GovCon Glossary

An SBA program that helps small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals compete for federal contracts.

An ACO manages day-to-day administration of awarded contracts, including performance surveillance, financial controls, and security compliance.

A documented set of cost, schedule, and performance parameters that establishes approved objectives for a major defense acquisition program.

The official authorization granted by a designated approving authority allowing an information system to operate in a specific environment.

Professional services for design, planning, feasibility studies, and construction support, typically awarded under the Brooks Act using qualifications-based selection.

A federal law requiring the U.S. government to prefer domestic products and materials in its procurement.

A procurement approach where the government selects the offer that provides the greatest overall benefit, considering factors beyond just price.

A simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing charge accounts with qualified vendors.

A guarantee submitted with a bid that ensures the bidder will enter into a contract if selected and provide required performance and payment bonds.

A written instrument containing terms and clauses for future purchases that does not obligate the government until specific orders are issued.

The last proposal revision opportunity provided to offerors in a negotiated procurement after discussions with the government.

A formal challenge to a contract award or procurement process, typically filed with GAO, the Court of Federal Claims, or the agency.

A comprehensive list of raw materials, components, and quantities needed to manufacture or assemble a product for a government contract.

A general solicitation for research proposals that allows agencies to receive innovative ideas without a formal RFP structure.

A numbered item in a contract that identifies a specific deliverable, service, or unit of work along with its quantity and price.

The government official with the authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts on behalf of the U.S. government.

A government employee designated by the contracting officer to monitor contractor performance and serve as the technical point of contact.

The group of offerors selected by the government as having a reasonable chance of being awarded the contract, based on initial proposal evaluations.

A contract type where the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit.

A five-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to entities doing business with the federal government, used across solicitations and logistics systems.

A process improvement framework that rates organizations from Level 1 to Level 5 on their capability in development, service delivery, and acquisition.

The senior executive responsible for an organization's IT strategy, systems, and operations, overseeing IT investments and cybersecurity.

A government-wide IT services GWAC administered by NITAAC, providing federal agencies access to IT solutions including health IT, cybersecurity, and cloud.

Products or software readily available in the commercial marketplace, sold without modification and procured under streamlined FAR Part 12 procedures.

The standard smart card identification credential for DoD personnel and eligible contractors, providing physical and logical access to facilities and networks.

A document describing how a system or capability will be used from the user's perspective, defining roles, workflows, and operational scenarios.

A plan ensuring that essential functions can continue during and after a disruption, addressing alternate facilities, succession, and recovery procedures.

The organization responsible for administering contracts on behalf of the government, performing post-award functions including quality assurance and payment oversight.

The contract attachment specifying data deliverables, formats, and schedules, with each item referencing a Data Item Description or contractor-unique format.

A government designee who provides technical oversight and accepts deliverables on behalf of the contracting officer, without authority to modify the contract.

Information requiring safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to law or policy, but not classified. Contractors handling CUI must implement NIST SP 800-171.

A formal plan to address deficiencies or audit findings, documenting root cause, corrective actions, responsible parties, and completion timelines.

Federal rules governing consistency and allocability of costs on covered contracts, applying to larger negotiated contracts above specified thresholds.

A contract type that reimburses allowable costs and includes a fee that varies based on performance against cost and/or technical targets.

A DoD framework assessing contractor cybersecurity practices to protect CUI and FCI, replacing self-attestation with third-party assessment for many contracts.

A process for identifying and evaluating potential risks in a contract or procurement action to inform mitigation strategies.

A systematic approach comparing costs and benefits of a decision, project, or procurement to determine the optimal course of action.

A partnership agreement between a government laboratory and private entity to collaborate on research and development without exchanging funds.

The sharing of contracts between government entities to increase purchasing efficiency and leverage volume discounts.

A federal law requiring contractors on federally funded construction projects to pay workers prevailing local wages.

The DoD agency responsible for auditing defense contractor costs, pricing, and accounting systems.

The supplement to the FAR that contains acquisition regulations specific to the Department of Defense.

An order placed against an existing contract for the delivery of supplies or materials.

A document defining the content, format, and delivery requirements for a specific data deliverable referenced in CDRLs.

The DoD corporate university providing training and credentialing for the acquisition workforce in contracting, program management, and engineering.

The DoD agency responsible for funding breakthrough research and development, pursuing high-risk, high-reward projects with universities, startups, and contractors.

The DoD component responsible for contract administration services including oversight, quality assurance, payment oversight, and industrial security.

The agency providing finance and accounting services for DoD, including contract payment processing through WAWF and other invoicing systems.

