October 31, 2026
From RFP Alert to Pursuit: A Source-Backed Example
A real federal notice, an active flag, a past deadline and unresolved eligibility. Follow the source evidence to a pursuit decision.
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Practical guides to SAM.gov, finding work and making a bid decision. Choose a topic or search the library.
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A useful place to start
Three guides. Three next steps.
Registration
Pass SAM.gov entity validation
Check the records you need and common fixes.
Read guide → Finding workFind government contract opportunities
Know where to search and what to review.
Read guide → Pursuit decisionsFrom RFP alert to pursuit
Follow one real notice and its source evidence.
Read guide →Browse the guide library.
Foundations 13 guides
September 10, 2026
RFI vs RFP vs RFQ: What Each Notice Asks For and How to Respond
Sources sought, RFI, RFQ, RFP and IFB: what each asks for, which FAR part governs it, and how much effort each deserves.
September 10, 2026
SDVOSB Certification: How to Apply Through SBA VetCert in 2026
SDVOSB certification runs through SBA VetCert now. What to gather, what reviewers check, why applications fail, and how to keep the status.
September 8, 2026
Best Government Contracting Software in 2026: An Honest Buyer's Guide
An honest buyer's guide to government contracting software in 2026: eight platforms, who each one fits, published prices or not published, and how to choose.
September 8, 2026
How to Find Government Contract Opportunities: A Practical Guide
Where government contract opportunities surface: SAM.gov and its limits, agency forecasts, expiring contracts, sources sought, primes, and state portals.
July 6, 2026
GovCon Wisdom: Quotes, Culture, and Advice Every Contractor Should Know
Certification wisdom from Linda Rawson, the sayings every contractor learns eventually, and why inclusion is good GovCon business.
May 12, 2026
How to Win Your First Federal Contract: A Step-by-Step Guide
From EIN to award: the realistic path a new small business takes to win its first federal contract.
June 16, 2026
GovCon Acronyms: A Plain-Language Glossary
SAM, UEI, NAICS, IDIQ, RFP, SF330, SDVOSB: the federal contracting alphabet, decoded for new contractors.
February 19, 2026
NAICS Codes for Government Contracting: How to Choose Yours
How NAICS codes drive size standards, set-asides, and the work you can win, plus how to pick your primary code.
June 18, 2026
What Is a Capability Statement? (with a Free Template)
A capability statement is the one-page resume of a government contractor. Exactly what goes on it, section by section.
January 12, 2026
Building Past Performance as a New Federal Contractor
No past performance yet? Here is how teaming, subcontracting, and mentor-protege relationships build it.
June 19, 2026
Subcontracting on Federal Contracts: How to Land Your First Sub Work
Subcontracting is the fastest way for a new firm to build federal past performance. How to find primes and get on their team.
April 15, 2026
8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone: Which Set-Aside Is Right for You?
A plain-language comparison of the major small-business set-aside programs and who qualifies for each.
SAM.gov 11 guides
September 10, 2026
SAM.gov Renewal: When to Start, What Changes, and What a Lapse Costs
Registrations expire yearly. When to start, why validation can come back, and what a lapse does to bids, awards and payments.
April 29, 2026
The Complete SAM.gov Registration Guide (and Why It Is Free)
SAM.gov registration is 100 percent free. Here is the full walkthrough, plus the third-party fees to avoid.
May 28, 2026
How to Pass SAM.gov Entity Validation (and Fix It When It Fails)
Entity validation is where most new registrants get stuck. How to get your legal name and address to match.
June 2, 2026
7 Reasons Your SAM.gov Entity Validation Documents Get Rejected
The 7 most common reasons a validation incident is rejected, and the exact fix for each one.
June 2, 2026
What Documents Can You Use to Validate Your Entity in SAM.gov?
A plain-language list of the documents SAM.gov accepts, which ones it rejects, and how to prove name and address.
June 2, 2026
How Long Does SAM.gov Entity Validation Take?
