Federal Contracts Lookup: Free Tools to Find Bids
Free federal contracts lookup with SAM.gov and USASpending: open bids, notice types, saved alerts, and past awards now that FPDS search is gone.
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Real Talk on Winning
Government Contracts
Resource hub path: articles are part of the GovScout Resource Hub and should lead readers into tools, templates, and Marcus case-file review.
Author and editorial owner: Steven Harriman, founder of GovScout Pro.
No fluff. No generic advice. Written by a service-disabled veteran who built the tools he wished existed — and learned the hard way what it takes to win.
How to Find SAM Gov Contract Opportunities and Use the API
Find SAM.gov contract opportunities with NAICS, set-aside and notice-type filters, then pull them with the free Opportunities API. Endpoint, parameters, rate limits.
READ THIS ->GovWin Pricing: What Deltek GovWin IQ Really Costs
Deltek does not publish GovWin IQ prices. Here is what purchase data shows, what shapes a quote, and what to ask before you sign.
READ THIS ->Capability Statement for Small Business: Section Guide
Build a one-page capability statement block by block, with weak versus strong wording and a quarterly refresh checklist.
READ THIS ->Capability Statement Construction Company: What Goes In It
What a construction capability statement needs: bonding line, licenses, NAICS codes, and past performance with no federal history.
READ THIS ->One-Page Capability Statement Guide for Federal Buyers
Fill-in-the-blank one-pager with an electrical contractor example and a SAM.gov consistency check.
READ THIS ->NAICS Code Lookup by Business Name: Free 2-Minute Workflow
Look up any company's NAICS codes by name with SAM.gov and Census, convert to SIC, and check NY and TN vendor rules. Free, no signup.
READ THIS ->Past Performance Predicts Future Performance: Does It?
Is past performance really a predictor of future performance? How evaluators judge relevance, what a neutral rating means, and how to build a record from zero.
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How the COR Shapes Your CPARS Rating
Who writes a CPARS evaluation, how COR input becomes your final rating, and how to use the 14-day comment window and review above the contracting officer.
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Past Performance in Federal Contracting: How to Build It
What past performance is, how PPQs and CPARS work, how to write answers evaluators believe, and how a new small business builds a record from zero.
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Census Bureau NAICS Code Lookup: Click-by-Click Walkthrough
How to use the free Census Bureau NAICS lookup, step by step: search, drill down to your 6-digit code, check SBA size standards, and enter it in SAM.gov.
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NAICS Code Lookup by DUNS Number: 2026 SAM.gov Method
You can't look up a NAICS code by DUNS number anymore. Here is the 2026 method: find the UEI, open the SAM.gov registration, and read the codes.
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No Bid: Deciding If a Federal Opportunity Is Worth It
A scored bid/no-bid framework for small federal contractors, with a worked SDVOSB example, the cost of a proposal, and no-bid letter language.
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NAICS Code Lookup for Construction: 236, 237 or 238?
Pick the right construction NAICS code: 236 building, 237 heavy civil, or 238 specialty trades. Includes SIC crosswalk and state notes for OH, VA and DE.
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GovWin IQ Pricing 2026: What It Costs and Cheaper Options
GovWin IQ doesn't publish prices. Here's what public purchase data shows, how its 3 tiers differ, negotiation tips, and cheaper GovCon tools with published prices.
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GovTribe Pricing 2026: Plans, Per-Seat Costs, and Alternatives
GovTribe costs $1,900 a year for one seat ($2,100 for Pro), less per seat on bigger teams. Full 2026 price table, what credits mean, and cheaper alternatives.
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GovWin vs GovTribe vs HigherGov vs GovSpend: 2026 Prices
2026 pricing for GovWin IQ, GovTribe, HigherGov, GovSpend, Bloomberg Government and GovScout Pro, with what each is best at and tips for picking one.
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Federal Construction Projects 2026-2027: Where the Money Is
The government spent $51.1B on construction contracts in FY2025, 42% with small businesses. See who buys, where forecasts are posted, big 2026-2027 programs, and tips.
