Coming soon
Certification Playbook
SDVOSB8(a)HUBZone
Which certifications are worth pursuing?
A practical comparison of SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and small business positioning.
In developmentHome / Resources
Free federal contracting resources that match the new GovScout.
Use these tools, guides, templates, and training pages to get oriented before you spend money or proposal time. When you are ready, bring the real opportunity into Marcus for a structured review.
No email wall practical free resources
Built for small business bid, team, pass discipline
Connects to Marcus when you need guided work
Free guides Plain-English training for new and growing contractors.
Free tools Scorecards and builders for real pursuit work.
Templates Capability statements, outreach, and bid/no-bid structure.
Marcus-ready Each resource points toward better app workflows.
Use this as the central GovScout Resource Hub
Start on this page when you are not sure whether you need a guide, tool, template, roadmap, article, or Marcus case-file example. The child pages below support specific jobs, but this hub is the canonical learning doorway.
Hub map
Tools hub
Use when you need a worksheet, scorecard, builder, or first draft.
Template library
Use when you need reusable prompts, starter language, or proposal planning structure.
90-day roadmap
Use when you need the sequence from registration through first serious pursuit.
Articles and case files
Use when you need deeper explanation, current publishing, or a sample Marcus output.
Search-to-decision path
Use this sequence when you want the shortest route from broad interest to a qualified pursuit decision.
Browse contract guides by buyer, certification, and service lane
These links give every guide a second crawl path beyond the contract hub and help buyers land on the guide that matches their actual market.
Contract guides
Use this directory when you already know the kind of federal work you want to research. Each page connects that niche to practical search, proof, teaming, and Marcus workflow guidance.
Certifications and set-asides
Agency guides
Service and industry lanes
- AI government contracts
- Cloud contracts
- Construction contracts
- Cybersecurity contracts
- Electrical contracts
- Engineering contracts
- Environmental contracts
- Federal IT contracts
- HVAC contracts
- Janitorial contracts
- Landscaping contracts
- Medical staffing contracts
- Plumbing contracts
- Professional services contracts
- Security guard contracts
- Software development contracts
- Trucking contracts
Workflow and capture guides
Free GovCon School and free tools
Start here when you need the basics, a quick builder, or a cleaner way to think about your next opportunity.
Public resources
Tools hub
Free GovCon Tools
ToolsStart here
Open the full free tool library
Capability statement, sources sought response, SAM.gov search plan, bid/no-bid scorecard, and more.
Use the toolsGuide
Federal Contracting for Small Businesses
GuideBeginner
How to Get Your First Federal Contract
A plain-English walkthrough of registrations, opportunity types, certifications, SAM.gov basics, and practical first steps.
Read the guideAssessment
SDVOSB Starter Guide
ReadinessFit check
Find the gaps before you chase solicitations
Check SAM.gov, certifications, NAICS, proof, and capacity before proposal time gets expensive.
Start assessmentBuilder
SAM.gov Search Plan Builder
SAM.govSearch
SAM.gov Search Guide
Build a practical search plan around NAICS, scope language, set-asides, agency targets, and better saved-search habits.
Build a planScorecard
Bid / No-Bid Scorecard
DecisionRisk
Make pursuit decisions with discipline
Score fit, proof, timing, competition, and risk before you sink time into the wrong RFP.
Score an opportunityTraining
How To Use Marcus
MarcusWorkflow
Ask better questions and get better reviews
Learn how to bring profile details, solicitation facts, and proof gaps into the app.
Learn MarcusVideo
GovScout YouTube Channel
TutorialsMarcus
Watch product walkthroughs and training
Use the official channel for Marcus setup, opportunity review examples, and practical GovCon explainers.
Open YouTubeTraining
How to Find Subcontracting Work
SubcontractingOutreach
Get in front of primes with a useful offer
Learn how to approach prime contractors, position your small-business value, and ask for the right teaming conversation.
Draft outreachTemplates and generators
Use these when you need a practical artifact: a capability statement, outreach email, sources sought response, or proposal planning checklist.
Work products
Generator
Capability Statement Generator
CaptureOne page
Build the document buyers ask for first
Organize competencies, differentiators, certifications, NAICS, past performance, and contact details.
