Direct answers to common questions about federal contracting, organized by what you need to know.
84 results
Questions
Allow 2-6 months to properly form and register a joint venture. This includes legal formation, obtaining UEI, SAM registration, and potentially SBA certification review for small business JVs.
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CRs maintain prior year funding levels, limiting new contracts and program changes. Existing contracts continue, but new large procurements may be delayed until regular appropriations pass.
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The federal fiscal year ends September 30 and the new fiscal year begins October 1. Q4 (July-September) sees heavy contract activity as agencies obligate remaining funds before year-end.
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Contract awards are reported to FPDS within 3 business days of award and appear on SAM.gov and USASpending shortly after. Press releases for major awards often come within days to weeks of award.
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Ideally 12-24 months before expected RFP release for major opportunities. Even 6 months provides time for relationship building, teaming, and capability positioning. Starting at RFP release is usually too late.
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Contract awards typically appear on USASpending.gov within 30-90 days of award. Initial reporting is through FPDS, which then feeds USASpending. Large agency backlogs can cause longer delays.
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Most VA contracts don't require security clearances. VA work typically involves healthcare, IT, and facilities rather than classified information. Background checks (not clearances) are common for patient-facing roles.
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Technically yes, but winning is difficult. Most service contracts require demonstrated capability and personnel. Sole proprietors can win, but staffing plans and ability to hire are scrutinized heavily.
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A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business must be 51% owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. SBA now certifies SDVOSBs, and VA contracts require specific VA certification through VetCert.
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Yes, Canadian companies can bid on most U.S. federal contracts. Canada is a TAA-designated country, and NAFTA/USMCA provisions facilitate cross-border procurement. Some security-related work may have restrictions.
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It depends. Contracts involving cloud services processing federal data typically require FedRAMP. On-premise solutions, non-cloud IT services, and some agency-specific authorizations may not require FedRAMP.
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Yes, fully remote companies can win federal contracts, especially for professional services and IT work. However, some contracts require physical presence, security clearances, or on-site work that may not suit remote operations.
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Award without discussions means the government selects a winner based on initial proposals without negotiations. The solicitation must state this intent. Submit your best offer initially since there's no revision opportunity.
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If no bids are received, the agency may extend the due date, modify requirements, change acquisition strategy, or cancel and resolicit. No-bid situations often indicate unrealistic requirements or poor market outreach.
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Fair opportunity requires that all contractors on a multiple-award IDIQ vehicle have a fair chance to compete for task orders. Agencies must provide reasonable notice and opportunity to submit proposals for orders.
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Corrective action is when an agency takes steps to fix procurement errors, often in response to a protest or internal review. Actions may include reevaluating proposals, reopening discussions, or resoliciting.
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Yes. Pre-award protests challenge solicitation defects, evaluation criteria, or agency actions before contract award. They must be filed before the proposal due date for solicitation issues.
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The Final Proposal Revision is your updated proposal submitted after discussions conclude, representing your best and final offer. It's your last opportunity to address weaknesses and improve your competitive position.
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Generally no, unless the contracting officer opens discussions or requests a final proposal revision. Some procurements allow clarifications but not material proposal changes.
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Contract modifications are reported in FPDS and visible through SAM.gov award data and USASpending.gov. Search by contract number to see modification history including value changes and scope additions.
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