Guide

Federal construction
bidding, start to finish.

A reading order through everything on this site — from qualifying an opportunity to submitting the proposal.

1
Start here
The federal Go/No-Go decision: what to check before you bid
The twelve checks, ordered so the cheapest disqualifiers come first.
Federal Bidding9 min read
2
Know the rules
Set-aside certifications, plainly explained
Which set-asides gate what, and why “small” depends on the solicitation.
Federal Bidding7 min read
3
Read the package
How to read a SAM.gov solicitation in twenty minutes
The reading order that reaches a decision without reading everything.
Federal Bidding6 min read
4
Check your capacity
Bonding capacity is a portfolio decision
Why the aggregate limit, not the single-job limit, is the real constraint.
Federal Bidding5 min read
5
Measure it
Where quantity takeoffs go wrong
Where takeoffs actually go wrong — and it is rarely the measuring.
Takeoff & Cost Estimating6 min read
6
Compare the quotes
Bid leveling: comparing subcontractor quotes fairly
Making four bids comparable before you pick one.
Bidding6 min read
7
Write the proposal
Writing a federal proposal that scores well
Writing to Section M, and passing the compliance read.
Proposal Writing7 min read
8
Decide what to automate
Where AI actually helps in preconstruction
Which parts of this are volume work, and which are judgement.
AI in Construction6 min read
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