First time· Government contracting for beginners

Your first government contract,
step by step

Any business meeting minimum eligibility can bid on a government contract. The obstacle isn't legal — it's understanding the process. This guide explains everything you need to do, in order, from SAM.gov registration to submitting the price envelope on the procurement portal.

Registration · solicitations · envelopes · deadlines · common mistakes · templates

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The 7 phases of bidding on a government contract

Any business can walk this path — even on the first try

Register on SAM.gov (or your jurisdiction's registry)

The System for Award Management is mandatory to bid for U.S. federal contracts. Free registration. Allow 7-10 business days. The equivalent in the EU is e-Certis / ROLECE; in the UK, Contracts Finder.

Find the right solicitation

Government procurement portals publish all open solicitations. Filter by NAICS code, set-aside (small business, 8(a), HUBZone), value, and region. Activate alerts to receive notifications automatically.

Read the RFP carefully

Every solicitation has two main documents: the Request for Proposal (RFP) and the Statement of Work (SOW). Read them in full before deciding to bid. Check eligibility, deadlines, and evaluation criteria.

Gather administrative documentation

Capability Statement, SF-330 (architect-engineer), past performance questionnaires, SAM.gov registration certificate, bid bond if required, and representations & certifications.

Draft the technical proposal

The decisive document. This is where Nomos comes in: from the RFP, it generates the technical proposal that answers each evaluation criterion. What used to take weeks now resolves in hours.

Prepare the price proposal

Total price and breakdown, avoiding abnormally low values. Some procurements include value-added pricing. The price envelope is digitally signed and uploaded encrypted.

Submit before the deadline

Deadlines are strict: not a minute late. The procurement portal closes automatically. Recommendation: submit at least 24h before to leave margin for technical incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to bid on a government contract?

Bidding itself is free. Costs are the time to draft the proposal, any required bid bond (typically 3% of the estimated value), and optionally tools like Nomos to speed up drafting.

Can a sole proprietor or very small business bid?

Yes. Both U.S. federal procurement and EU public procurement law require that small businesses have access to public contracts. Many solicitations are explicitly set aside for small business, women-owned, veteran-owned, or 8(a) firms.

What if I have no demonstrable past performance?

Some solicitations have low past-performance thresholds where lack of experience isn't disqualifying. You can also bid as a joint venture with a partner that has the experience, or as a subcontractor to a larger company.

How much time do I have from publication to deadline?

It depends on the procedure: open procurements typically allow 30-60 calendar days. Urgent procedures cut deadlines in half. Always check the synopsis or notice for the exact date.

What happens if I make a mistake in a document?

The contracting officer may request clarification of minor formal errors (signature, date, incomplete document) within a short window — usually 3-5 business days. What cannot be amended is the technical content or the price.

Want real-world examples? Read the most common RFP mistakes that kill small business bids

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Your first government contract,step by step