When searching for government contracting opportunities, you’ll inevitably find an opportunity that aligns with your company’s capabilities. Once you start diving into these solicitations, it’s essential to understand how to break them down and what the common terms you come across mean because they can often be long and confusing to navigate. In this blog, we’ll discuss what type of solicitation you may be responding to, as there are many different types, and define some common solicitation terms, so you are well prepared for your next opportunity.

The U.S. government and its federal agencies are known to be the some of the world's largest buyers of products and services. The federal government procures almost everything they need from both big and small commercial businesses. Since going after government contracts can be competitive, many small businesses worry they could lose out on potential opportunities because they think they can't compete against big industry giants. In some regards, their worries are partially accurate, most small businesses do not have the resources allowing them to compete against these ultra-wealthy big businesses and corporations.

One of the most unique and useful parts of being a GSA Schedule contractor is access to tools and resources that allow you to conduct extensive market research, find and bid on opportunities, and sell your products directly to government customers. For example, on GSA Advantage!, you can list and sell your products to government agencies just like vendors can do on Amazon with commercial customers.

If you want to sell your products or services to the government, one of the most popular contract vehicles is the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. In order to get a GSA Schedule contract awarded, you need to prepare an offer consisting of 3 parts: administrative, technical, pricing.