Federal Contract Intelligence
Expert insights on winning government contracts. Learn strategies for recompetes, set-asides, and federal business development.
Featured Articles
The $1 Trillion Defense Surge Is Here - Federal Contractors Who Aren't Tracking It in Real Time Are Already Behind
The Pentagon spent $11.3 billion in one week on Iran. Defense stocks hit record highs. $152 billion in reconciliation funds are being deployed. This is the highest-velocity defense procurement environment in a generation.
Texas TRAIGA Is Enforceable Now — What Every Federal Contractor in Texas Must Do
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) carries $200K-per-violation penalties and applies to every company whose AI systems touch Texas residents. Federal contractors with Texas operations need a compliance strategy today.
The Colorado AI Act Is Live — And Every Federal Contractor Operating in Colorado Needs to Pay Attention
Colorado SB 24-205 creates strict AI compliance obligations for any company using algorithmic decision-making in the state. If you hold federal contracts with Colorado-based operations, here is what you need to know.
Federal Tail Spend Analysis: How to Find $47 Billion in Hidden Micro-Purchase Opportunities
Tail spend accounts for 80% of federal purchase transactions but only 20% of total value. Most contractors ignore it entirely. Here is how to mine tail spend data for recurring revenue.
How to Track Federal Contract Awards in Real-Time: The Complete Monitoring Playbook (2026)
Waiting for SAM.gov emails is not a strategy. Here is how to build a real-time federal contract tracking system using FPDS, USASpending, and AI-powered alerts.
GovTribe vs GovWin vs Fed-Spend: Which Federal Contract Tool Is Actually Worth It? (2026)
Three platforms, three price points, three different approaches to federal contract intelligence. The honest comparison with features, pricing, and recommendations by firm size.
Every Federal Contract Awarded to Elon Musk Companies: SpaceX, Starlink, Tesla, and The Boring Company
SpaceX alone holds over $15 billion in federal contracts. Add Starlink, Tesla, and The Boring Company and the total exceeds $19 billion. Every contract, every agency, every dollar.
The 25 Fastest-Growing Federal Contractors You Have Never Heard Of (2026 Rankings)
Forget Lockheed and Booz Allen. These 25 companies grew federal revenue 50-400% in two years. Who they are, what they sell, and how they did it.
USASpending.gov vs Fed-Spend: The Complete Comparison (2026)
USASpending.gov is free but limited to 10,000-row exports, no alerts, and raw XML. Fed-Spend adds AI analysis, real-time alerts, and unlimited exports. Here is the honest side-by-side comparison.
Cancelled Federal Contracts Database: How to Track Deobligated Funds & Recompete Opportunities
When federal contracts get cancelled or deobligated, they create recompete opportunities. Learn how to track cancelled contracts, find deobligated funds, and position your business for the re-award.
What Is a Set-Aside Contract? The Definitive Guide to Federal Set-Asides (2026)
A set-aside contract restricts competition to specific categories of small businesses under FAR Part 19. Every set-aside type, threshold, certification, and how to find opportunities.
Federal Contract Pricing Benchmarks by NAICS Code: The 2026 Reference Guide
Historical pricing benchmarks for the top 20 federal NAICS codes, labor rate ranges by PSC, and how to use FPDS data to build a defensible price proposal.
How to Win LPTA Government Contracts: Pricing Tactics for Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Bids (2026)
Practical strategies for winning LPTA evaluations including cost volume structure, wrap rate optimization, indirect rate strategies, and when to walk away.
Government Contract Labor Rates: GSA Schedule, SCA, and Fully Burdened Rate Guide (2026)
How GSA Schedule labor categories work, how to calculate fully burdened rates, typical wrap rates by industry, overhead and G&A benchmarks, and how DCAA audits rates.
What Companies Have U.S. Military Contracts? The Complete DOD Contractor List (2026)
The top 25 defense contractors by DOD contract value, what they build, breakdown by military branch, and how small businesses can enter the defense supply chain.
The Recompete Process for Federal Contracts: Step-by-Step Timeline and Tactics (2026)
A recompete is a new competition for an expiring federal contract. The 6-phase lifecycle, incumbent win rates, how challengers win, and early warning signals.
Are Government Contracts Paid Up Front? How Federal Payment Actually Works (2026)
No. Federal contracts are paid after performance, not before. Here is exactly how progress payments, performance-based payments, invoicing cycles, and prompt payment rules work.
How to Sell to the Government: The 8-Step Federal Sales Process (2026)
Register on SAM.gov, get your NAICS codes, build a capability statement, find opportunities, submit proposals, and deliver. The complete process.
What Is a Contract Scanner? Federal Contract Intelligence Tools Explained (2026)
A contract scanner monitors, filters, and scores federal contract opportunities from SAM.gov, FPDS, and other sources. Here is how they work and which ones are worth using.
What Are the Top 5 Federal Government Spending Categories? Where $6.1 Trillion Goes (FY2025)
Social Security ($1.5T), Medicare/Medicaid ($1.7T), Defense ($886B), Interest ($882B), and Income Security ($604B). Every major spending category with contract implications.
