Glossary
Every term in one sentence, in the plain English we use across Quarry. When a definition needs more than a sentence, it links to a full page.
78 terms
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A
B
Best valueAn evaluation method that weighs technical quality and past performance alongside price, not price alone.BOA Basic ordering agreementA written understanding, not a contract, that pre-qualifies you so a buyer can send you orders later without a full open competition.BPA Blanket purchase agreementA simplified ordering agreement that lets a buyer make repeat purchases from you without re-competing each one.Buy Indian Act Indian Economic Enterprise set-asideA set-aside authority that lets Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service reserve work for Indian-owned businesses.
C
CAGE code Commercial and Government EntityA five-character code that identifies your business location in federal systems, assigned when you register in SAM.gov.Capability statementA one-page summary of what your business does, aimed at a contracting officer skimming for a fit.CeilingThe maximum dollar amount the government is allowed to order under a vehicle, a cap, not a promise to spend that much.CMMC Cybersecurity Maturity Model CertificationDoD's certification program that requires contractors to prove they meet specific cybersecurity practices before handling certain defense information.Combined synopsis/solicitationA single notice that doubles as both the public announcement of a buy and the solicitation itself.Compliance matrixA spreadsheet mapping every requirement in a solicitation to exactly where your proposal answers it.Contract modificationA formal, written change to a contract that is already signed, whether both sides agree to it or the government makes it alone.Contracting officerThe one federal employee on the deal whose signature actually creates or changes a binding contract.COR Contracting Officer's RepresentativeThe contracting officer's eyes and ears on the ground, who watches your performance but cannot change your contract.CPARS Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting SystemThe government's system for rating your performance on a contract, and the record future evaluators can see across agencies.
D
Davis-Bacon ActThe law that sets minimum prevailing wages for laborers and mechanics on federal construction contracts.DebriefingA meeting you can request after losing an award, where the agency explains how it evaluated your proposal.DIBBS DLA Internet Bid Board SystemThe Defense Logistics Agency's own bid board, separate from SAM.gov, mostly used for parts and supplies.DUNS Data Universal Numbering SystemThe nine-digit business ID that SAM.gov used before switching to the UEI, now retired for federal registration.
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F
G
GSA Schedule General Services AdministrationA pre-negotiated, long-term contract that lets any federal buyer purchase from you at already-approved prices.Guaranteed minimumThe smallest dollar amount the government commits to actually order from you just for holding a seat on the vehicle.GWAC Government-wide acquisition contractA pre-competed IDIQ that any federal agency can use to buy information technology without running its own competition.
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I
IDIQ Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantityA standing agreement that lets an agency order work from you later; the orders are the real competitions.IDV Indefinite delivery vehicleThe umbrella data category covering IDIQs, BPAs, and schedule contracts, the ones you order against rather than deliver against directly.IncumbentWhoever holds the work today, and usually the competitor to beat.Indirect rateThe percentage rate you apply to spread your indirect costs, fringe, overhead, G&A, across the contracts that have to cover them.
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M
MAS Multiple Award ScheduleThe formal name for what almost everyone just calls the GSA Schedule.Mentor-protégé programAn SBA program that pairs an experienced business with a small one to build its capacity, often clearing the way for them to joint venture together.Micro-purchaseA small buy under a set dollar threshold that an agency can purchase directly, commonly with a government purchase card, without a formal competition.
N
NAICS code North American Industry Classification SystemThe industry code agencies use to label work and to decide which businesses count as small.NIST 800-171The security control catalog that governs how contractors must protect sensitive but unclassified government information on their own systems.NovationThe formal process for transferring a federal contract to a new business, usually after a sale or merger.
O
OASIS+ One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services PlusGSA's large, government-wide vehicle for buying professional services like consulting, engineering, and program management.On-rampA later chance to join a multiple-award vehicle after the original competition already closed.Option yearAn additional year of work the government can choose to add onto a contract, at its discretion, not yours.Ordering periodThe span of time during which an agency is allowed to place orders against an IDIQ or similar vehicle.
P
Past performanceA record of how well you have done similar work before, which evaluators weigh alongside price on most proposals.Period of performanceThe window of time during which a contract's work is authorized to happen.PIEE Procurement Integrated Enterprise EnvironmentThe Defense Department's online system for invoicing and contract paperwork, including the Wide Area Workflow module.PresolicitationAn early notice that a solicitation is coming, posted before the actual RFP or RFQ is released.Prime contractorThe business that holds the contract directly with the government and is responsible for the whole job.Procurement forecastAn agency's published list of contracting opportunities it expects to compete in the coming year, an estimate, not a promise.Prompt Payment ActThe law that requires the government to pay a proper invoice on time, generally within about 30 days, and to pay interest when it does not.ProtestA formal challenge to how a solicitation or award decision was handled, filed with the agency, GAO, or the Court of Federal Claims.PSC code Product Service CodeThe code a solicitation uses to describe exactly what product or service the government is buying.
R
RecompeteA contract coming back around for a fresh competition as its current term runs out.RFI Request for informationAn agency's way of asking industry questions before it writes the actual solicitation, with no contract attached.RFP Request for proposalsThe government asks for full written proposals and can weigh more than price when it picks the winner.RFQ Request for quotationsA price-forward ask, usually for simpler purchases, where your quote is the main event.
S
SAM.gov System for Award ManagementThe government's own registration and opportunity site; registering there is free and required to win awards.SCA Service Contract ActThe law that sets minimum wage and benefit floors for service workers on covered federal contracts.SDVOSB Service-disabled veteran-owned small businessA small business at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability.Set-asideA competition limited to a class of business, such as small businesses or HUBZone firms.SEWP Solutions for Enterprise-Wide ProcurementNASA's government-wide IT contract vehicle, prized for being fast even though NASA itself rarely is the actual buyer.Simplified acquisitionA shorter, lighter set of buying rules that agencies can use for smaller-dollar purchases.SIN Special Item NumberThe code on the GSA Schedule that identifies exactly which category of products or services your contract covers.Sole sourceAn award made to one business without a competition, allowed only under specific justified circumstances.SolicitationThe official ask for bids or proposals, with the rules of the competition written inside.Source selectionThe formal process an agency uses to decide which proposal wins a negotiated procurement.Sources soughtMarket research before a contract exists; answering it can shape the eventual competition in your favor.SubcontractorA business that performs part of a federal contract under an agreement with the prime contractor, not directly with the government.
T
Task orderOne concrete job, ordered and usually competed under an existing vehicle such as an IDIQ.Teaming agreementA private agreement between two companies on who will be prime and who will be sub, if the team wins a specific bid.Technically acceptableA pass or fail bar for technical merit, with no extra credit for clearing it by a wide margin.
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W
Wage determinationA government-set schedule of minimum wages and benefits that applies to workers on certain service and construction contracts.WOSB Woman-owned small businessA small business at least 51 percent owned and controlled by women, eligible for set-asides in industries where women-owned firms are underrepresented.Wrap rateThe multiplier you apply to a direct labor rate to cover fringe, overhead, and G&A so your price actually reflects your real cost.