The industrial capabilities and supply chains supporting national defense, including prime contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers producing defense equipment and services.

The DoD agency providing IT and communications infrastructure for national security users, operating networks, data centers, and enterprise services.

A DoD combat support agency that procures and distributes supplies and services for the military, managing supply chains for fuel, parts, medical supplies, and more.

A law authorizing the President to require preferential acceptance of defense contracts, allocate materials, and expand industrial capacity for national defense.

The federal department responsible for the military and national security, and the largest federal contracting agency by spending.

The federal department securing the nation from threats including terrorism, natural disasters, and cyber attacks, procuring technology and services for its mission.

The federal department responsible for public health, healthcare programs, and biomedical research, including NIH, CDC, FDA, and CMS.

The department providing healthcare, benefits, and memorial services to veterans, with strong preferences for SDVOSB in many acquisitions.

A small business owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, primarily used in DOT-assisted contracts for transit, highways, and aviation.

A trade name under which a business operates that differs from its legal name, which must be registered and may need to be disclosed in SAM.gov.

A pre-release version of an RFP issued for industry feedback before the final solicitation, allowing potential offerors to comment on requirements.

A subcategory of WOSB for women-owned small businesses where the owners are also economically disadvantaged, eligible for additional sole-source contracts.

A project management methodology that integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to measure project performance and progress objectively.

A contract clause that allows price changes based on specified economic indicators or market conditions.

A payment method where the government transfers funds electronically to contractor bank accounts.

A GSA vehicle for federal agencies to acquire telecommunications and IT infrastructure services.

Integrated software systems that manage business processes such as finance, procurement, HR, and project management.

The federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment through regulation and enforcement.

Laws and policies requiring fair treatment in employment without discrimination based on protected characteristics.

The projected cost to finish remaining work on a contract or project based on current status.

A directive issued by the President that carries the force of law for the executive branch.

The computer-to-computer exchange of business documents and data in a standardized electronic format between trading partners.

A document required by NEPA for federal actions significantly affecting the environment, detailing impacts and alternatives.

The primary set of rules governing how the federal government purchases goods and services, covering everything from competition requirements to contract administration.

A contract type where the price is set at award and does not change regardless of the contractor's actual costs, placing maximum risk on the contractor.

Long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms that provide federal agencies access to products and services at pre-negotiated prices.

A 1994 law that simplified federal procurement by raising thresholds, reducing paperwork, and promoting commercial item acquisition.

The predecessor to SAM.gov; the legacy system where federal solicitations were posted (replaced by beta.SAM.gov).

Technical standards developed by NIST for federal computer systems and information security.

Federal law establishing a framework for securing federal information systems and protecting government data.

The government database that captures and reports federal contract awards and spending data.

A government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment and authorization for cloud services.

The last opportunity for offerors to revise their proposals during a negotiated procurement, typically after discussions.

The 12-month period used by the government for budgeting and appropriations; the federal fiscal year runs October 1–September 30.

A contract type that combines a fixed-price base with incentive provisions based on cost, schedule, or performance.

A sensitivity designation for unclassified information that requires protection from unauthorized disclosure.

A government-to-government program where the U.S. sells defense articles and services to allied nations.

A federal law that gives the public the right to request access to federal agency records, subject to exemptions.

A federally funded R&D organization operated by a contractor to support long-term government missions.

An agency under DoT responsible for civil aviation safety, air traffic control, and aviation infrastructure.

An agency under DHS coordinating disaster response, recovery, and mitigation efforts nationwide.

A four-digit coding system used to group similar items of supply for cataloging and procurement purposes.

A shipping term where the seller retains risk of loss until goods arrive at the buyer's location, common in government supply contracts.

The independent congressional agency that investigates federal spending, audits government programs, and adjudicates bid protests.

The federal agency responsible for managing government buildings, providing products and services to agencies, and administering the GSA Schedule program.

A pre-competed, multiple-award IDIQ contract that any federal agency can use to purchase IT products and services.

Overhead costs that support the overall organization rather than direct contract performance.

Equipment provided by the government to the contractor for use in contract performance.

Property (equipment, materials, or facilities) provided by the government to the contractor for contract performance.

GSA's online catalog where federal buyers can search and order from GSA Schedule contracts.

A pre-negotiated contract vehicle that allows federal agencies to buy commercial products and services from approved vendors.

Information provided by the government to a contractor for use in contract performance, such as technical data, specifications, or drawings.

An entity that leverages collective buying power of members to negotiate discounts from suppliers and manufacturers.