How to Calculate Price to Win in Government Contracting: The PTW Formula (2026)
Price to Win combines competitive intelligence, cost modeling, evaluation criteria analysis, and win theme pricing. The step-by-step process for federal bids.
How Does GSA Pricing Work? Schedule Rates, MAS, and the Price Reduction Clause (2026)
GSA Schedule pricing is based on your commercial rates with a government discount. How pricing is set, negotiated, modified, and how the Price Reduction Clause works.
How to Value a Government Contractor: M&A Multiples, EBITDA, and Backlog Analysis (2026)
Government contractors are valued at 10-18x EBITDA depending on contract backlog, clearance levels, customer concentration, and recompete risk. The complete valuation framework.
What Happens When a Government Contract Ends? Extensions, Bridge Contracts, and Recompetes (2026)
When a government contract expires, the agency can exercise options, extend via bridge contract, recompete, or let it lapse. Every scenario explained.
What Does Recompete Mean in Government Contracting? The $180 Billion Opportunity Most Contractors Miss
A recompete is when the government re-solicits work from an expiring contract. There is $180 billion in federal recompetes coming in FY2025-2026. Here is how to find them, track them, and win them.
How to Determine Pricing for Government Contracts: Cost Analysis, Allowable Costs, and Price-to-Win (2026)
Federal contract pricing is not guesswork. Here is the complete methodology -- cost analysis, allowable vs unallowable costs, direct and indirect rates, price-to-win strategy, and where to find historical pricing data.
Palantir Government Contracts: $13.7 Billion in Awards, Exposed
Palantir Technologies has become the dominant data platform across the federal government -- military targeting, immigration enforcement, IRS taxpayer data, and more. Here is every contract, every dollar, and what it means.
US Military Aid to Israel: $174 Billion in Federal Spending, Fully Mapped
The United States has provided more foreign aid to Israel than any country since WWII. Here is every dollar -- the $3.8B annual baseline, the $21.7B wartime surge, every arms sale, and what it costs you.
What Is the Federal Supply Schedule? The Complete GSA Schedule Guide (2026)
The Federal Supply Schedule is the government largest procurement vehicle -- $52 billion in FY2025. Here is how it works, how to get on it, and how to use it to win contracts.
What Is the Period of Performance for OASIS+? The Complete Guide to the Government Largest Services IDIQ
OASIS+ has a 5-year base period plus one 5-year option -- 10 years total through 2034. Here is every detail: domains, pools, ceiling, ordering periods, task order limits, and how to win work on it.
What Services Does GovSpend Offer? A Complete Breakdown (And What It Doesn't Cover)
GovSpend provides B2G procurement intelligence for state, local, and education markets. Here is exactly what you get, what you don't get, what it costs, and where the gaps are for federal contractors.
What Are the Easiest Government Contracts to Get? 7 Entry Points for New Contractors (2026)
Micro-purchases under $10K need zero proposals. GSA Schedule BPAs, set-aside sole source awards, and subcontracting all offer faster paths into federal revenue.
Where Is the Best Place to Find Government Contracts? Every Source Ranked (2026)
SAM.gov is the official source. USASpending tracks awards. FPDS has historical data. But the fastest way to find actionable opportunities is a federal contract intelligence platform.
What Are the Four Types of Government Contracts? FFP, CPFF, T&M, and IDIQ Explained (2026)
The four primary types are Fixed-Price, Cost-Reimbursement, Time-and-Materials, and Indefinite-Delivery. Each allocates risk differently.
Who Are the Top 10 Government Contractors? The Definitive Revenue Rankings (FY2025)
Lockheed Martin leads at $50.5B in federal revenue. Here are the top 10 ranked with breakdowns by agency, contract type, and small business impact.
Who Are the Big 5 Military Contractors? Defense Primes by Revenue and Market Share (2026)
The Big 5 are Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense, and General Dynamics. Together they hold $146B in annual DoD contracts.
Why Are Government Contracts Being Cancelled? DOGE, Budget Cuts, and What It Means (2026)
Contract cancellations surged in early 2026 due to DOGE reviews, continuing resolutions, and executive orders. Here is what is at risk and how to protect your pipeline.
Is There a Way to Track Government Spending? Yes -- Here Are the 5 Best Methods (2026)
USASpending.gov tracks every federal dollar. But for contract-level intelligence with alerts and scoring, you need a purpose-built tracking platform.
Bloomberg Government (BGOV) Competitors: Every Alternative Compared (2026)
Bloomberg Government costs $6,000+/year. Here are all the BGOV alternatives ranked by price, features, and use case for federal contractors.
What Is the Rule of 2 in Government Contracting? The Set-Aside Trigger Explained (2026)
The Rule of Two requires set-asides when at least two responsible small businesses can perform the work at fair market prices. This drives $178B+ to small businesses annually.
What Are the 5 Phases of the Contract Life Cycle? The Federal Acquisition Process (2026)
Planning, Solicitation, Evaluation, Award, and Administration. Understanding each phase tells you when to engage and how to position for the win.