Generate oneBuilder
Sources Sought Response Builder
Market researchCapture
Show up before the RFP is written
Draft a focused response that proves capability and asks smart pre-solicitation questions.
Build responseEmail
Prime Contractor Outreach
TeamingOutreach
Approach primes without sounding generic
Position your firm around certification, scope fit, and a specific teaming conversation.
Draft emailScorecard
Teaming Partner Fit
TeamingRisk
Check whether a partner actually helps
Score capability, relationship, compliance, capacity, and role clarity before you depend on another company.
Score partnerTracker
Agency Contact Tracker
SalesFollow-up
Stop losing warm agency conversations
Track offices, buyers, small business specialists, next actions, and outreach status.
Open trackerTemplates
Free Template Library
DownloadsLibrary
Grab the reusable files in one place
Use GovScout template pages for quick planning, capture, outreach, and proposal organization.
View templatesEbooks and deeper guides
Download the longer guides when you want to slow down and think through pursuit discipline in more detail.
Downloads
PDF ebook
Stop Chasing Bad Bids
EnglishBid discipline
A small business guide to smarter pursuits
Learn how to avoid bad-fit opportunities, qualify faster, and build a healthier bid/no-bid habit.
Open PDFPDF ebook
Deja de Perseguir Malas Ofertas
SpanishGuia
La guia en espanol para evitar malas ofertas
Una version en espanol para pequenas empresas que quieren buscar contratos federales con mas disciplina.
Abrir PDFReference
NAICS Code Lookup
NAICSSearch
Find the lane before you search
Use NAICS codes as a starting point, then match them against the actual scope and size standard.
Look up codesFind guidance for your business type
Use these focused landing pages when your federal contracting path depends on certification status, ownership category, or set-aside positioning.
Business paths
Small business
Small Business Federal Contracting Software
SAM.govBid fit
Start with the broad small-business path
Find opportunities, review fit, and build pursuit habits before proposal time gets expensive.
Open guideSDVOSB
SDVOSB Federal Contracting Software
Veteran-ownedSet-asides
Match SDVOSB opportunities with evidence
Use Marcus and GovScout workflows to qualify set-aside work before committing bid time.
Open SDVOSB pageVeteran-owned
Veteran-Owned Contracting Software
VOSBPipeline
Build a veteran-owned pursuit lane
Track likely-fit opportunities, teaming paths, and proof points for federal buyers.
Open veteran pageWOSB
Women-Owned Contracting Software
WOSBSet-asides
Focus women-owned opportunity searches
Connect set-aside positioning with stronger bid/no-bid and outreach workflows.
Open WOSB page8(a)
8(a) and Minority-Owned Contracting Software
8(a)Minority-owned
Turn certification into better targeting
Review opportunity fit, prepare responses, and avoid chasing bad-fit solicitations.
Open 8(a) pageHUBZone
HUBZone Federal Contracting Software
HUBZoneSearch
Find and qualify HUBZone-relevant work
Use search plans, capability statements, and bid-fit checks around HUBZone positioning.
Open HUBZone pageComing next
These planned resources are prioritized by customer value, official-source review, and product readiness. They will publish only when the examples and claims are useful enough to support the page intent.
Planned resources
Coming soon
SAM.gov Mastery
SAM.govAlerts
Find more of the right work
Saved searches, filters, alert setup, and how to avoid irrelevant listings.
In developmentComing soon
Your First Federal Proposal
ProposalChecklist
Understand what a compliant package needs
Sections, evaluation factors, compliance matrix basics, and attachments for first-time federal proposals.
In developmentFree resources help you learn. GovScout helps you work.
When you have a real opportunity, use Marcus and the app workflow to review fit, risks, evidence, and next actions before committing proposal time.
What should GovScout publish next?
GovScout prioritizes resources that help small businesses make better pursuit decisions: readiness, opportunity fit, compliance, teaming, pricing, and proposal planning.
Subcontracting for new entrants
IDIQ and GWAC vehicles
Past performance from zero
Teaming and JV basics
Price-to-win basics
GSA Schedule application