An SBA program that gives preferential access to federal contracts for small businesses located in economically distressed areas.

The senior official designated to manage contracting within an agency or component.

The acquisition regulation that supplements the FAR for the Department of Homeland Security.

Human Capital and Training Solutions, a GSA contract vehicle for customized training, human capital strategy, and organizational performance improvement.

A contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period, with orders placed as needs arise.

A solicitation method where the government awards a contract to the lowest-priced responsive, responsible bidder through sealed bidding.

The government's internal estimate of what a procurement should cost, used to evaluate the reasonableness of contractor proposals.

Policies and technologies that control who can access systems and data and what they can do.

Company-funded R&D that contractors may recover as allowable indirect costs on defense contracts.

Costs that cannot be traced to a single contract but are allocated across projects via indirect rates.

An event where agencies present upcoming procurements and engage with potential contractors before a solicitation is released.

Practices and controls that protect information and information systems from unauthorized access or harm.

A project schedule that integrates all contract tasks, milestones, and dependencies into a single timeline.

A cross-functional team that manages a product, subsystem, or program element from development through delivery.

An international body that develops voluntary standards for quality, safety, and processes across industries.

U.S. regulations that control the export and import of defense articles, services, and technical data.

An independent official within an agency who audits programs, investigates fraud and waste, and promotes accountability.

A joint government-contractor review ensuring alignment among requirements, resources, and execution plans at the start of a contract.

The first attainment of the capability to effectively employ a new weapon system, equipment, or platform in an operational context.

An independent assessment of software or systems to verify correctness and validate that requirements are met, performed by a team separate from development.

A business arrangement where two or more companies combine resources to pursue a specific contract or set of contracts while remaining separate entities.

A construction contracting method where pre-priced unit costs are used to quickly issue work orders for repair, alteration, and minor construction without full design.

A document that justifies and authorizes a contract award without full and open competition under one or more statutory exceptions.

Specific individuals named in a contract proposal whose qualifications are critical to performance and who cannot be replaced without government approval.

A formal review gate in the acquisition process where senior leadership decides whether a program may proceed to the next phase, requires changes, or should be terminated.

A measurable value used to evaluate how effectively a contractor or program is achieving strategic objectives and contract requirements.

Written narrative responses that describe a candidate or contractor capability in specific areas, historically used in federal hiring and some proposal evaluations.

A source selection method where the contract is awarded to the lowest-priced offeror whose proposal meets all technical requirements.

A contract type where the government pays for labor hours expended at negotiated hourly rates, with materials and other costs billed separately.

A contract task or deliverable defined by a specified amount of labor (e.g., hours or staff-months) rather than discrete outputs or outcomes.

The total cost of owning, operating, maintaining, and disposing of a system or product over its entire useful life.

An estimate of total costs of a system or program over its entire life cycle, from development through disposal.

A document outlining terms and conditions of an agreement between two or more parties, often used in teaming and subcontracting arrangements.

GSA's consolidated contract vehicle that provides federal agencies with streamlined access to commercial products and services at pre-negotiated prices.

A program pairing large experienced contractors with small businesses to help them build capabilities through joint ventures, subcontracting, and technical assistance.

Goods and services used to maintain, repair, and operate facilities and equipment — a major category of government procurement.

A DoD program for a weapon system or automated information system that exceeds designated cost thresholds and receives enhanced oversight.

A non-binding agreement between parties that outlines intentions, roles, and expectations for collaboration or coordination.

The designated individual with authority to approve a program's advancement past key acquisition milestones, including Milestones A, B, and C.

A business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by minorities or women, often eligible for set-asides and subcontracting goals in government contracting.

A for-profit business at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are members of designated minority groups, eligible for diversity programs and set-asides.

A contract awarded to multiple vendors for similar supplies or services, allowing the government to compete individual orders among the holders.

A multiple-award IDIQ contract specifically for services, under which the government issues task orders to multiple pre-qualified contractors.

A document used by DoD to transfer funds between components for procuring goods or services on behalf of another organization.

The standard numerical system used to classify business establishments by industry type, determining size standards and contract eligibility.

A federal agency that develops technology standards and guidelines, including the cybersecurity frameworks required for government contractors.

A government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) for IT products and services, managed by NASA and widely used across federal agencies.

The U.S. federal agency responsible for civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery, and a significant procurer of technology and research services.

A cooperative that facilitates multistate cooperative purchasing agreements, allowing states to leverage collective buying power for common goods and services.

The DoD manual that establishes requirements for contractors who safeguard classified information under the National Industrial Security Program.