An automatic match is instant; a manual document review has no fixed SLA. Here is what to expect.
June 2, 2026
Why a P.O. Box Fails SAM Entity Validation (Use a Physical Address)
A P.O. box fails SAM entity validation every time. Why SAM requires a physical address, and what to use instead.
June 2, 2026
What 'Pending ID Assignment' Means in SAM.gov
Your details passed validation and your Unique Entity ID is being assigned. What the status means and why you wait.
June 2, 2026
How to Write Your SAM Entity Validation Ticket (with Examples)
Your validation ticket should state the exact change you want. What to write in the text box, with copy-ready examples.
June 2, 2026
SAM.gov Entity Validation for State and Local Governments
State and local entities use the same validation, but typically prove identity with official government records.
June 2, 2026
SAM.gov Entity Validation for Tribal Governments and Tribally Owned Businesses
Tribal governments and Tribally owned businesses prove identity with Tribal records or recognition documentation.
Capture & proposals 10 guides
September 10, 2026
CPARS Explained: How Past Performance Ratings Work and How to Protect Yours
Which contracts get rated, what the five ratings mean, the fourteen-day comment window, and how new contractors are treated.
September 10, 2026
The Bid/No-Bid Decision: A Scorecard Small Contractors Can Actually Use
A ten-question scorecard, the gates to run it at, and the rule that turns a score into a decision and a pWin.
September 10, 2026
The Recompete Lookahead: Contracts Expiring in the Next 6 to 18 Months
Most federal work is a recompete of a contract that already exists. Why the 6 to 18 month window before expiry is where it is decided, how to build the list from public records, and what to do with it.
September 8, 2026
Why Not Just Use ChatGPT for Government Contracting?
What a general model does well, what it cannot know about your NAICS codes, agencies, and the award record, and why hallucinated solicitations are a real risk.
June 26, 2026
The Closer Gets an Upgrade: Strategy Sessions, Saved and Organized
The Closer, your AI capture strategist, now saves every conversation, with search, time stamps, and more room to think.
February 5, 2026
Capture Management 101 for Small Government Contractors
Turn a list of opportunities into a disciplined, winnable pipeline with capture management.
March 4, 2026
Pre-RFP Intelligence: Find Federal Work Before the RFP Drops
Agency forecasts, sources sought, and appropriations signal contracts months early. How to read those signals.
December 18, 2025
How to Respond to a Sources Sought Notice (and Why You Should)
A sources sought response is the cheapest way to shape a future RFP. Here is how to write a strong one.
March 18, 2026
How to Read Section L and Section M of a Federal RFP
Section L tells you how to bid; Section M tells you how you win. How to read both and build a compliance matrix.
June 22, 2026
Teaming Agreements and Joint Ventures in Federal Contracting
Teaming and JVs let small firms bid work they could not win alone. The difference, when to use each, and the SBA rules.
Contract vehicles 2 guides
June 23, 2026
How to Get on the GSA Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule)
What the GSA MAS is, who it is for, what an offer requires, and the realistic timeline to get on it.
March 30, 2026
GWAC vs IDIQ vs GSA Schedule: Federal Contract Vehicles Explained
What the major federal contract vehicles are, how they differ, and when each one matters.
Markets & compliance 4 guides
June 20, 2026
The Federal Fiscal Year Q4 Spending Surge: How to Win Year-End Work
Agencies obligate a large share of their budget before September 30. Why the surge happens and how to be ready.
January 22, 2026
SLED Contracting: The Overlooked State, Local, and Education Market
State, local, and education buyers spend enormous sums every year, often with less competition than federal.
June 21, 2026
CMMC for Small Contractors: What You Actually Need
The CMMC levels, who needs which, how it relates to NIST 800-171, and a realistic path to readiness.
June 17, 2026
The Service Contract Act (SCA) and Wage Determinations, Explained
The Service Contract Act sets minimum wages and benefits on federal service work. How the SCA and wage determinations work.
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