This article has been updated as of June 2024.
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Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of July 2023.
The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) lay the groundwork for how government solicitations and contracts are put together. And while it's true that the FAR is mainly written with government officials in mind - the ones crafting the contracts - it's a mistake for businesses to gloss over them.
After all, these regulations aren't just about compliance. Having a firm grasp of the FAR can tilt the scales in your favor in government contracting.
This is your ultimate (and quick) guide to approaching the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Here, we are going to cover the following:
- What is the FAR?
- How is the FAR broken down?
- Key Sections for Contractors.
In the first quarter of the fiscal year, the Pentagon awarded Microsoft its prestigious $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract.
For now.
That's because if you've been reading up on this contract, you would know it was riddled with disputes. One of which was a bid protest made by Oracle Corporation. Then, right after Microsoft was awarded, Amazon Web Services was expected to file one as well.
This blog post will give you a rundown on bid protests.
We are going to answer the following:
- What is a bid protest?
- Why are bid protests filed?
- Where do I file a bid protest?
- How should I approach bid protests?
Let's begin.
This November, FedBizOpps (FBO) is set to merge with beta.SAM.
With that in mind, it's time to discuss past big changes in the federal marketplace. That's because with every major change comes major problems. How you handle these problems will determine your success or failure in government contracting.
In this blog post, we will cover common issues that contractors face whenever the federal government implements a new policy or system. When you know what issues to expect, you'll be better equipped to handle them.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
“I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of 2 million parts – all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.”
This apocryphal quote comes from the early days of NASA. Some attribute it to Alan Sheppard. Others claim it was John Glenn.
Either way, no one can agree on who said it or the exact phrasing. What did happen, though, was the perpetuation of a government contracting myth: it always comes down to the lowest bidder.
Market research is crucial for success in government contracting. After all, you should know who is buying what so you can find your target customers. If you're considering contracting with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), here's a list of the top 10 industries for HHS contracts from the previous fiscal year.
The information used to write this blog post was extracted from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). This list comprises the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes associated with each top industry.
Let's start the countdown.
If you can make your company known to a contracting officer before bidding, you will improve your chances of winning government contracts. Reaching out to them through email is an effective way to accomplish this. Get more responses to your B2G emails with the tips in this video.
Here it is. Everything that government contractors ask about the Dun and Bradstreet number (aka DUNS number) is in this quick, and easy-to-read guide.
Everyone knows that you need to build a relationship with Contracting Officers. Have you ever considered factoring the End User (aka the person who actually uses your products/services) into the equation?
