Practical guides for small businesses navigating government contracting. No fluff, no jargon walls — just what you need to find and win contracts.
The GSA Schedule gives agencies a pre-competed path to buy from you — but the application takes 3–12 months and compliance is ongoing. An honest assessment of whether you should pursue it, who qualifies, and what alternatives exist.
Read articlePast performance is often worth 30–40% of a federal proposal evaluation. Learn how CPARS works, how to write strong narratives using the Project+Scope+Role+Outcome formula, and how to build a track record when you're just starting out.
Read articleThe federal fiscal year runs October 1 to September 30. Understanding each quarter's budget dynamics — Q1 slowdown, Q3 solicitation peak, and the Q4 spending rush — can dramatically improve your contract timing and win rate.
Read articleA capability statement is the first document agencies ask for. Learn the 8 required sections — from core competencies to CAGE/UEI identifiers — plus formatting rules, tailoring strategy, and the common mistakes that kill your chances before you start.
Read articleA practical walkthrough of every section that matters — cover page, scope of work, evaluation criteria, compliance requirements, and how to make a go/no-go decision before investing weeks in a proposal.
Read articleThe standard four-volume structure every federal proposal needs — Technical Approach, Management, Past Performance, and Price — plus a compliance matrix template and the 10 mistakes that get responses thrown out.
Read articleEverything you need to know about the HUBZone program — eligibility requirements, the SBA application process, sole-source contract thresholds, and how to check if your business is in a qualified zone.
Read articleHow service-disabled veterans can get certified for sole-source contracts up to $4.5M. Covers the SBA VetCert process, eligibility requirements, SDVOSB vs VOSB, and finding set-aside contracts.
Read articleThe $100B+ federal IT market broken down — key NAICS codes, contract vehicles like GSA Schedule and SEWP, what agencies evaluate, and how small businesses compete for technology contracts.
Read articleSources Sought notices shape future contracts. Learn what they are, how to write a capability statement response, common mistakes, and why not responding is the biggest mistake of all.
Read articleNAICS 541330 covers Engineering Services with a $47 million size standard. Learn what contracts fall under this code, set-aside eligibility, major contract vehicles, and how to find 541330 opportunities on SAM.gov.
Read articleSAM.gov alerts, GovWin IQ, GovConToday, and other services all promise to surface contract opportunities. We compare setup, matching quality, pricing, and who each tool is actually built for.
Read articleSAM.gov is free but overwhelming. Paid tools like GovWin cost thousands. Here's a side-by-side comparison of every major government contract search tool — and which one fits your business.
Read articleWomen-Owned Small Business certification unlocks sole-source contracts up to $4.5 million. Here's the step-by-step process, eligibility requirements, and how WOSB differs from EDWOSB.
Read articleYour eligibility for small business set-asides depends on SBA size standards — and they vary by NAICS code. Learn how to calculate your size, avoid common mistakes, and stay compliant.
Read articleThe federal government spends over $100 billion on IT annually. Here's how small IT consulting firms can find the right NAICS codes, contract vehicles, and set-aside programs to compete.
Read articleYour first government RFP can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the anatomy of a federal solicitation, a go/no-go checklist, and exactly how to write a winning proposal.
Read articleSAM.gov registration is required before you can bid on any federal contract. This step-by-step guide covers everything from getting your UEI to completing your entity registration.
Read articleSet-aside programs reserve federal contracts for specific small business categories. Learn about 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, and how to qualify for contracts with less competition.
Read articleThe federal government spends over $195 billion annually with small businesses. Learn how to register on SAM.gov, identify the right NAICS codes, leverage set-aside programs, and stop wasting hours on manual searches.
Read articleSAM.gov's built-in email alerts sound great in theory. In practice, they flood your inbox with irrelevant results. Here's why keyword-only matching fails and what a smarter approach looks like.
Read articleWhat does NAICS code mean? Can you have more than one? Common NAICS codes for small government contractors, industry-specific guidance, and how to use NAICS-based matching to find contracts.
Read articleSearch, analyze, and track government contracts matched to your business. Start with a 14-day free trial.
Start Free Trial