Glossary
GovTech Glossary
Federal procurement terms explained in plain English. No jargon, no legalese — just clear definitions for companies navigating government contracting.
24 terms defined
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)
DoD certification requiring defense contractors to implement cybersecurity practices at 3-5 maturity levels to protect controlled unclassified information.
Read Definition →COR (Contracting Officer's Representative)
Government employee authorized to manage day-to-day contract performance, monitor deliverables, and make decisions within delegated authority on behalf of the Contracting Officer.
Read Definition →CAGE Code (Commercial and Government Entity Code)
Unique 5-character government identifier assigned to businesses registered with SAM.gov for federal contracting eligibility and performance tracking.
Read Definition →CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System)
Government database recording contractor performance ratings on federal contracts. Ratings directly impact future contract awards, competitive positioning, and pricing.
Read Definition →Contracting Officer
Government official with legal authority to bind the government, award contracts, and make binding commitments on behalf of federal agencies.
Read Definition →Capability Statement
One-page marketing document highlighting company capabilities, experience, and competitive advantages for federal contracting opportunities and proposals.
Read Definition →GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract)
Pre-negotiated government contracts allowing federal agencies to purchase goods/services from approved vendors without competitive bidding on every order.
Read Definition →GSA Schedule
General Services Administration pre-negotiated contract allowing federal agencies to purchase goods/services from approved vendors without competitive bidding per order.
Read Definition →Phase III SBIR
Federal contracts for SBIR companies to commercialize Phase I/II technology after proving R&D viability with government funding.
Read Definition →Past Performance
Government evaluation of contractor's prior federal contract performance used to assess capability, reliability, and suitability for future awards.
Read Definition →SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business designation providing federal contract set-asides, preferential scoring, and access to VA benefits programs.
Read Definition →Set-Aside Contract
Federal contracts reserved exclusively for certain business categories (small business, women-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone) to increase federal procurement diversity.
Read Definition →Sources Sought Notice
Government announcement requesting information about contractor capabilities before formal solicitation to identify potential sources for federal procurement.
Read Definition →SAM.gov (System for Award Management)
Federal government portal where businesses register to become eligible for federal contracts, grants, and payments. Contains UEI, CAGE Code, and payment information.
Read Definition →SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research)
Federal grant program funding small business R&D for innovative technology development with Phase I (concept), Phase II (development), and Phase III (commercialization).
Read Definition →Explore More Resources
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Actionable strategies for winning federal contracts — from SBIR proposals to competitive intelligence.
Agency Guides
How to sell to every major federal agency — DoD, NASA, DHS, VA, and more.
State Guides
How to sell to all 50 state governments. Eligibility, registration, certifications, and bidding rules.
NAICS Codes
30 common federal IT NAICS codes explained — size standards, federal spending, and how to choose.