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100 direct answers to common questions about federal contracting, organized by what you need to know.
How long things take, when to start, deadlines and schedules
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.
GSA Schedule sales must be reported quarterly through the 72A system. Reports are due within 30 days after each quarter end. The Industrial Funding Fee (0.75%) is paid with these reports.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Work typically begins within 30 days of award, but some contracts specify immediate start or later dates. Always wait for official Notice to Proceed.
Annual SAM.gov renewal typically takes 5-10 business days for processing, assuming no changes to IRS-validated information.
Submit questions as early as possible, but typically no later than halfway through the proposal period. Questions received later may not be answered in time.
CMMC certification timeline depends on current cybersecurity maturity: well-prepared organizations may certify in 3-6 months, while others may need 12-18 months of preparation.
FedRAMP authorization typically takes 12-18 months for Agency Authorization and 18-24 months for JAB Authorization.
CPARS evaluations remain in the system for 6 years from the date the evaluation was completed.
CAGE codes are typically assigned within 3-5 business days during SAM.gov registration.
Proposal evaluation typically takes 30-90 days for simpler procurements, but complex acquisitions can take 6 months or longer.
You must request a debriefing within 3 calendar days after receiving notice of exclusion from the competitive range or contract award.
Security clearance processing times vary: Secret typically takes 3-6 months, Top Secret takes 6-12 months or longer.
Q4 (July-September) solicitations typically start appearing in April-May, with peak posting in June-July for September awards.
SBA 8(a) certification typically takes 90 days from submission of a complete application, though complex cases may take longer.
Contract awards typically appear on SAM.gov within 30 days of award, though some may take longer depending on agency reporting practices.
Our comprehensive guides provide step-by-step instructions for every aspect of government contracting.