Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about federal government contracting, SBA programs, and the GovBeacon platform.
Getting Started with Government Contracting
The basics of entering the federal marketplace — registration, NAICS codes, and finding opportunities.
What is government contracting?
Government contracting is the process by which federal agencies purchase goods and services from private businesses. The U.S. federal government spends over $700 billion annually on contracts, covering everything from IT services to construction and medical supplies.
Who can bid on government contracts?
Almost any business can bid — sole proprietors, LLCs, S-Corps, and large corporations. There is no minimum company size. You need a legal business entity, a bank account, and an active SAM.gov registration.
What is SAM.gov and do I need to register?
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the official U.S. government registration system. Every entity that wants to bid on federal contracts must have an active SAM.gov registration. Registration is free and must be renewed annually.
What is a NAICS code?
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is a 6-digit code that classifies businesses by industry. Federal agencies assign a NAICS code to every contract solicitation, which determines the applicable small business size standard.
What is a UEI number?
The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned by SAM.gov during registration. It replaced the DUNS number in April 2022 and is required for all federal awards.
What is a CAGE code?
A Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code is a 5-character identifier assigned automatically during SAM.gov registration. It is used to track contractors across federal contract and payment systems.
Small Business Set-Aside Programs
How federal set-aside programs work and which certifications create contracting advantages.
What is a set-aside contract?
A set-aside restricts competition for a contract to businesses that meet specific socioeconomic criteria. The federal government uses set-asides to ensure small and disadvantaged businesses receive a fair portion of contracting dollars — at least 23% of prime contract dollars by statute.
What is the 8(a) Business Development Program?
The 8(a) program, administered by the SBA, helps small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Participants can receive sole-source contracts up to $4.5M (services) or $7M (manufacturing) and access mentorship programs. The program lasts 9 years.
What is the HUBZone program?
HUBZone provides contracting preferences to small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones. To qualify, a firm must maintain its principal office in a HUBZone and at least 35% of employees must reside in one.
What is the SDVOSB program?
The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program serves small businesses at least 51% owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities. The federal goal is to award at least 3% of all prime contract dollars to SDVOSBs.
What is the WOSB/EDWOSB program?
The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program provides set-aside contracts in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSB) extends to additional NAICS codes. The federal goal is 5% of prime dollars to WOSBs.
Can I qualify for multiple set-aside programs?
Yes. Set-aside certifications are not mutually exclusive. If your business qualifies for multiple programs (e.g., 8(a) and SDVOSB), pursue all of them to maximize the contract opportunities you can access.
SBA Size Standards
How the SBA determines whether your business qualifies as small for a given NAICS code.
What is an SBA size standard?
An SBA size standard is the threshold — either annual revenue or number of employees — that defines the maximum size a business can be and still qualify as a 'small business' for federal contracting purposes. Each NAICS code has its own standard set by the Small Business Administration.
How do I know if my business qualifies as small?
Find your primary NAICS code and check the size standard. For revenue-based standards, compare your average annual receipts over the past 5 fiscal years. For employee-based standards, compare your average employee count over the past 12 months. If you are below the threshold, you qualify.
How are revenue-based size standards measured?
Revenue-based standards use your average annual receipts over the most recent 5 completed fiscal years. Total receipts include all revenue from sales, services, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, and fees — before any deductions.
How are employee-based size standards measured?
Employee-based standards use the average number of employees over the 12 most recent calendar months (or 24 pay periods). This includes all full-time, part-time, and temporary workers, as well as employees of affiliates.
Can my size standard change by contract?
Yes. The size standard is determined by the NAICS code assigned to each specific solicitation. You could qualify as small for one contract but not another, depending on which NAICS codes the contracting officer assigns.
SBA Procurement Scorecard
How the SBA grades federal agencies on meeting small business contracting goals.
What is the SBA Small Business Procurement Scorecard?
The SBA Procurement Scorecard is an annual report card that grades federal agencies on how well they meet small business contracting goals. Each agency receives a letter grade (A+ through F) and a percentage score based on their achievement across categories including total small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB.
What does the SBA scorecard percentage mean?
The percentage score represents how well an agency achieved its combined small business contracting goals. A score above 100% means the agency exceeded its targets. Scores below 100% indicate the agency fell short.
How often is the SBA Procurement Scorecard updated?
The SBA publishes the scorecard annually, typically in the spring or summer following the end of the fiscal year. Each scorecard covers contracts awarded during the previous fiscal year (October 1 through September 30).
What are the SBA scorecard letter grade thresholds?
The SBA assigns grades based on overall percentage score: A+ for 120%+, A for 100%–119.99%, B for 90%–99.99%, C for 80%–89.99%, D for 70%–79.99%, and F for below 70%.
GovBeacon Platform
Pricing, features, and how GovBeacon compares to searching on SAM.gov directly.
Is there a free tier?
Yes. The free tier includes basic search, core filters, and award analytics. No credit card required.
What's included in the Pro trial?
Pro comes with a 7-day free trial with full access to all Pro features including competitive intelligence and export. Your card is collected at signup but not charged until the trial ends.
How is GovBeacon different from SAM.gov?
GovBeacon pulls from the same federal opportunity data and layers on superior filtering, a modern interface, AI-powered document intelligence, and competitive analytics that SAM.gov does not provide.
Can I export data?
Export and download are available on Pro and Team plans. Standard users get document intelligence and pipeline tracking.
Do you offer annual billing?
Yes. Annual billing saves about 20% compared to monthly. You can switch between monthly and annual from your account settings.
Can I switch plans or cancel anytime?
Yes. Upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. When you cancel, your plan remains active until the end of your billing period.
Still have questions?
Reach out to our team or sign up to explore the platform yourself.