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SDVOSB Spending by Agency FY2025: Who Grew, Who Cut
Original analysis of FY2025 USAspending data: $34.4B to SDVOSB-flagged firms. ICE, Coast Guard and GSA grew; IRS and consulting fell. Agency table, CSV download, tips.
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How to Price a Government Contract: 9 Tips for 2026
How to price federal contracts: build labor rates, check GSA CALC+, use the right wage determination, pick the contract type, and avoid the mistakes that lose bids.
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Micro-Purchases: How to Sell to the Government Under $15,000
The micro-purchase threshold is $15,000 since Oct 1, 2025. Learn how purchase-card buyers find vendors, why these buys aren't on SAM.gov, and 8 tips to get picked.
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GSA Schedule for Beginners 2026: Steps, Changes, and Tips
How to get a GSA Multiple Award Schedule in 2026: Pathways to Success, readiness, Startup Springboard, Refresh 33 and TDR changes, the 0.75% fee, and honest tips.
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SAM.gov Registration 2026: Free Steps and Mistakes to Avoid
SAM.gov registration is free and renews every 365 days. Step-by-step for 2026, the entity validation mistakes that cause rejections, scam warnings, and what moved into SAM.gov.
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How to Get Subcontracts From Prime Contractors: 10 Tips
Large primes with contracts over $900,000 must have small business subcontracting plans. Here's how to find them, get their attention, and win your first subcontract.
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8(a) Sole-Source Limits in 2026-2027: ANC, Tribal, and NHO Rules Explained
The current 8(a) sole-source limits, when a justification is required for ANC and tribal firms, why competitors usually cannot protest, and what the 2025-2026 shakeup means for FY2027.
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SDVOSB Teaming Agreements and Joint Ventures: The 2026-2027 Rules
Teaming agreements, SDVOSB joint ventures, and mentor-protégé JVs explained: the 40% work rule, subcontracting limits, the two-year rule, and the red flags that lose protests.
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Federal Contracting Thresholds for 2026-2027: Every Dollar Limit Small Businesses Need
Micro-purchase $15,000, simplified acquisition $350,000, subcontracting plans $900K, sole-source limits by program, and the dates that could move the numbers in FY2027.
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CMMC in 2026-2027: Phase 2 Is Suspended. Here Is What DoD Small Businesses Still Must Do
Phase 2 was suspended July 13, 2026, but SPRS scores, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST SP 800-171 still apply. What is in force, what is pending, and a FY2027 plan.
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Federal Construction Contracts in 2026-2027: How Small Contractors Win
Where federal construction projects come from, Davis-Bacon and Miller Act thresholds, the 85% subcontracting limit, SBA bonding up to $14M, and the 2027 size standards change.
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Government Contract Intelligence Platforms Compared: 2026 Pricing Guide
A buyer-focused comparison of GovWin IQ, HigherGov, GovTribe, GovSpend, and GovScout Pro by public pricing visibility, trial path, evaluation friction, and small-business fit.
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Federal Contracting Intelligence Brief: August 2026
A source-backed brief on 8(a) rulemaking, FY2025 small-business spending, SBS discoverability, thresholds, HUBZone watchpoints, forecasts, and teaming strategy.
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Teaming Agreement Basics for Small Government Contractors
A plain-English guide to teaming agreements, negotiation red flags, and the workflow small contractors should use before signing anything.
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What Is a NAICS Code and How Do I Pick Mine?
A practical explanation of how NAICS codes affect federal contracting, size standards, SAM.gov searches, and the simple process for choosing a better fit.
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How to Write a Capability Statement for Government Contracts
A practical template for turning services, proof, differentiators, and target buyers into a capability statement that agencies and primes can scan quickly.
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Top 20 Tips for Landing Government Contracts
A practical listicle for small businesses: SAM.gov cleanup, capability statements, Sources Sought, teaming, bid/no-bid discipline, pricing, compliance, and what GovScout Pro can help check off.
