Can you bid on federal work yet?

Five questions, about a minute, and a plain answer at the end. No account, nothing saved, nothing sold to you. Most people who find out too late are missing one free thing that takes a few weeks, so it is worth knowing now.

Question 1 of 5

Is your company registered at SAM.gov?

SAM.gov is the government's own system. Registration is free, and it is the one thing you cannot be paid without.

SAM.gov.
The government's own website where work is posted and where your company has to be registered to be paid. Registration is free and takes a few weeks the first time.
Question 2 of 5

Do you have a Unique Entity ID?

A twelve character ID the government gives you when you register. If your registration is active you have one.

Unique Entity ID.
The twelve character ID the government gives your company when you register. Nothing can be awarded to you without it.
Question 3 of 5

Is your company small for the work you do?

The SBA sets a size limit per kind of work, either a revenue average or a headcount. Most new contractors are well under it.

size standard.
The line where the SBA stops calling you small, set per NAICS code as either a dollar average or a headcount. Being over it in your code shuts you out of small business work.
Question 4 of 5

Do you hold any of these certifications?

Certifications open work that is reserved for those companies. Not having one does not stop you bidding on ordinary work.

set-aside.
Work reserved for one kind of company, so only those companies may bid. A small business set-aside is open to any small business, and an 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned or veteran-owned set-aside also needs that certification.
8(a).
A nine year SBA program for companies owned by people the SBA counts as disadvantaged. It lets agencies hand you work with little or no competition.
HUBZone.
An SBA certification for companies based in an area the government is trying to help, with most staff living in one too. Some work is reserved only for these companies.
Question 5 of 5

Have you finished at least one job you could use as a reference?

Work for a private company counts. It does not have to be government work, and it does not have to be big.

past performance.
Jobs you have already finished, with a name and number the agency can call. Most scored bids ask for two or three, and government work is not required, private jobs count.
0 of 5 answered. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.

Questions people ask first

What do I need before I can win a federal contract?

An active registration at SAM.gov and the Unique Entity ID that comes with it. Registration is free and the government never charges for it. The first one takes a few weeks, so start it before you find a job you want. Nothing else is a hard requirement.

Do I need a certification like 8(a) or HUBZone to bid?

No. Certifications open work that is reserved for those companies, which is worth having, but any registered business can bid on an open competition, and any small business can bid on a small business set-aside.

Do I need past government work to win a government contract?

No. Most solicitations that score past performance accept work you did for private companies, as long as it was similar in size and type and you can give a contact who would speak well of you.

How do I know if my business counts as small?

The SBA sets a limit for each kind of work, either an average of your last five years of revenue or a headcount. The limit differs by industry, and most new contractors are well under it.

How long does it take to get your first contract?

Registration is weeks, and then it depends on how much you bid and how well the work fits you. Answering sources sought notices, where agencies ask who can do a job, is the cheapest way to get noticed early.

Once you are registered

Paste any solicitation into the free bid check and it tells you what the agency is buying, whether you qualify, the key dates and the red flags. Or browse what is open in your industry.