Terms & trusted resources.

The buyer’s acknowledgment that the delivered work meets the contract’s acceptance requirements. Completing the work and obtaining acceptance are related, but not always the same step.

A change or addition to a bid package, often used by state and local buyers. Check its effect on scope, dates, forms, and any required acknowledgment.

An official change to a solicitation. Recheck the affected requirements and any acknowledgment instructions.

A short business introduction describing specific services, relevant proof and contact details. It is not a complete bid.

An identifier for a particular item of work, product, or service in a contract. Use the award’s line items and units when preparing required pricing or invoices.

A working list connecting each requirement to its source, supporting evidence, owner and response location. Also called a requirements matrix.

The government official with authority, within delegated limits, to enter into and administer contracts. Follow the contract’s process for decisions and changes requiring that authority.

A person designated to assist with specified contract duties, such as monitoring performance. That role does not itself authorize changes to contract price, scope, or terms.

The criteria the buyer says it will use to assess responses. Build your response around the actual criteria.

A contract arrangement with a price that generally does not change solely because the contractor’s actual costs change. Read any applicable adjustment or changes provisions.

A prime-contract requirement included in a subcontract when applicable. Check the actual clause, work and subcontract tier to determine what must be passed down.

In federal procurement, a solicitation used for sealed bidding. Follow the bid and submission instructions; do not treat it as a negotiated RFP.

Rules limiting payments to certain subcontractors on covered federal small-business awards. The calculation depends on the contract category and the subcontractor’s qualifying status.

The difference between price and the costs counted in your calculation, divided by the price. A $5,000 price minus $4,000 cost gives a 20% margin before any omitted costs.

An amount added to cost, expressed as a share of cost. Adding $1,000 to $4,000 cost is a 25% markup, which produces a $5,000 price and a 20% margin.

North American Industry Classification System. Industry codes used in federal contracting, including to identify applicable small-business size standards. A code is not a certification.

Evidence about how prior work was performed. The solicitation determines which projects and types of experience are relevant.

Where the contracted work will happen. It may be different from the address of the office handling the purchase.

The business contracting directly with the government and responsible for the contracted work, including management of its subcontractors.

An invoice that includes the information and supporting documentation required by the contract and applicable payment rules. Sending a bill alone does not settle acceptance or payment timing.

A federal classification describing products or services being bought. It is another search clue, alongside work descriptions and NAICS, rather than proof that a job fits.

A request used to gather information, often for planning or market research. Under FAR 15.201, a response is not an offer that can form a binding contract.

A solicitation asking for a proposal. Read its evaluation criteria and response instructions; the requested detail varies.

A request for a quotation. Follow the stated process and terms. Under federal simplified acquisition rules, a quotation is not itself an offer.

The federal site for entity registration and other award-related information, including contract notices. A user account, a UEI and an active entity registration are different things.

A procurement reserved for a defined category of eligible businesses. Check the specific size, certification and other requirements rather than assuming you qualify.

A qualifying first-tier subcontractor with the same relevant small-business program status as the prime and small under its subcontract’s NAICS code. See the guide for how lower-tier work is counted.

A notice commonly used to learn which businesses can perform potential work. Respond to its capability questions; it is not the same as an open solicitation for an award.

Statement of work / performance work statement. These describe required work or performance outcomes. Read the actual document for deliverables, standards and acceptance requirements.

A business performing work for a prime or another contractor, rather than contracting directly with the government for that work.

An identifier assigned through SAM.gov. Obtaining a UEI alone does not complete an active entity registration for direct federal awards.