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AI Contract Analysis for Small Businesses: What AI Can Review and What You Still Must Decide
A source-backed guide to using AI for first-pass contract review, notice classification, and gap spotting without letting automation pretend to own eligibility, pricing, or final bid judgment.
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How to Find Contract Openings Before Everyone Else
Do not just search open bids. Study who won, who is excluded, which awards were protested, and where recompetes may create lawful openings for qualified small businesses.
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Lista de verificacion con IA para contratos federales
Guia en espanol para pequenas empresas que quieren usar SAM.gov, alertas y Marcus AI para encontrar contratos federales que realmente pueden perseguir.
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How I Landed a DOE SCADA Contract as a One-Man SDVOSB (And What I Wish I Knew Earlier)
I spent two years chasing government contracts the wrong way. Then I changed my approach and it changed everything. Here is what client success in government contracting actually looks like when you stop writing proposals and start positioning.
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VA Contracts Are the Most Underused Opportunity in Government Contracting
The VA is legally required to prioritize SDVOSBs under the Rule of Two. Most veteran-owned small businesses have never seriously pursued a VA contract. Here is why and exactly how to fix it.
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How Small Businesses Can Win Federal Contracts (And Actually Get Paid)
Winning is only half the battle. The federal government is the largest buyer in the world — but it is also one of the slowest payers. Here is the exact playbook for landing your first federal award and making sure the money actually hits your account.
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How to Become a Federal Prime Contractor (The Real Path Nobody Talks About)
Every piece of government contracting advice tells you to register on SAM.gov and start bidding. That is not the real path. The contractors winning prime contracts built their position over 18 months before they submitted their first proposal.
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The Fastest Ways to Make Real Money with Federal Contracts
Most small businesses spend two years chasing contracts they will never win. The contractors generating real revenue found the fast lanes — contract vehicles, set-asides, and agency relationships that compress the timeline from zero to paid.
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SEARCH
Federal Contract Opportunity Search: A Small Business Workflow
A practical workflow for turning SAM.gov filters, agency forecasts, sources sought notices, and award-history checks into a better bid, team, pass, or watch decision.
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Veteran-Owned Government Contracting: Where Experience Helps and Where It Does Not
Veteran experience can sharpen mission understanding and execution discipline, but it does not replace VetCert, market research, pricing realism, or past performance. This refresh shows the honest workflow.
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SAM.gov Search Tips for Small Business: What the Tutorials Don't Tell You
The official SAM.gov tutorial will teach you how to log in. It will not teach you how to find contracts you can actually win. Six techniques that separate the contractors getting awards from the ones downloading PDFs they will never bid on.
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The Go/No-Go Decision in Government Contracting: Why Most Small Businesses Get It Wrong
Most small businesses decide to bid on a contract based on one thing: can we do the work? That is the wrong question. Marcus evaluates seven factors before recommending a bid — and the ones that kill deals are never the obvious ones.
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Sources Sought Notices: A Small Business Response Workflow
A source-backed workflow for reading Sources Sought notices, checking lane fit and buyer history, and deciding whether to respond, team, watch, or pass before the solicitation arrives.
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How to Read a Federal Solicitation in 30 Minutes
Most contractors spend hours trying to understand a government document. Here is the exact framework a 20-year contracting officer uses to read any solicitation in 30 minutes and identify every compliance trap, evaluation weight, and incumbent signal.
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The Trojan Sub Strategy — How to Become a Prime by First Being a Sub
Get on a winning team as a subcontractor. Learn the agency. Build past performance. Come back as prime next award. Here is the exact playbook for turning subcontracting into a pipeline for priming.
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Awardable Pricing — The Number That Wins Isn't the Lowest One
Pricing too low makes you look unqualified. Pricing too high gets you eliminated. Awardable pricing is about finding the range where you win — and how to build a CLIN structure that tells the story your price needs to tell.
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Why I Built GovScout Pro — A Service-Disabled Veteran's Honest Account
I spent 20 years executing government contracts for big companies. When I started my own SDVOSB, I had no idea how to win them. This is the honest story of what I found — and why I built Marcus.
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