Terms · 0–9 / Other
8(a) Program
SBA business development program for disadvantaged small businesses.
Government Contracting Glossary
Terms, acronyms and definitions to help you understand federal procurement terminology.
135 results
Terms · A
AbilityOne
Program for employing people who are blind or have severe disabilities.
Terms · A
Active Registration
A current, non-expired SAM.gov registration that allows bidding on contracts.
Terms · A
Affiliation
Related business entities counted together for size determination.
Terms · A
Agency-Level Protest
Bid protest filed directly with the contracting agency rather than GAO or COFC.
Terms · A
Allowable Cost
Cost that can be charged to or reimbursed under a government contract.
Terms · A
Amendment
Official change to a solicitation issued by the contracting officer.
Terms · A
ANC
Alaska Native Corporation eligible for special contracting preferences.
Terms · A
ATO
Authority to Operate is formal authorization for an IT system to process government data.
Terms · A
Authorized Representative
Person designated to manage a company's SAM.gov registration.
Terms · A
Award
The government's acceptance of a proposal and creation of a binding contract.
Terms · A
Award Fee
Additional compensation paid to contractors based on performance evaluation.
Terms · A
Award Without Discussions
Contract award based on initial proposals without negotiations when solicitation permits.
Terms · B
Banking Verification
Validation of bank account information for electronic payment of contract invoices.
Terms · B
Base Year
Initial mandatory period of a contract before option years.
Terms · B
Best Value
Procurement approach selecting the offer providing greatest overall benefit considering price and non-price factors.
Terms · B
Bid Bond
Guarantee that winning bidder will accept the contract.
Terms · B
BOA
Basic Ordering Agreement - terms and conditions for future orders.
Terms · B
BPA
Blanket Purchase Agreement - simplified ordering arrangement for recurring needs.
Terms · B
Burden Rate
Multiplier applied to direct labor costs to cover indirect expenses and profit.
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