How to find RFPs (and government contracts) without paying for a database
Where open RFPs are actually published: SAM.gov, state portals, county and city sites, school districts, and the aggregators that resell them. What each source covers and how to set alerts.
8 min read
Government contracts for small business: how to get started
The practical path from zero to a first government contract: registration, certifications, where to look, how to decide what to bid on, and what wins.
9 min read
Set-aside certifications: 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB
What each federal set-aside certification requires, how long it takes, what it unlocks, and how to tell which solicitations are reserved for it.
7 min read
RFP vs RFQ vs RFI (and IFB, sources sought and more)
Plain definitions of the notice types you see on SAM.gov and state portals, what each asks of you, and how to tell which ones are worth a response.
6 min read
How to write an RFP response that gets scored
A compliance-first method for responding to government RFPs: build the matrix, mirror the evaluation criteria, write to the score sheet, and use a reusable template.
9 min read
Bid Tabulations and Bid Results: Who Bid, Who Won and at What Price
Bid tabulation guide: where federal, state and local bid results are posted, how to read a bid tab, and how to use 234k awards to target recompetes.
17 min read
CAGE code lookup, UEI lookup and DUNS: find, read and use all three IDs
Free CAGE code lookup guide: search SAM.gov and the DLA CAGE site step by step, find any UEI or DUNS, compare all three IDs and trace a contractor's awards.
16 min read
DIBBS explained: how DLA bids, automated awards and approved sources work
DIBBS is DLA's bid board for spare parts and supplies. Learn how RFQs, automated awards, approved sources and registration work, with 2026 DLA data.
17 min read
DoD contracts: the buying commands, where they post, and how small firms win
DoD contracts explained: which commands buy what, where they post (SAM.gov, DIBBS, NECO), CMMC status and set-asides, with 4,993 open DoD notices tracked.
16 min read
"GSA Schedule Contracts in 2026: What MAS Is, Who Should Apply, How Orders Flow"
"GSA Schedule guide for 2026: the 12 MAS categories and 278 SINs, the $100,000 sales floor, the 0.75% fee, real timelines, and how eBuy differs from SAM.gov."
17 min read
How to Bid on Government Contracts: From Zero to a Submitted Bid
How to bid on government contracts, federal and state: registration timelines, what a bid contains, how LPTA and best value are scored, and real deadline data.
18 min read
"SAM.gov Search: Every Filter, Notice Type and Alert, Explained for Vendors"
"SAM gov search, explained: every Contract Opportunities filter, all 9 notice types, saved search limits, and live data on 5,700+ open federal bids."
17 min read
Sources sought notices: the cheapest way to shape a federal contract
A sources sought notice is federal market research that decides set-asides. Learn the Rule of Two, what to send, a response template, and real timelines.
16 min read