First Contract Path guides
Free contractor guides for SAM registration, set-asides, reading notices, bid/no-bid with award evidence, and tracking SAM.gov changes.
These guides are the First Contract Path: practical steps for small and mid-size firms that need to find open work, judge fit, and decide whether to bid. They link into live open federal contracts and free monitoring limits. Start with how to get your first government contract.
How to win your first government contract
First Contract Path: set up an entity, get a UEI, check demand, learn set-asides, and decide when to bid.
SAM.gov registration walkthrough
What SAM.gov and the Unique Entity ID (UEI) are for, what blocks first-time registrants, and where to get free APEX help.
What is a set-aside?
Plain English set-aside rules for small business programs, with links to open opportunities.
How to read a contract opportunity page
A 10-minute checklist for reading federal opportunity notices: what the agency buys, who buys it, the deadline, set-aside, NAICS and PSC, and when not to bid.
Bid/no-bid review for government contracts
A bid/no-bid process for simplified acquisitions: check fit, past performance, and capacity, then choose pursue, investigate, or hold.
How to track SAM.gov opportunity changes
A process for catching deadline, attachment, set-aside, contact, and status changes without calling an import time the official amendment time.
How to choose a NAICS code for government contracts
Choose a North American Industry Classification System code by matching what you sell to the official definition, size standard, and live federal demand.
How to respond to a Sources Sought notice
Decide whether to respond, match each agency question to proof, and submit a concise Sources Sought response before the stated deadline.
Prefer tools over essays? Create a free account for a readiness checklist, 25 saved searches, and 100 tracked notices, or compare plans.