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Guides for small businesses bidding on federal contracts
Plain-language guides for small businesses that want to win federal contracts. Each one starts with the direct answer, shows its sources and the date it was reviewed.
- Can You Bid on Federal Contracts Without U.S. Citizenship?
Bidding on federal contracts does not require U.S. citizen owners, but 8(a), WOSB, EDWOSB, HUBZone and SBA-backed loans do. Sources and dates. - How to Win Your First Federal Contract: A Practical Guide
What first-time winners actually won in facility support: small purchase orders, simplified buys and work close to home. A step-by-step plan. - How to Read a Federal Contract Notice in 10 Minutes
The fields to check first on a SAM.gov notice, in order: type, deadline, set-aside, NAICS, place, value and how the offer is evaluated. - What Is a Federal Set-Aside? A Plain-Language Guide
A set-aside reserves a federal contract for a category of businesses, such as small, 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned or veteran-owned. How to check yours. - What Is a Sources Sought Notice? How to Respond
A Sources Sought notice is an agency asking which companies could do a job. Why a small business should answer it and what to include.