAM.gov to bid on federal contracts, but state and local governments have their own separate...1d ago · 3 votes