Guides
What a small contractor needs to know to bid on U.S. government work, without the jargon.
- How to bid on federal construction contracts
A plain-English walkthrough of finding, reading and bidding on U.S. government construction work, from SAM.gov registration to bonds and prevailing wages.
- SAM.gov registration: what you need and how long it takes
Registering in SAM.gov is free and required to win federal contracts. What you need, the steps, renewal and the scams to avoid.
- Small business set-asides, explained
What a set-aside is, the rule of two, the SBA size standards, and the 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB and WOSB programs, in plain English.
- Sources sought, presolicitation, solicitation: SAM.gov notice types explained
What each SAM.gov notice type means, which ones you can bid on, and how to use the early ones to win.
- Bid bonds, performance bonds and prevailing wages on federal construction jobs
The Miller Act bond rules and Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, the two things that surprise new federal construction contractors.
- NAICS codes for construction contractors
The NAICS codes federal agencies use for construction and specialty trade work, and how to pick yours.
- How to find government contracts: a step-by-step guide
Where U.S. federal contract opportunities are published, how to search them by NAICS code, state and set-aside, and where else to look: forecasts, subcontracting and free help.
- How to write a capability statement for government contracts (with template)
What contracting officers look for in a capability statement, the five sections it needs and a fill-in template.
- How to respond to a sources sought notice
Why answering sources sought notices gets jobs set aside for small businesses, and exactly what to send.
- Federal fiscal year-end: when agencies post the most contracts
Month-by-month SAM.gov data for fiscal year 2026 and what the October-to-September cycle means for your bids.
- How to get federal subcontracts as a small business
Why prime contractors need small subcontractors, where to find subcontracting opportunities and how to approach primes.
- How to read a wage determination (Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act)
What a federal wage determination contains, how to read one for construction and for services, and how to price with it.
- How and when federal contractors get paid
The Prompt Payment Act, electronic invoicing, what a proper invoice needs and cash flow on construction jobs.
- Federal contract types explained: fixed-price, T&M, IDIQ and MATOC
The contract types small contractors meet most often, how each works and who carries the risk.
By trade
- How to win federal construction contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal janitorial and custodial contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal facilities maintenance contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal landscaping and grounds maintenance contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal plumbing and HVAC contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal electrical contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal IT and software contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal security guard contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal trucking and moving contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal food service contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal management consulting contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal training contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal roofing contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal paving and road construction contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal water and sewer line contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal site preparation and excavation contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal flooring contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal painting contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- How to win federal environmental remediation contracts
Who buys, the rules, the NAICS codes and today's numbers.
- Glossary of federal contracting terms
From 8(a) to Wage determination: the words you will meet in a SAM.gov notice.