Bid/no-bid review for government contracts

Why bid/no-bid matters

A search takes minutes. A weak proposal can take days. Small firms should reject poor fits and reserve proposal time for suitable work.

Use fixed checks to choose pursue, investigate, or hold. Save the reasons so you can review them later.

Choose one of three decisions

Make a decision. “Maybe” uses time without setting a next step.

• Pursue: fit is clear enough and capacity exists; start the response plan
• Investigate: you still need facts about attachments, bonding, or clearance
• Hold / no-bid: stop work and record why so you do not repeat the debate

Core checks (run every time)

Score each as pass, fail, or unknown. Investigate any unknown.

• Eligibility: set-aside + size standard + any mandatory certifications
• Scope fit: can you deliver the work described?
• Place of performance: can you cover the geography?
• Deadline: calendar days left vs proposal effort
• Past performance: do you have relevant proof or a credible team partner?
• Capacity: people, equipment, bonding, cash, insurance
• Competition clues: do not invent incumbents; unknown stays unknown

Start with simpler acquisitions

For early bids, favor clear work that needs a shorter proposal. Avoid multi-volume technical proposals with large compliance matrices until your team has done similar work. Prefer set-asides you qualify for and services you already sell.

Label your reasons

When you write reasons or use Pro bid/no-bid review, name each source:

• official: from the solicitation, FAR, or SBA rule you can cite
• notice details: classification, deadline, and set-aside information shown on the opportunity
• inference: judgment call; keep it explicit
• community-anecdote: stories, not rules

GovGazette tools

During early access, a free account includes the readiness checklist, 25 saved searches, tracking for 100 notices, and email alerts. Pro adds bid/no-bid review and exports after paid access opens. Agents can use free, rate-limited JSON on govgazette.com under /api/agent (search, opportunity detail, comps, vendors). Higher-volume agent access may come later on this product.

• Pro bid/no-bid review: /home/triage
• Free agent API: /api/agent
• Agent discovery: /llms.txt and /api/agent/openapi.json

Weekly review (30 minutes)

Choose one NAICS code and one set-aside or state. Review new and changed notices. Choose pursue, investigate, or hold. Record each no-bid. Skip notices outside that search.