Government Contracting Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the acronyms and terms you'll hit when bidding on federal, state, and local contracts — 59 of them, no jargon. Bookmark it.
Use the free tool below to see open SAM.gov bids that match your business and presolicitations you can prepare for now. Then open a prepared dossier preview to see the match analysis, award history, pricing context, and AI-assisted next steps you can use when you find your own opportunities.
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See open bids and opportunities to prepare for
Enter your NAICS codes, service states, and set-asides to see how many SAM.gov bids are open now—and how many presolicitations or sources-sought notices could give you a head start. Your count is free. Create an account and choose a paid plan to search for your business and investigate full results.
Your SAM.gov count is only the starting point.
GovSentry's full Search also checks relevant state and local procurement portals using your business description and service areas. Those harder-to-find opportunities are additional to this SAM.gov-only preview.
Choose an industry suggestion or enter an exact six-digit NAICS code and select Add code.
Find your NAICS codesPro tip: include nearby states if you can travel. If you work remotely or ship nationwide, choose nationwide to widen the search.
This free first look counts SAM.gov notices. A paid search lets you investigate relevant notices and also checks state and local portals.
Prepared dossier preview
See the report exactly where customers use it
Explore a prepared GovSentry report preview. Where we have a historical notice or award, it is labeled as closed; otherwise the example is explicitly illustrative. The award comparisons, fit estimates, and AI guidance show the workflow—not verified facts about the same contract. Run Search for your company to apply these tools to current matches.
One example, not a contract-size ceiling
Your matched results can include simplified purchases and smaller service jobs, low-million-dollar contracts like this example, and larger prime or teaming opportunities. The mix depends on your NAICS codes, capabilities, certifications, and service area.
Be among the first to know when a matching opportunity arrives
GovSentry watches SAM.gov and harder-to-find state, local, and other public sources, then sends alerts matched to your company’s NAICS codes, capabilities, certifications, and service area.
GovSentryOpportunity Overview
Design and Build Covered Parking Structure for Fighter Aircraft
An illustrative construction dossier showing how a completed report organizes notice details, profile fit, award comparisons, and next steps. These example figures are not a verified current opportunity.
Target & Match Score92%
Eligibility Assessment
Eligible with verification items
Profile data indicates a fit; confirm all official solicitation requirements before pursuing.
NAICS alignment
NAICS 236220 appears in the prepared construction-company profile.
Small-business competition
This sample illustrates how a set-aside would be checked against a company profile.
SAM.gov registration
Verify the company UEI and registration renewal date before bidding.
Market Context
89
Records analyzed
$1.85M
Average award
$764K
Median award
Strong
Illustrative fit signal — not a win probability
Competition signal
Recent Department of Defense construction awards under $10M show a broad small-project market with meaningful small-business participation.
| Comparable market | Winner signal | Award value |
|---|---|---|
| Same NAICS and agency family | Example comparable awardee | $2.03M illustrative award |
| Historical award set | Multiple public winners | $764K median |
Related Award Context
Example comparable awardee
$2.03M illustrative award
A related awardee is market context, not proof that it held the exact requirement. A live dossier should link the award record and distinguish a confirmed prior contractor from a broader comparable.
Pricing Intelligence
$21.7K–$9.77M
Comparable range
$1.85M
Average
$764K
Median
The awarded value was $2.03M. Use that amount and the comparable-award distribution as context, then price the active solicitation from its actual drawings, labor, material, bonding, and schedule requirements.
Related Opportunities
Executive Summary
Recommendation: Pursue when scope and bonding fit. The prepared profile has strong NAICS, small-business, and geographic alignment. A contract near $2M is substantial but within reach for many established specialty and general contractors.
Market Context
⚠️ NAICS-Based Data Limitation: Market data includes all contracts under this NAICS code, which can range from $10K local projects to $1B+ specialized systems. Past award sizes and winners may not reflect this specific opportunity's scope. Always review the solicitation details to assess fit.
89 comparable awards were analyzed. The average award was $1.85M and the median was $764K. Recent Department of Defense construction awards under $10M show a broad small-project market with meaningful small-business participation..
Similar Contract Winners
These are comparable awards selected by available NAICS, agency, or location fields. The search can broaden to NAICS-only results, and cached awards can be older than two years. They are not confirmed predecessors for this solicitation.
⚠️ Note: Awards shown may be for vastly different scopes/sizes under the same NAICS category. A $500M system and a $50K service contract can share the same NAICS code.
Related award context: Example comparable awardee — $2.03M illustrative award. A related awardee is market context, not proof that it held the exact requirement. A live dossier should link the award record and distinguish a confirmed prior contractor from a broader comparable.
Positioning Strategy
Lead with comparable design-build work, airfield or secured-facility experience, local subcontractor coverage, safety performance, and a schedule that minimizes disruption to flight operations.
Pricing Guidance
Comparable range: $21.7K–$9.77M. The awarded value was $2.03M. Use that amount and the comparable-award distribution as context, then price the active solicitation from its actual drawings, labor, material, bonding, and schedule requirements. Firm-fixed-price design-build construction; validate scope before using historical awards as a bid target.
Recommended Next Steps
Verify SAM.gov registration and the prepared profile
Review drawings, bonding, and site-access requirements
Research the awardee and comparable winners
Build a labor, material, and contingency model
Track related recompetes and new construction notices
📋 Important Disclaimers
- • Market data is indicative, not definitive
- • Always review the actual solicitation documents for requirements and scope
- • GovSentry scores and AI judgments are screening aids, not calibrated win probabilities
- • Follow linked source records for factual claims; some estimates have no direct source link
- • Past performance data may include contracts of different sizes under the same NAICS code
- • GovSentry provides intelligence to inform your decision—final pursuit decisions require your expertise
Prepared by GovSentry AI; review the underlying notice before acting.
