Federal contracting glossary
The terms you hit in solicitations, registrations, and evaluations, explained in plain language, grouped so the terms you meet together are explained together.
Federal contractor registration and IDs
- SAM registration The free System for Award Management registration every business needs before it can be awarded a federal contract.
- UEI The 12-character Unique Entity ID that identifies your business in SAM.gov, now used everywhere the DUNS number used to be.
- CAGE code A five-character code that uniquely identifies your business location to the federal government.
- NAICS code A six-digit code that classifies the kind of work a contract covers, and the industry your business competes in.
Federal contract vehicles: IDIQ, GWAC, and BPA
- IDIQ contract A contract that sets terms and a ceiling up front, then buys the actual work later through individual task or delivery orders.
- GWAC A pre-competed IDIQ for IT products and services that any federal agency can order from.
- BPA A standing arrangement that streamlines repeat purchases of similar goods or services against agreed terms.
Federal solicitation types: sources sought, RFI, RFP, and RFQ
- Sources sought notice A market-research notice where an agency asks whether capable businesses exist, before it decides how to compete the work.
- RFI A request the government uses to gather information from industry, with no contract awarded.
- RFP The solicitation that asks for full proposals when the government will weigh factors beyond price.
- RFQ A request for price quotes, used for simpler or lower-dollar buys, often against an existing vehicle.
Set-asides, the 8(a) program, and sole source awards
- Set-aside A contract, or part of one, reserved so that only small businesses in a given category may compete for it.
- 8(a) program An SBA program that helps small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals win federal work.
- Sole-source contract A contract awarded to one company without full competition, when the rules allow it.
How federal proposals are evaluated
- LPTA vs. best value Two ways the government picks a winner: cheapest acceptable bid (LPTA), or the best mix of price and merit (best value).
- Past performance Your track record on similar prior work, which the government weighs as evidence you can deliver.
- CPARS The federal system where agencies grade your performance on completed contracts, which future evaluators can read.