Guides

Government contracting, explained plainly

You don't need experience to win a government contract. You need to know a few rules, where to look, and how to price. Start here.

How to win your first government contract (with no experience)

A step-by-step path for beginners: register for free, pick a niche, find small contracts few companies bid on, price from past awards, and get paid. No experience needed.

How to bid on DLA's DIBBS: a beginner's guide

DIBBS is where the Defense Logistics Agency buys millions of parts. How to register, find RFQs you can win, read the item's history, price your quote, and get paid.

Can you resell products to the government? The nonmanufacturer rule, explained

You don't have to make a product to sell it to the government. When a reseller can supply any brand, when it must supply a small business's product, and what else to check.

What is a set-aside, and do you qualify?

Set-asides reserve government contracts for small businesses and certified groups. The types, who qualifies, which need certification, and how they cut your competition.

How (and when) the government pays you

Government contracts pay reliably, but not instantly. When payment arrives, how to invoice (WAWF and IPP), and how much cash you need to front a supply order.

What is an NSN? National Stock Numbers, explained

Every part the military stocks has a 13-digit National Stock Number. What the digits mean, how NSNs connect to part numbers and approved manufacturers, and how to use one to win a bid.

How to read a DLA RFQ, line by line

A DLA request for quotation packs a lot into one page. What each part means, from the NSN and quantity to approved sources, packaging, inspection and the return-by date, and what to check before you quote.

How to find a supplier for a government contract

Winning a supply contract starts with a reliable source. Where to find manufacturers and distributors, what to ask in a quote request, and how to avoid the problems that sink new resellers.

How to price a government bid (and still make money)

Price too high and you lose; too low and you win money-losing work. How to use past winning prices, account for every cost, and choose a price that wins often enough to pay.

How to register on SAM.gov, step by step (it's free)

Every federal contractor needs an active SAM.gov registration. What to gather first, each step from Login.gov to your UEI and CAGE code, how long it takes, and the mistakes that stall it. No fees involved.

What is a CAGE code?

A CAGE code is the five-character ID that identifies your business to the government and its suppliers. How you get one, where it appears, and why approved-source parts are listed by CAGE.

SAM.gov notice types, explained

Sources sought, presolicitation, combined synopsis/solicitation, special notice, award notice: what each SAM.gov notice type means and which ones you can actually bid on.

RFQ vs. RFP vs. IFB: what is the government asking for?

Requests for quotation, requests for proposals and invitations for bids work very differently. What each one asks you to submit, how the winner is chosen, and which suits a beginner.

Sources sought and RFIs: why answering one can win you work

A sources sought notice is the government asking who could do the work. Why a short response can turn a buy into a small business set-aside, and what to put in it.

How to win micro-purchases (government buys under $15,000)

Agencies can buy under $15,000 without formal competition, often with a government purchase card. How micro-purchases work and how a small supplier gets on a buyer's list.

Unit of issue: the small detail behind big pricing mistakes

EA, BX, PG, PR, SE: the unit of issue says what one unit is. Why a box priced as an each can turn a winning bid into a loss, and how to check before you quote.

FOB origin vs. FOB destination: who pays to ship it?

The FOB term on a government order decides who arranges and pays for shipping and who carries the risk in transit. What each means and how it changes your price.

First article testing, explained

First article testing means a sample must be tested and approved before you deliver the order. What it involves, what it costs in time and money, and when it can be waived.

Military packaging and marking for beginners

Many DLA orders require packaging and labels to military standards. What MIL-STD-2073 and MIL-STD-129 cover, how much they add, and how to price them.

How to find out who won a government contract, and for how much

Federal award data is public. Where to look up who won a contract, what they were paid and how many bids it drew, and how to use it to price your next bid.

ZukoBid is an independent service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Figures come from public records and may contain errors; always check the official listing before you bid.