Glossary · 184 terms · A–Z
Every acronym you'll meet in a federal solicitation, defined.
NAICS, set-aside, IDIQ, BPA, OTA, SCA, FAR, DFARS · the working vocabulary of government contracting, written by people who use it daily. Each entry includes an example and the FAR section where it lives.
A
2 termsAcquisition planning
·The process of coordinating efforts to fulfill an agency's need in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost. Documented in an Acquisition Plan per FAR 7.105.
Example. A federal agency holds an industry day under their acquisition plan for an upcoming $50M IT modernization.
FAR Part 7
Award fee
AFAn incentive fee earned by the contractor based on subjective evaluation of performance against criteria in the contract.
Example. Awarded quarterly in 6-month performance periods; weighted against a 1,000-point rubric.
FAR 16.405-2
B
3 termsBlanket Purchase Agreement
BPAA simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing 'charge accounts' with qualified sources.
Example. An agency establishes a BPA with three vendors for staff augmentation, then calls off task orders as needs arise.
FAR 8.405-3, 13.303
Best in class
BICA designation by the Office of Management and Budget for procurement vehicles that meet defined performance, pricing, and policy criteria.
Example. GSA's IT Schedule 70 (now Multiple Award Schedule IT) is designated BIC for IT acquisitions.
OMB M-19-13
Bid protest
·A formal challenge to the award (or proposed award) of a contract. Filed at the GAO, the agency, or the Court of Federal Claims.
Example. An offeror files at the GAO within 10 days of award debrief, suspending performance pending decision.
FAR 33.103, 4 CFR 21
C
4 termsCAGE code
CAGECommercial and Government Entity code. A 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to identify suppliers.
Example. Required for any entity doing business with DoD; pulled automatically during SAM.gov registration.
DFARS 204.7202
Capability statement
Cap stmtA one-page document summarizing a company's capabilities, certifications, identifiers, and past performance · the GovCon equivalent of a one-pager.
Example. Sent to small-business representatives or COs at industry days, included in capability briefings.
·
Contracting officer
COThe federal employee with the legal authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts on behalf of the government.
Example. Only the CO can bind the government; any commitment from program staff without CO signature is non-binding.
FAR 1.602
Cost-plus-fixed-fee
CPFFA cost-reimbursement contract that provides for payment of allowable costs incurred plus a fixed fee not affected by changes in cost.
Example. Common in R&D where scope is uncertain at award time and fixed-price would be inappropriate.
FAR 16.306
D
2 termsDFARS
DFARSDefense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The DoD-specific supplement to the FAR.
Example. DFARS 252.204-7012 imposes cybersecurity requirements on DoD contractors handling CUI.
·
DUNS number
DUNSData Universal Numbering System. A 9-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Replaced by UEI in April 2022.
Example. Legacy contracts may still reference DUNS; new registrations use UEI exclusively.
·
F
3 termsFAR
FARFederal Acquisition Regulation. The principal set of rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulatory System governing federal contracting.
Example. Every federal contract incorporates relevant FAR clauses, either explicitly or by reference under 52.252-2.
48 CFR Chapter 1
Fair opportunity
·The requirement that all awardees under a multiple-award IDIQ have a fair opportunity to be considered for each task order.
Example. Task orders >$25K typically require fair-opportunity consideration unless an exception applies.
FAR 16.505
Firm-fixed-price
FFPA contract type that provides for a price not subject to adjustment on the basis of the contractor's cost experience in performing.
Example. The default contract type for commercial-item acquisitions; places maximum risk on the contractor.
FAR 16.202
G
1 termsGovernment-wide acquisition contract
GWACA task-order or delivery-order contract for IT services issued by one agency for use by other agencies government-wide.
Example. Examples include CIO-SP3, Alliant 2, and the upcoming Polaris.
FAR 16.504(b)
I
2 termsIndefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
IDIQA type of indefinite-delivery contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period.
Example. Awarded as a 'hunting license' · the actual work is ordered via task orders under fair opportunity.
FAR 16.504
Inherently governmental function
·A function so intimately related to the public interest that it must be performed by federal employees.
Example. Examples: criminal investigations, foreign policy decisions, and contract award. Cannot be contracted out.
FAR 7.503
N
1 termsNAICS code
NAICSNorth American Industry Classification System. Six-digit codes used by the U.S. government to classify business activity.
Example. Each solicitation has a primary NAICS code that determines small-business size eligibility under SBA size standards.
13 CFR 121
O
1 termsOther Transaction Authority
OTAA type of agreement, separate from FAR-based contracts, that lets agencies (mostly DoD) acquire prototypes and follow-on production outside the FAR.
Example. Common in defense innovation work via the Defense Innovation Unit and the Army's xTechSearch program.
10 U.S.C. 4022
P
2 termsPast performance
PPA contractor's record of relevant performance on previous contracts. Used as a key evaluation factor in source selection.
Example. PPIRS-Past Performance Information Retrieval System houses CPARS evaluations from federal agencies.
FAR 42.15
PSC code
PSCProduct Service Code. Four-character codes used by the federal government to classify the products and services they buy.
Example. Often crosswalked with NAICS; PSC D302 (ADP Sys Development) corresponds to NAICS 541512.
·
R
1 termsReps & Certs
·Representations and Certifications. The annual filing in SAM.gov where vendors certify size status, ownership, and various compliance matters.
Example. Reps & Certs must be re-certified annually or whenever your information changes.
FAR 52.212-3
S
4 termsSection 889
·A 2019 NDAA provision prohibiting federal contractors from using covered telecommunications equipment from named foreign entities.
Example. Vendors must self-certify under FAR 52.204-26; supply-chain audits trace BOM components to the covered list.
FAR 4.21
Set-aside
·A contracting method that limits competition to a specific category of small businesses (8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone).
Example. An 8(a) sole-source set-aside under $7M can be awarded without competition to an eligible firm.
FAR 19.5
Sources sought
SSA pre-solicitation notice used by agencies to identify potential vendors and inform acquisition strategy.
Example. Responding builds early relationship and signals interest; often precedes a formal RFP by 3–6 months.
FAR 5.205
Statement of Work
SOWThe narrative description of products or services to be supplied under the contract. Defines the scope.
Example. Distinguished from PWS (Performance Work Statement) and SOO (Statement of Objectives) by level of prescription.
FAR Subpart 11
T
2 termsTask order
TOAn order for services placed against an established IDIQ contract or BPA. Defines specific work, period, and price.
Example. Awarded competitively under fair opportunity, or sole-source under one of the recognized exceptions.
FAR 16.505
Technical evaluation
·The assessment of an offeror's technical proposal against the evaluation factors and subfactors in Section M.
Example. Often weighted alongside past-performance and price in 'best value' source selection.
FAR 15.305
W
1 termsWomen-Owned Small Business
WOSBA small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women. Eligible for WOSB set-aside contracts.
Example. WOSB-eligible NAICS codes are designated by SBA; verification can be self-certified or third-party.
13 CFR 127
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