Start Here

The clean first path into federal contracting with Marcus

Do this in order. Learn the basics, check whether your business has a real lane, gather the starter documents, then let Marcus turn that into a daily pursuit workflow.

Decision Tree

Choose your first move

Not registered in SAM.gov?

Start with readiness, UEI/CAGE basics, NAICS choices, and a capability statement before chasing live bids.

Check Readiness

Registered but no target lane?

Build a focused SAM.gov search plan, pick three to five realistic NAICS ideas, and identify likely agencies.

Build Search Plan

Have a live opportunity?

Use Marcus or the sample case-file workflow to review fit, attachments, deadline, set-aside, and proof gaps.

Review Case File Example

Missing past performance?

Look for subcontracting, teaming, sources sought, and proof-building paths before forcing a prime bid.

Check Teaming Fit

Certification question?

Confirm the official source, then use GovScout to plan evidence, buyer targets, and set-aside search terms.

Review Set-Asides

Ready to work inside GovScout?

Choose Beginner for setup, Intermediate for active opportunity review, or Professional for package work.

Compare Plans

STEP 01

Learn the basics

Use GovCon School to understand SAM.gov, NAICS, set-asides, sources sought notices, and bid/no-bid decisions.

Open Resources

STEP 02

Check your fit

Run the free fit check so you know whether to start with prime contracts, subcontracting, certifications, or cleanup work.

Run Fit Check

STEP 03

Grab templates

Use free prompts and templates for capability statements, sources sought responses, outreach, and first pursuit planning.

Get Templates

STEP 04

Start Marcus

Choose the plan that matches your stage, complete Business Profile, and follow the First 15 Minutes checklist in the War Room.

See a Sample Case File

Best path for most new users: Start with Intermediate if you are actively searching and want alerts plus document review. Use Professional when you are ready to build bid packages and manage serious pursuit work. Need a quick look first? Try the limited 3-day trial from the pricing page.

What to do before chasing a bid: Make sure your SAM.gov registration is active, your UEI and CAGE are known, your likely NAICS codes are written down, and your capability statement is honest enough to send to a real buyer. If those pieces are missing, use the free readiness assessment, NAICS lookup, and capability statement generator before you spend time on live solicitations.

How Marcus fits: Marcus is most useful after you give him real business facts and opportunity details. Start with your business profile, then ask Marcus to help you choose a lane, build saved searches, review a sources sought notice, or decide whether an opportunity should be GO, TEAM, PASS, NOGO, or PENDING. He should support your judgment, not replace official SAM.gov, SBA, FAR, or contracting officer guidance.

Useful next pages: Build a capability statement, create a SAM.gov search plan, check NAICS ideas, score your GovCon readiness, or compare paid options on the pricing page.

The first-week goal: Do not try to bid everything. Your first win is clarity. Pick one service lane, one likely buyer group, three to five search terms, and one simple proof story from work you have actually done. That gives Marcus enough context to help you search smarter and avoid bad-fit opportunities.

When to slow down: If an opportunity has an unrealistic deadline, requires past performance you cannot prove, uses a NAICS code far outside your lane, or demands licenses, bonding, clearances, staffing, or insurance you do not have, treat it as TEAM, PASS, or PENDING until the risk is verified.