Who should use this roadmap first?

This roadmap is for small businesses that need a plain-English federal contracting sequence before they spend time on broad opportunity searches or full proposals.

What comes after the SAM.gov setup steps?

After the setup steps, the roadmap moves into NAICS and agency focus, capability proof, sources sought review, and a bid / no-bid decision path.

Which public tools fit the roadmap?

The roadmap points visitors to the NAICS code lookup planner, the SAM.gov search-plan builder, the federal contract opportunity-search workflow, the sources sought guide, and the bid / no-bid scorecard.

// free public roadmap

The 90-Day Roadmap to Your First Federal Contract

This is the plain-English path Marcus uses with beginners: get registered, pick a lane, build proof, find primes, answer sources sought notices, and start a real bid/no-bid pipeline.

Resource hub path: this roadmap is the 90-day action plan inside the GovScout Resource Hub.

Start Your Roadmap with Marcus Open Free GovCon School

Start here Clean up SAM.gov first Use the readiness assessment if your registrations, profile proof, or renewals still need work. Qualified search Build the search lane Jump straight to NAICS, agencies, set-asides, and filters when you are ready to search with more discipline. Real notice in hand Score one opportunity Use the bid / no-bid scorecard when you already have a notice and need a cleaner pursue, team, or pass decision.

DAYS 1-15

Get Registered and Clean Up SAM.gov

Before chasing contracts, make sure the government can actually buy from you.

Confirm UEI, CAGE, banking, reps and certs.

Fix weak capability language in your SAM profile.

Save your login, deadlines, and renewal date.

Start with the readiness assessment Read the small-business guide first

DAYS 16-30

Find Your NAICS and Target Agencies

Stop searching the whole government. Pick the places that buy what you sell.

Choose 3-5 realistic NAICS codes.

Identify agencies with matching past awards.

Build a keyword list Marcus can monitor.

Use the NAICS code lookup planner Build the SAM.gov search plan

DAYS 31-45

Build Your Capability Statement

Your one-page capability statement should make a contracting officer understand you fast.

Write core competencies in buyer language.

Translate commercial work into past performance.

Add certifications, differentiators, CAGE, UEI, and NAICS.

Draft the capability statement Study the capability-statement guide

DAYS 46-60

Find Primes and Teaming Partners

If you are not ready to prime, build past performance under companies already winning.

Find recent winners in your NAICS.

Look for prime contractors with subcontracting goals.

Let Marcus draft targeted outreach before you send it.

Draft the prime outreach email Learn the subcontracting path

DAYS 61-75

Respond to Sources Sought

Sources sought notices are where agencies test the market before the final RFP.

Answer only where you are credible.

Show exact capability, not vague interest.

Ask smart clarifying questions early.

Read the sources-sought strategy guide Build the response outline

DAYS 76-90

Build Your First Bid/No-Bid Pipeline

The goal is not to bid everything. The goal is to pursue work you can actually win.

Track GO, TEAM, and PASS decisions.

Upload documents for Marcus to score.

Build one clean pursuit package at a time.

Review the opportunity-search workflow Score the first real opportunity

Free GovCon School

GovCon School is public because it should bring people to GovScout before they pay. Start with the roadmap, then use the free guides to understand the language, the documents, and the strategy.

LESSONSBeginner GovCon lessons GUIDESDVOSB starter guide GUIDESAM.gov search guide PLAYBOOKSources sought strategy PLAYBOOKHow to find subcontracting work PDFSDownloadable PDFs and templates

Search and Pre-Solicitation Path

The strongest qualified-demand path in this cluster is not generic inspiration. It is the sequence from lane definition, to search planning, to sources sought reading, to a bid/no-bid decision you can defend.

BUILDERSAM.gov Search Plan Builder WORKFLOWFederal Contract Opportunity Search PLAYBOOKSources Sought Strategy SCORECARDBid / No-Bid Scorecard

How to Use This Roadmap Without Getting Lost

The roadmap works best when you treat each 15-day block as a proof checkpoint. Do not jump from registration straight to proposal writing. Confirm that your SAM.gov profile, NAICS codes, capability statement, buyer list, and outreach notes are strong enough to support the next step.

Use the free tools in order: start with the NAICS code lookup planner, build a SAM.gov search plan, study the opportunity-search workflow, answer the right sources sought notices, and use the bid/no-bid scorecard before you spend time on a full proposal.

Ready for Marcus to Work the Plan With You?

Put your business profile into GovScout. Marcus will help pick the right contracts, draft the right messages, and build the first serious pursuit package.

Start Your Roadmap with Marcus