Definitions

What do these contracting words mean?

Short answers first. These are general explanations of public terms, not legal advice, and not a statement that you qualify for any set-aside.

• CAGE code

  A Commercial and Government Entity code is a five-character ID used to identify a business on federal contracts. It is tied to your SAM.gov registration. It is not an award and not a set-aside.

• Capability statement

  A capability statement is a one- or two-page sheet a small business hands to a buyer or a prime. It says what you do, which codes you use, and what evidence you have. It does not win a contract by itself.

• NAICS code

  NAICS is the North American Industry Classification System. A notice names the code for that buy. Your firm’s size status is judged against the size standard for that code, not against a code you wish you had.

• Past performance

  Past performance is evidence of how you performed work that looks like the work in the notice. Agencies ask for it because a proposal is a promise. The record is how they test the promise.

• SAM.gov

  SAM.gov is the official federal system for registering to do business with the U.S. government and for posting contract opportunities. It is free to use. Govacha is not SAM.gov.

• Set-aside

  A set-aside is a competition reserved for a defined group. Common federal categories include small business, 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned small business, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business. The notice states the rule. Your status has to be real.

• Solicitation

  A solicitation is the package that asks you to submit an offer or a quote. Sources sought notices and requests for information are usually market research. They are not the same as an RFP or an RFQ.

• UEI

  A Unique Entity ID is the number SAM.gov assigns to your entity. It replaced the DUNS number for federal awards. You get it by registering in SAM.gov, not by paying a private reseller.