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
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 →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 →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 →Capability Statement
One-page marketing document highlighting company capabilities, experience, and competitive advantages for federal contracting opportunities and proposals.
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 →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 →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 →Past Performance
Government evaluation of contractor's prior federal contract performance used to assess capability, reliability, and suitability for future awards.
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 →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 →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 →Explore More Resources
Dive deeper into government contracting with our complete resource library.
How to Sell to the Government
The zero-to-bidding guide: SAM.gov registration, NAICS and PSC codes, set-asides, and where federal and state opportunities actually post.
Free Tools
8 interactive tools: readiness quiz, scorecard, set-aside calculator, NAICS finder, capability statement builder, and more.
Blog
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.
Procurement Portals
Register where government actually buys: SAM.gov, Texas SmartBuy, Cal eProcure, and more. Real fees and timelines.
NAICS Codes
NAICS deep-dives with the March 2023 SBA size standards, FY2025 federal spending, and the top buying agencies per code.
PSC Codes
The other code on every federal contract. What each product service code covers, FY2025 obligations, and the NAICS crosswalk.
Help Center
Guides for getting started with Outrider — company profiles, opportunities, and intelligence reports.
Explore Topics
Deep dives into procurement, compliance, funding, and government technology.