Field notes on winning federal work.

SAM.gov is the free official database for federal contract opportunities. Here is how to search it, where else to look, and how to tell which ones fit.

A federal contract is the government buying a good or service for its own use. Here is what that means, real examples, and whether you need an LLC to win one.

The federal budget runs on a multi-year cycle, PPBE. It tells you when money shows up and when to position, months before an RFP is posted.

Some agencies award SBIR as grants, others as contracts, and it changes the rules. Here is the difference and what SBIR funding really covers.

Grants and contracts are scored differently and expect different things. Here is how the evaluation, deliverables, and relationship differ.

SBIR and STTR differ on partnering and PI rules. Here is which fits your company, the one real difference, and how Phase I, II, and III work.

Bidding on a federal contract is a sequence, not a leap. Here is the step-by-step path from registration to a submitted proposal, and where firms go wrong.

Teaming widens the work you can pursue, but the wrong partner adds risk. Here is how to find and vet partners on capability, credibility, and commitment.

Win rate is wins divided by pursuits, so the fastest way to raise it is to pursue less and pick better. Here is how to measure it honestly and actually move it.