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Bid eligibility guides
Find the guidance and worked examples for your next solicitation review.
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Review your first solicitation
Find the governing documents, identify the conditions, and record what needs clarification.Browse the guides
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Review the package
Find the requirements and the evidence you need.
- Review the solicitationReview a solicitation package, locate its requirements, check evidence at the right checkpoint, and record a bid decision.Guide
- RFQ or RFP?Learn how RFIs, RFQs and RFPs differ, what each response does, and how to decide the effort a federal request deserves.Guide
- Requirements in attachmentsFind requirements in solicitation attachments, form blocks and incorporated clauses, then trace each condition to its governing source.Guide
- Requirements matrixBuild a solicitation requirements matrix with source text, checkpoints, evidence and owners. Includes a connected Excel workbook and worked examples.Resource
- Clarify a requirementTurn conflicting clauses, blank insertions and unclear access instructions into a precise question with a source, owner and response record.Guide
- SAM, UEI, and CAGEUnderstand SAM registration, UEIs and CAGE codes, including the offer-and-award checks that can affect a federal bid.Guide
- Source approvalIdentify the item, approving authority, qualification path and award checkpoint behind a solicitation's approved-source condition.Guide
- DFARS cybersecurity clausesDistinguish safeguarding, DoD assessment, CMMC status and solicitation-level requirements when reviewing DFARS 7012, 7019, 7020, 7021 and 7025.Reference
- DFARS FAQ statusRead the June 2024 Cyber DFARS FAQ against contract clauses, current CMMC status and provider duties before relying on an old answer.Reference
- FAR CUI proposal statusTrack the proposed FAR CUI clause, its Revision 3 baseline and incident reporting, with a contract-first preparation checklist.Reference
Obtain the package
Work through drawing access and secure receipt.
- DD2345 and drawing accessIdentify the access route for controlled drawings, check JCP certification and the named custodian, and distinguish release approval from secure receipt.Reference
- Restricted SAM attachmentsFind the stated requester and release route for a restricted solicitation attachment without assuming that every restriction means JCP, CUI or DLA Enhanced Validation.Guide
- JCP and DLA validationCompare JCP certification and DLA Enhanced Validation, including U.S. application prerequisites, access routes and responsibility for approval.Guide
- The data custodianAssign responsibility for a controlled-package request and check that the JCP custodian, certified location and receiving workflow agree.Guide
- Receiving technical dataPrepare the people, systems and evidence needed to receive controlled technical data under the conditions in your solicitation.Guide
- Controlled-package checklistPrepare the requester, certification, delivery route and receiving environment before asking for a controlled technical package.Resource
Decide and revisit
Record the decision and review what changes.
- Pursuit decision checklistUse a practical bid eligibility checklist to review participation, access, evidence and delivery conditions before a go/no-go decision.Resource
- The current packageBuild a record of notice actions, attachments and amendments before deciding which requirement text governs your review.Guide
- Amendment reviewCompare solicitation changes, preserve earlier versions and record affected requirements with an amendment review checklist and change log.Resource
- Deadlines and acknowledgmentsRecord which procurement deadline changed, confirm the governing amendment and acknowledgment method, and keep evidence of timely submission.Guide
- The CMMC pauseRead the Phase II suspension through the implementation memo, the actual amendment or modification, and the security obligations that remain.Reference
- Subcontractor requirementsReview changed scope, information flows and contractual instructions before asking a subcontractor to support a revised requirement.Guide
Understand the market
Use public records to put the opportunity in context.
- Sources sought or solicitation?Identify whether the government wants market information, a quotation or a proposal before committing response resources.Guide
- Prototype responsesDescribe demonstrated capability, test conditions and remaining development honestly when a government market-research request concerns an unfinished product.Guide
- NAICS and PSCUse NAICS and PSC codes to research federal work, understand size standards, and challenge the code on a solicitation when necessary.Guide
- Buying-office profilesCheck office identity, time window, source coverage and denominator before using a buyer profile to plan market research.Guide
- Award historyRead award identity, transaction amounts, dates and participation roles without turning historical records into claims about current capability or future revenue.Guide
- BOAs, IDIQs, and task ordersDistinguish a basic ordering agreement from an indefinite-quantity contract and review the conditions for participating in a particular order.Guide
- Prime or subcontractor?Compare prime and subcontractor roles in federal contracting, then prepare the eligibility and evidence record needed to pursue work directly.Guide
- Capability-statement evidenceBuild a claim-to-evidence record for technical capability, delivery history, certifications and participation roles before sharing a capability statement.Resource
CMMC questions
Read the requirement in the context of a specific solicitation.
- Does this solicitation require CMMC?Read the solicitation and attachments for the governing CMMC requirement. The incorporated requirement establishes the level, timing, and scope to review.Requirement guide
- Is CMMC required at proposal or award?The governing clause and solicitation language control the timing. Verify that timing for the specific requirement.Requirement guide
- Can I bid without CMMC?Start with the specific opportunity and whether its requirements apply to the planned performance scope.Requirement guide