Free guides, insider knowledge, and quick-reference tools on government contracting — written by a former US Federal CIO for entrepreneurs, consultants, and small businesses.
Everything you need to understand and enter the federal marketplace — from the very beginning.
The complete 2025 roadmap — entity formation, SAM.gov registration, NAICS codes, certifications, and winning your first contract.
Read Guide · 15 min →Step-by-step: Login.gov setup, UEI number, CAGE code, and activating your vendor account — free, no third party needed.
Read Guide · 10 min →8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB — how each certification works and how to win contracts with dramatically less competition.
Read Guide · 12 min →The six sections every capability statement needs — and the mistakes that get yours ignored by contracting officers.
Read Guide · 8 min →What evaluators score, how to structure technical volumes, and five mistakes that cost businesses contracts every year.
Read Guide · 12 min →How to get on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule — who qualifies, how to apply, and how to use it to win more contracts.
Read Guide · 10 min →How solo consultants and independent contractors can build a profitable federal practice starting from zero.
Read Guide · 10 min →Master the language of federal contracting — the same terms used by contracting officers and agency buyers every day.
System for Award Management — the official federal vendor database. All businesses must register here before receiving any federal contract or grant payment.
Unique Entity Identifier — your permanent federal vendor ID number, assigned during SAM.gov registration. Replaced the old DUNS number in 2022.
North American Industry Classification System. Defines your business type. Used by agencies to find vendors and set small business size standards for set-asides.
Request for Proposal / Quotation / Information. How agencies publicly communicate contracting needs. RFPs are the most common route to winning prime contracts.
A contract reserved for a specific vendor category — small businesses, women-owned, veteran-owned, etc. Dramatically reduces competition for qualifying businesses.
Your track record delivering on previous contracts. The most heavily weighted evaluation factor in federal procurement. Building it from day one is critical.
A one-page marketing document covering core competencies, differentiators, past performance, and company data. First thing contracting officers request.
Partnering with another contractor to bid on work neither could win alone. A primary strategy for small businesses to compete for larger, multi-year contracts.
GSA Multiple Award Schedule — a pre-negotiated government-wide contract vehicle that lets agencies buy from pre-vetted vendors without a full competitive procurement.
The essential websites every government contractor needs in their toolkit — all free, all official.
Register your business, search for contract opportunities, and manage your vendor profile. The single most important federal contracting website.
Visit SAM.gov →Small Business Administration — find size standards, certification programs (8a, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB), and small business contracting resources.
Visit SBA.gov →Research federal spending data. Find which agencies buy what you offer, who they currently buy from, and how much they spend — essential for market research.
Visit USASpending.gov →Apply for SBA small business certifications: 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB. The official free certification portal.
Visit Certify →Federal Procurement Data System. Searchable database of all federal contracts awarded — research competitors, find teaming partners, understand the market.
Visit FPDS.gov →Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APEX Accelerators) — free government-funded advisors who help small businesses navigate federal contracting.
Find Your APEX →The guides on this site are your foundation. ScaleUp USA's Federal Business Accelerator gives you the full practitioner toolkit — video walkthroughs, templates, real solicitation examples, and insider strategies most consultants charge thousands to share.