Free Resource Hub

The Small-Business GovCon Command Center.

Everything you need to get qualified and win government contracts: live news, plain-English guides, free tools, and a glossary. No login. No cost.

GovCon Newswire

The latest in government contracting.

Aggregated from leading small-business GovCon sources and refreshed automatically. Headlines open the original article in a new tab.

Auto-updated hourly
Start Here

Your path from registered to awarded.

Four stages, start to finish. Follow the lifecycle — or jump to the step you're on.

Step 1 · Get Registered

Register in SAM.gov

The mandatory, free federal registration every contractor needs — done right, kept active, renewed on time.

SAM registration
Step 2 · Get Certified

Which certification fits you?

8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, VOSB/SDVOSB — see what each set-aside unlocks and which ones your business qualifies for.

Compare certifications
Step 2 · Get Certified

GSA Schedule basics

What a GSA Multiple Award Schedule is, who it is right for, and how the application process works.

GSA Schedule guide
Step 3 · Find the Work

Find the right opportunities

Stop checking dozens of portals. See how to match federal, state, and local bids to your NAICS codes from one place.

GovCon Portal
Step 3 · Find the Work

Build a capabilities statement

The one-page document contracting officers expect — what to put on it and how to make it land.

Request the template
Step 4 · Win the Work

Write a winning proposal

Capture, Shipley-based proposal writing, and dedicated BD support — how the bids that win get built.

See programs
Free Tools & Reference

Practical resources you can use today.

Capabilities Statement Starter

Request our editable one-page template and a quick checklist of what contracting officers look for.

Opportunity Search

Jump straight into SAM.gov contract opportunities — then let us match you across 2,200+ more portals.

Free Eligibility Assessment

Talk to a specialist about which registrations and certifications fit your business — no cost, no obligation.

GovCon glossary

SAM.gov
The System for Award Management — the official, free federal registration every contractor must keep active to be eligible for awards.
UEI
Unique Entity ID — the 12-character identifier SAM.gov assigns your business (it replaced the old DUNS number).
NAICS
North American Industry Classification System codes — the codes that describe what your business does and that agencies use to match you to opportunities.
Set-Aside
A contract (or portion of one) reserved exclusively for a category of small business, such as WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, or 8(a).
8(a)
An SBA Business Development program for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, offering sole-source and set-aside access for up to nine years.
HUBZone
Historically Underutilized Business Zone — a certification for firms located in, and employing people from, designated economically distressed areas.
GSA Schedule
A pre-negotiated, long-term government-wide contract (a.k.a. Multiple Award Schedule) that makes it easier for agencies to buy your commercial products or services.
Capture
The business-development work of identifying, qualifying, and shaping an opportunity before the solicitation drops, to improve your win probability.
FAQs

Questions new contractors ask.

Do I have to register in SAM.gov before I can win federal contracts?
Yes. An active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is required before any federal agency can award you a contract or pay you. Registration is free, but it is detailed and easy to get wrong — and it must be renewed every year to stay active.
Which small-business certification is right for my company?
It depends on ownership and eligibility. Common set-aside certifications include WOSB/EDWOSB (women-owned), VOSB/SDVOSB (veteran-owned), HUBZone (located in an underutilized zone), and the SBA 8(a) Business Development program (socially & economically disadvantaged). Many firms qualify for more than one. Our specialists can map your eligibility in a free assessment.
How do I actually find contract opportunities once I am registered?
Federal opportunities are posted on SAM.gov, but state, local, and education buyers spread theirs across thousands of separate portals. Our GovCon Portal unifies 2,200+ procurement sites into one searchable feed matched to your NAICS codes and keywords, so the right bids come to you.
What is a capabilities statement and do I need one?
A capabilities statement is a one-page marketing document contracting officers expect to see — it summarizes your core competencies, differentiators, past performance, and company data (UEI, CAGE, NAICS). You need one to be taken seriously. We build custom capabilities statements as part of every marketing program.
How long does it take to get certified?
Timelines vary by program and by how quickly documentation is gathered. When your documentation is complete, we guarantee your SBA application is submitted within 14 days. Final approval rests with the awarding agency.

Ready to turn these resources into awards?

Get registered and certified, then put a capture and proposal team to work — or just talk to a specialist about where to start.

Book Your Free Assessment Today
Or call (888) 988-1266