Guides
Plain-English guides to federal work for a small shop.
CAGE codes and UEI explained
What a CAGE code and a Unique Entity ID are, how each one is assigned, where each shows up in federal buying, and how a small shop keeps both of them current.
Read more →CMMC for small shops
What CMMC is in plain terms, why DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171 keep coming up, and a practical path for a small machine shop or fabricator.
Read more →DLA DIBBS for small shops
How the DLA Internet Bid Board System works: RFQs by NSN, automated evaluation and awards, how a small shop registers and quotes, and mistakes to avoid.
Read more →How to choose NAICS codes for your shop
How NAICS codes work in federal contracting, how to pick a primary and secondary codes for a machine shop, fabricator, or coater, and how size standards apply.
Read more →How to read a solicitation
The notice types on SAM.gov, the sections of a solicitation, what lives in the attachments, how questions and amendments work, and what to check before quoting.
Read more →How to register in SAM.gov
A start to finish walkthrough of SAM.gov registration for a small shop: what to gather, entity validation, CAGE assignment, reps and certs, and renewal.
Read more →How to write a capability statement
What goes on a one page capability statement for a small defense supplier, how buyers and primes actually use it, and the errors that get it deleted unread.
Read more →ITAR, EAR, and DFARS basics
Plain English basics of ITAR and EAR for a small shop: who registers with DDTC, what export controlled drawings mean, and the DFARS clauses you will see.
Read more →PSC codes explained
What Product Service Codes are, how a PSC pairs with a NAICS code on a notice, why buyers and award records lean on PSC, and how a small shop should use them.
Read more →Pricing a government bid
How to read award history for price signals, unit price versus total value, options, freight and FOB terms, and the small quantity math behind a profitable bid.
Read more →Quality systems: AS9100 and ISO 9001
Why buyers and primes ask for ISO 9001 or AS9100, what a registrar does, and how first article, certificates of conformance, and calibration show up on orders.
Read more →Reading FPDS and USAspending
What FPDS and USAspending are, what the main fields mean, award versus transaction, obligated versus base and all options value, and how to find an incumbent.
Read more →Recompete strategy for small suppliers
What a recompete is, how to find the incumbent and the contract end date in public data, how options work, and how to position your shop a year before the buy.
Read more →Set-asides and small business programs
Total small business set-asides, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB in plain English: who qualifies, how you certify, and how a set-aside shows on a notice.
Read more →Sources sought and RFIs: how to respond
Why a sources sought notice decides whether a buy is set aside for small business, what a buyer does with your response, and how to answer one in a single page.
Read more →Subcontracting to prime contractors
How large primes find small shops, what supplier portals and approved supplier lists are, which clauses flow down to you, and how to get a first order.
Read more →Your first 90 days in federal work
A practical week by week plan for a shop new to federal contracting: registrations, codes, research, first quotes, and the weekly habits that make it stick.
Read more →See who was last awarded in your NAICS
The free report shows who bought your part category, who won, and what is coming up for recompete.