Government contracting runs on more than a dozen different systems, and almost nobody remembers all of their logins at once. This page is the map: every system you are likely to actually use, grouped by the stage of the process it belongs to, with one line on what each is for. Every single one is free.
Register
| System | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SAM.gov | Your entity registration, the front door to being eligible for any award | Free |
| Login.gov | The shared government sign-in behind SAM.gov and several systems below | Free |
| DSBS | The Dynamic Small Business Search, your public profile and how contracting officers search for firms like yours | Free |
Do these three in order. SAM.gov registration comes first, since it is where you get your UEI and it feeds your Login.gov and DSBS setup; DSBS comes right after, since it pulls straight from your SAM.gov profile.
Find
| System | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SAM.gov | The same system also lists open opportunities, searchable by keyword, NAICS code, and set-aside | Free |
| eBuy | Where GSA Schedule holders see and quote on task orders | Free |
| DIBBS | DLA's Internet Bid Board System, mostly parts and supplies for defense logistics | Free |
| USAspending / FPDS | Award history, who holds a contract now, for how much, and since when | Free |
SAM.gov covers open competition for anyone. eBuy and DIBBS only matter once you already hold the vehicle they run on.
Certify
| System | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA certification portal | Applying for and managing 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, and VetCert (SDVOSB/VOSB) status | Free |
One login covers all four socioeconomic certifications. See where to apply for certifications for the specifics of each.
Perform
| System | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| acquisition.gov | The FAR itself, plus agency supplements, if you need the actual regulation text | Free |
| CPARS | Where your past performance ratings get recorded after each contract | Free |
You will not live in either of these day to day, but both matter more than their bland names suggest. One governs the rules, the other governs your reputation.
Get paid
| System | What it is for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PIEE | The Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment, DoD's invoicing system (the current name behind what many still call WAWF) | Free |
| IPP | The Invoice Processing Platform many civilian agencies use instead | Free |
Which one you use depends entirely on who you are billing. Check your contract's payment instructions rather than guessing.
Bookmark this page instead of your browser history. None of these systems charge for an account, and none of them require anyone but you to log in.