GovCon guide
SAM.gov Bid/No-Bid Checklist
A good bid/no-bid decision protects your proposal capacity. Use this checklist before reading every attachment in detail.
Start with eligibility
If the set-aside, NAICS, place of performance, registration status, or deadline makes you ineligible, stop early. Do not let a familiar scope distract from a hard gate.
- Confirm set-aside and socio-economic requirements.
- Check NAICS size standard fit against your business.
- Verify SAM registration, representations, and any required contract vehicle.
- Look for site visit, clearance, facility, or bonding gates.
Score proof, not interest
A capability match is not enough. The question is whether you can prove it with past performance, staff, methods, certifications, and realistic pricing support.
- List the top 3 evidence points you can cite.
- Mark any required credential as ready, partial, or missing.
- Identify whether a teaming partner is required before bid day.
- Reject opportunities where the core proof is aspirational.
Check proposal load
Small teams lose time on technically attractive opportunities that require more writing, pricing, or coordination than the contract can justify.
- Estimate attachments, volumes, resumes, pricing tables, and forms.
- Count calendar days until questions and final response are due.
- Assign one accountable owner for each required section.
- No-bid when the response would crowd out stronger near-term pursuits.
Operator checklist
Use this before committing proposal time
- Eligibility gates are clear.
- Past performance proof exists.
- Pricing and staffing can be defended.
- Required attachments are available.
- Proposal effort is proportionate to likely value.
- A human owner approves the bid/no-bid decision.