Compliance
SAM.gov registration, ITAR, SDVOSB eligibility, and the compliance requirements that protect your awards.
CPARS ratings: what they mean, how they're determined, and what you can do about them
A single Marginal rating can follow your firm for years. Here is how CPARS works, how to dispute inaccurate ratings, and how to build a past performance narrative that survives scrutiny.
A lapsed SAM.gov registration can disqualify you after you submit. Here's how to prevent it.
The registration lapse window is the most preventable disqualifier in federal contracting. Here is the exact renewal process and the early-warning system you need.
SAM.gov registration guide: how to register, renew, and stay compliant
SAM.gov registration is the prerequisite for every federal contract. Here is exactly how to register, what to do when it lapses, and how to maintain your record between renewals.
ITAR compliance for federal contractors: what SDVOSBs must know
ITAR violations carry criminal penalties. Most small contractor violations are not intentional — they result from not knowing what triggers compliance obligations. Here is what does.
SAM.gov Registration: Your Gateway to Federal Contracts
Everything you need to complete your SAM.gov registration correctly, avoid the most common errors, and keep your record active between renewals.
DUNS Number: Getting Your Business Registered with Dun and Bradstreet
The DUNS number has been replaced by the UEI for federal contracting — here is what changed, what you still need, and how to manage your business identity in SAM.gov.
SAM.gov Renewal and Maintenance: Keep Your Registration Current
SAM.gov registrations must be renewed annually. Here is the renewal process, what changes require an immediate update, and how to avoid the lapse that disqualifies your bids.
CMMC 2.0 Compliance: What SDVOSB Contractors Need Before You Bid
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is now a bid requirement on a growing share of DoD solicitations. What it requires, who needs which level, and how to get certified before the solicitation drops.
Organizational Conflicts of Interest: The Risk Most SDVOSB Firms Don't Screen For
An OCI can disqualify you from a bid you're otherwise the strongest candidate for, or unwind an award after the fact. What OCI actually is, the three types, and how to screen for it before you propose.
Novation Agreements: What Happens to Your Federal Contracts When Ownership Changes
A sale, merger, or ownership restructuring doesn't automatically transfer your federal contracts, and it can jeopardize your SDVOSB status. Here is how novation works and what to do before you sign anything.
Subcontracting Plans on Federal Contracts: What They Are, When They’re Required, and How to Comply
Winning a large federal contract as prime means taking on a subcontracting plan obligation — specific goals, semi-annual reporting, and compliance tracking that follow you through every period of performance.
Service Contract Act Compliance: What Every SDVOSB Prime Contractor Must Know
The Service Contract Act governs wages and fringe benefits on most federal service contracts. Missing a wage determination or misclassifying workers triggers liability that outlasts the contract itself.
Limitation on Subcontracting: The 50% Rule Every SDVOSB Prime Must Follow
On SDVOSB set-aside contracts, you must perform at least 50% of the work with your own employees. Violating the limitation on subcontracting can invalidate your award and result in debarment.
Federal Contractor Insurance Requirements: What Coverage Your SDVOSB Actually Needs
Insurance requirements in federal contracting vary by contract type, agency, and scope — and prime contractors add another layer on top. Here is what general liability, professional liability, cyber, and bonding actually look like for SDVOSB firms.
SBA Size Protests in Federal Contracting: How They Work and How to Defend Against Them
Any offeror has five business days after award announcement to challenge whether the apparent awardee actually qualifies as small. Here is how SBA size protests are filed, decided, and defended — including the affiliation rules most small businesses do not know until they are protested.