The primary federal agency for medical and health research, and a major procurer of research services, biomedical equipment, and IT.

A 13-digit numeric code used by the federal government to identify and catalog supplies and materials in a standardized way.

A legal agreement that restricts one or both parties from disclosing confidential information shared during business discussions or performance.

A ceiling or cap on the amount the government will pay under a contract, task order, or individual order.

A formal notification to the successful offeror that the government has selected them for contract award.

A national cooperative purchasing program that facilitates competitively solicited contracts for state and local government entities.

The Navy next-generation contract vehicle for engineering, technical, and programmatic support services across 23 functional areas.

A Navy contract vehicle providing enterprise IT services including end-user devices, network operations, and cybersecurity for Navy and Marine Corps.

An additional contract performance period beyond the base year that the government may exercise at its discretion.

The office within each major federal agency responsible for promoting small business participation in the agency's contracting activities.

The Executive Office agency that oversees federal budgeting, procurement policy, and implementation of presidential priorities across the government.

The federal agency responsible for human resources policy, background investigations, and workforce management across the government.

A GSA multiple-award contract for professional services spanning management consulting, engineering, logistics, and other complex service domains.

A situation where a contractor's other activities or relationships could impair its objectivity or create an unfair competitive advantage on a government contract.

A company that manufactures products or components that are marketed under another company's brand or incorporated into another company's product.

Costs that can be identified specifically with a contract or project but are not labor or materials — such as travel, subcontracts, or specialized services.

A flexible agreement that is not a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement — used by DoD and other agencies to access commercial innovation with fewer procurement regulations.

The statutory authority that allows agencies to enter into Other Transactions — flexible agreements outside standard procurement rules.

The federal database (now part of CPARS) where agencies record and retrieve contractor performance evaluations for use in source selection.

Federally funded local centers that provide free counseling and training to businesses seeking government contracts.

A document that describes required contract outcomes and performance standards rather than prescribing how the work should be done.

A government-issued credit card used for micropurchases and low-dollar acquisitions, streamlining small procurements without formal contracting procedures.

A formal evaluation document recording how well a contractor performed on a contract, used in future source selection decisions.

An acquisition approach that emphasizes required outcomes and performance standards rather than prescribing how work must be accomplished.

A contractual mechanism that rewards contractors for exceeding performance targets or achieving specified outcomes, aligning payment with results.

A federal standard for secure credentialing that uses smart cards for physical and logical access to federal facilities and systems.

A document that identifies security deficiencies and outlines the steps and timeline for remediating them, required for many federal contractors.

The designated government or contractor individual responsible for communications regarding a specific procurement or contract.

The contracting officer responsible for awarding a new contract, as distinguished from the administrative contracting officer who manages it afterward.

A four-character alphanumeric code used to classify products and services in federal contracting, enabling reporting and opportunity categorization.

The government official responsible for defining requirements, managing a program budget, and overseeing contractor performance on a specific program.

A formally approved and funded program that has been authorized through the budgeting and congressional appropriation process.

A senior government official who oversees multiple related acquisition programs and reports to agency leadership.

The PMI-published guide that defines best practices and processes for project management, widely referenced in government contract management.

A globally recognized certification from PMI that validates competency in project management, often required or preferred for key personnel on government contracts.

A framework of policies and technologies that enable secure authentication and encryption using public-key cryptography, foundational to federal IT security.

A document issued by the government authorizing a vendor to deliver goods or services and establishing the terms of payment.

The time between the initiation of a procurement action and the contract award, a key metric for acquisition efficiency.

The time-phased budget plan for accomplishing all work, serving as the baseline for earned value management measurement.

The DoD resource allocation process linking strategy, programming, budgeting, and execution into an integrated decision cycle.

A GSA contract vehicle providing access to professional services such as consulting, management, and technical support at pre-negotiated rates.

A cooperative arrangement between government and private sector organizations for long-term projects, typically involving infrastructure or service delivery.

An agreement establishing the terms and conditions under which procurement services will be provided between organizations.

The government's plan for monitoring and evaluating contractor performance against the standards defined in the contract.

A government-maintained list of products that have been tested and approved as meeting specified standards, enabling streamlined procurement.

A contractor-developed plan describing how quality will be assured during contract performance, often required in solicitations.

A pre-solicitation document where the government seeks industry input on requirements, capabilities, and market conditions before issuing a formal solicitation.

A formal solicitation document inviting contractors to submit proposals that will be evaluated on technical merit, past performance, and price.

A solicitation used for simplified acquisitions where the government requests price quotes for clearly defined commercial supplies or services.

