Field notes on winning federal work.

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.

The contracting officer, COR, and program manager play very different roles in a federal buy. Here is who does what, and who you actually talk to.

A DoD solicitation follows the Uniform Contract Format, which splits the document into Sections A through M. The Schedule (A to H) says what the government wants and on what terms. Section L tells you how to write your response, and Section M tells you how it gets scored. Read M and L first, then the work description in C, then price it in B.

SBIR Phase III is where the program pays off: commercialization, follow-on work, and a sole-source path, all on non-SBIR money. Here is how it works.

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

Federal business development is the work you do before a solicitation drops: choosing the agencies and buyers you can realistically win with, building relationships early, and deciding what to pursue. For a small team, most of the discipline is in saying no. You win more by chasing fewer, better opportunities and preparing for them sooner.

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.