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Prepared for glossary using an illustrative example.
Open the full dossier at normal size- 8(a)
- SBA 8(a) Business Development Program — for small, disadvantaged businesses. 9-year program with sole-source contract eligibility.
- 8(a) Business Development
- SBA 8(a) program — 9-year development program for small, disadvantaged businesses with sole-source eligibility.
- 8a
- SBA 8(a) Business Development Program — for small, disadvantaged businesses. 9-year program with sole-source eligibility.
- Active Solicitation
- The government is accepting bids/proposals right now. Check the deadline and respond before it closes.
- Award Notice
- Contract has been awarded — see who won and for how much.
- BPA
- Blanket Purchase Agreement — streamlined ordering for recurring needs. Like a standing order with a vendor.
- CAGE
- Commercial and Government Entity Code — 5-character identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency.
- CO
- Contracting Officer — the government official authorized to award and administer contracts.
- Combined
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation — announcement and solicitation published together.
- Combined Synopsis
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation — announcement and solicitation published together in a single notice.
- COR
- Contracting Officer's Representative — technical point of contact managing day-to-day contract performance.
- DFARS
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — additional rules for Department of Defense contracts.
- DUNS
- Data Universal Numbering System — retired in 2022, replaced by UEI.
- EDWOSB
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business — additional certification for WOSB.
- edwosb
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business — additional certification beyond WOSB.
- Expiring Contract
- An existing contract is ending soon. The government will likely re-compete it — this is your chance to bid.
- FAR
- Federal Acquisition Regulation — the rulebook for how the government buys things. 53 parts, 1,900+ pages.
- Full & Open
- No set-aside — any business (small or large) can compete.
- Grant
- Federal grant funding opportunity. Grants don't require repayment but have strict reporting requirements.
- GSA
- General Services Administration — manages government buildings, fleets, and the GSA Schedule (a pre-approved vendor list).
- GSA Schedule
- Pre-negotiated contract vehicle — once you're on the GSA Schedule, agencies can buy from you directly without full competition.
- GWAC
- Government-Wide Acquisition Contract — large contract vehicles that multiple agencies can use.
- HUBZone
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone — set-aside for businesses in designated economically distressed areas.
- hubzone
- HUBZone — set-aside for businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (economically distressed areas).
- IDIQ
- Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity — contract with a minimum and maximum value, orders placed as needed.
- IFB
- Invitation for Bid — sealed bidding, strictly lowest price wins.
- Incumbent
- The company currently holding this contract. Incumbents win re-competes ~70% of the time — knowing who they are is critical intelligence.
- Intent to Bundle
- Notice that the government plans to combine multiple requirements into one large contract.
- Local RFP
- City or county procurement. Local contracts often favor businesses with a physical presence in the area.
- NAICS
- North American Industry Classification System — categorizes businesses by what they do. Your NAICS codes determine which contracts you see.
- POC
- Point of Contact — the person to reach out to about this opportunity.
- Pre-Solicitation
- Early notice that a solicitation is coming. Get ready — the full RFP drops soon.
- PSC
- Product Service Code — classifies what the government is buying (products vs. services, and which type).
- PWS
- Performance Work Statement — describes desired outcomes rather than specific tasks.
- Re-compete
- When a contract expires and the government re-opens it for competition. Your best chance to unseat an incumbent.
- RFI
- Request for Information — government gathering market research, not a contract yet.
- RFP
- Request for Proposal — the government wants detailed proposals evaluated on quality and price.
- RFQ
- Request for Quotation — simplified purchase, usually lowest price wins.
- SAM
- System for Award Management — the government's official registration database. Must be active to win contracts.
- SBA
- Small Business Administration — federal agency that advocates for small businesses.
- SDVOSB
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business — set-aside for veteran entrepreneurs with service-connected disabilities.
- sdvosb
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business — set-aside for veteran entrepreneurs with service-connected disabilities.
- SIC
- Standard Industrial Classification — older system replaced by NAICS.
- small_business
- Total Small Business set-aside — only small businesses can bid. Large companies are excluded.
- Solicitation
- Active contract opportunity — the government is accepting bids/proposals right now.
- Sources Sought
- Government asking "who can do this?" Respond to get on their radar before the RFP.
- SOW
- Statement of Work — describes exactly what the contractor must deliver.
- Special Notice
- Informational notice — not a contract, but may signal upcoming opportunities.
- State IFB
- State-level Invitation for Bid. Sealed bidding — lowest responsive, responsible bidder wins.
- State RFP
- State-level Request for Proposal. State contracts total $500B+ annually and are often less competitive than federal.
- Subcontracting
- A prime contractor needs subcontractors. Good way to build past performance without competing directly for the prime.
- Surplus Sale
- Government selling surplus property or equipment.
- Total Small Business
- Set-aside for small businesses only — large companies cannot bid.
- Total Small Business Set-Aside
- Only small businesses can bid — large companies are excluded from competition.
- UEI
- Unique Entity Identifier — your 12-character ID for doing business with the government. Replaced DUNS numbers in 2022.
- VOSB
- Veteran-Owned Small Business — businesses at least 51% owned by veterans.
- vosb
- Veteran-Owned Small Business — businesses at least 51% owned by veterans.
- WOSB
- Women-Owned Small Business — set-aside for businesses at least 51% owned by women.
- wosb
- Women-Owned Small Business — set-aside for businesses at least 51% owned by women.
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