Work performed to expand scientific or technical knowledge and apply it to new or improved products, processes, or services — a major category of federal contracting.

The NIST-prescribed process for managing cybersecurity risk to federal systems, comprising six steps from categorization through ongoing monitoring.

A preliminary cost estimate used for planning and budgeting before detailed requirements are known, typically expressed as a range.

A solicitation for applications, commonly used in the context of grants and cooperative agreements rather than traditional contracts.

The official government website where businesses register to do business with the federal government and where contract opportunities are posted.

The federal agency that supports small businesses through contracting programs, certifications, loans, and technical assistance.

A small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability, eligible for federal set-aside contracts.

A contracting practice where competitions are restricted to specific categories of small businesses, such as 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB firms.

A contract document that describes the specific tasks, deliverables, timelines, and standards the contractor must meet.

Streamlined procurement procedures for acquisitions below the simplified acquisition threshold, reducing administrative burden for low-dollar buys.

A federal program that reserves a portion of agency R&D budgets for small businesses to conduct innovative research with commercial potential.

A federal program that funds cooperative R&D between small businesses and research institutions, requiring substantive collaboration.

A NASA-administered government-wide contract vehicle for IT products and services, used by agencies across the federal government.

A market research notice where the government seeks information on capable contractors before issuing a formal solicitation.

The government official with the final authority to select the winning offeror in a negotiated procurement.

A categorization code used within GSA Schedules and similar vehicles to classify specific products or services under a broader contract category.

A legacy U.S. government system for classifying industries by type of economic activity, largely superseded by NAICS but still used in some contexts.

A documented procedure that defines the steps for performing a recurring task or process, often required for quality and compliance.

A collective term for state governments, local governments, and educational institutions as a distinct government contracting market segment.

A performance-based document that states the government's objectives and desired outcomes, leaving offerors to propose the approach.

An individual with specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular area, often proposed as key personnel or consulted during proposal development.

A comprehensive document describing how an information system implements required security controls, required for NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance.

A contractual commitment defining the level of service the contractor will provide, including metrics, targets, and remedies for non-performance.

A classification for businesses meeting specific size standards, used by state and local governments for preference programs similar to SBA designations.

A comprehensive annual report providing cost, schedule, and performance status for major defense acquisition programs submitted to Congress.

A secure room or data center designed to prevent electronic surveillance and protect sensitive compartmented information from unauthorized access.

A document outlining the security controls and safeguards implemented for a specific information system or environment.

Configuration standards published by DISA for securing information systems and software against known vulnerabilities.

An advisory body that reviews evaluation results and recommends award decisions to the Source Selection Authority.

An 8(a) GWAC providing federal agencies with customized IT services and solutions from 8(a)-certified small businesses.

The senior civilian official responsible for all acquisition matters within a particular military service branch.

An order placed against an existing contract for the performance of services, specifying the tasks, period, and funding.

A contract type where the government pays for labor at fixed hourly rates and materials at cost, with a ceiling on total obligation.

A scale from 1 to 9 used to assess the maturity of a technology, from basic research to proven operational use.

Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation, a VA IDIQ contract vehicle for IT services and solutions.

An evaluation of the maturity and risk of critical technologies in a program, used to inform acquisition milestone decisions.

A document defining the purpose, scope, objectives, and deliverables of a project, study, or advisory engagement.

The 12-character identifier assigned by SAM.gov to uniquely identify entities doing business with the federal government, replacing the DUNS number.

The official codification of federal statutory law, organized by title and section — many acquisition regulations trace to USC authority.

A contract or modification for which the contract terms, specifications, or price are not agreed upon at the time of signing, used to allow work to begin before definitization.

United Nations Standard Products and Services Code, a global classification system used by governments and organizations to categorize products and services.

An independent agency administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance programs worldwide.

A systematic approach to analyzing functions and improving value by reducing cost while maintaining or improving performance.

A small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans, eligible for certain federal and VA set-aside programs.

A small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women, eligible for federal set-aside contracts in underrepresented industries.

A hierarchical decomposition of project work into manageable components, used for planning, scheduling, pricing, and earned value management.

The Department of Defense's electronic system for submitting invoices and receiving payments, replacing paper invoicing for defense contracts.

A determination of prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for a specific locality, issued by the Department of Labor for covered contracts.

A period of time from the start of the current fiscal or calendar year to the present, used for financial and performance reporting.

A budget justification approach that requires programs to justify all funding from zero each cycle rather than assuming continuation of prior-year levels.