How Much Does the Federal Government Spend on Contracts? ($681 Billion in FY2025)
$681 billion in FY2025 across 312,000+ awards. Here is the full breakdown by agency, NAICS code, set-aside type, and business size.
Is Government Spending Up or Down? The FY2026 Federal Budget Reality Check
Federal contract spending hit $681B in FY2025 — up 14% over 5 years. Here is exactly where spending is expanding, shrinking, and shifting.
Who Is the Highest Paid Government Contractor? The Top 25 by Revenue (FY2025)
Lockheed Martin leads at $52.8 billion. But the real story is what happens below the top 10 — where 300,000+ firms share $350 billion.
What Are the 7 Largest Expenses for the US Federal Government? ($6.75 Trillion, Ranked)
Social Security, Medicare, Defense, Interest, Medicaid, Veterans, and Education — in that order. Here is exactly how much, where it goes, and what each category means for federal contractors.
How Does GovSpend Work? Features, Pricing, and How It Compares (2026)
GovSpend tracks government purchasing data from state and local agencies. Here is how it works, what it costs, who it is built for, and how it compares to federal-focused alternatives.
What Is the Website That Shows All Government Contracts? (Every Source, Ranked)
The short answer: there is no single website. The federal government splits contract data across a dozen systems. Here is every one of them, what they actually contain, and the one tool that searches them all.
Set-Aside Contracts Explained: How to Find Your Best Path to Federal Revenue in 2026
The federal government set aside $178 billion for small businesses in FY2025. Most certified firms captured less than 0.5%. Here is the data on every program and how to find your highest-probability opportunities.
How to Win Recompete Contracts: The 18-Month Early Warning Playbook
Recompetes have a 38% challenger win rate vs 12% on net-new bids. 85,000 contracts expire in the next 12 months. Here is the playbook for finding them early and positioning before the RFP drops.
Deltek GovWin vs GovSpend vs Fed-Spend: The Real Comparison for Federal Contractors (2026)
Three platforms, three pricing models, three different approaches. We break down features, pricing, data sources, and what actually helps you win -- with no spin.
The FY2025 Federal Contracting Market Report: $681 Billion, Fully Mapped
Every agency, every NAICS code, every set-aside, every pricing benchmark, every recompete signal -- the complete FY2025 market report. Free.
SDVOSB Contract Opportunities: Where $28.6 Billion Actually Goes (2026)
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business contracts hit $28.6B in FY2025. Here's the agency-by-agency, NAICS-by-NAICS breakdown.
8(a) Contract Opportunities: How to Find and Win Them in 2026
The 8(a) program awarded $37.4B in FY2025 -- but most certified firms capture less than 1% of available opportunities. Here's the data-backed playbook.
Denver Federal Contracts: Colorado's $12.8B Federal Market Guide (2026)
Denver is one of the fastest-growing federal contracting markets. Here's every major agency, military installation, and opportunity pipeline in the Front Range.
How to Win Government Contracts: The Small Business Playbook for 2026
Winning federal contracts isn't about bidding on everything. It's about finding the right opportunities, positioning early, and pricing with data. Here's the complete playbook.
GovSpend Alternative: Why Federal Contractors Are Switching in 2026
GovSpend covers state and local, but federal BD teams need deeper intelligence. Here's why teams focused on federal contracts are moving to purpose-built tools.
How to Price a Federal Contract Bid: The Data-Backed Framework (2026)
Your pricing strategy shouldn't be a gut feeling. Here's the benchmarking framework top GovCon firms use, built on 200K+ real contract awards.
GovWin vs Bloomberg Government vs Fed-Spend: The Honest Comparison for 2026
We break down what each platform actually does, what it costs, and which features exist nowhere else. AI compliance matrices, recompete predictions, and Go/No-Go scoring change the math.
Government Procurement Intelligence: How Top BD Teams Find Contracts Before SAM.gov
The best capture teams don't wait for SAM.gov postings. Here's the procurement intelligence playbook that 35%+ win-rate shops actually use.
Federal Contract Pricing Data: What Agencies Actually Pay in 2026
We analyzed 180,000 contract awards to reveal real pricing benchmarks by NAICS code, agency, and contract type. Stop guessing—start pricing with data.
AI Federal Contracts: The $15B Opportunity Nobody Is Talking About
Federal AI spending is exploding. We analyzed 12,000+ AI-related contracts to reveal which agencies are buying, what they're paying, and how to position your company.
How to Find Federal Contracts in 2026: A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about finding and winning federal contracts. From SAM.gov registration to proposal submission, this guide covers the entire process.
Recompete Strategy: How to Win Expiring Federal Contracts
Learn the art of capturing recompete opportunities. Our data shows that 67% of federal contracts are won by new vendors when proper recompete strategies are employed.
How to Find $10M+ Federal Contracts (That Smaller Competitors Miss)
Large federal contracts require different strategies. Learn how to identify, qualify, and win high-value opportunities.
Recent Articles
Sole-Source Set-Aside Contracts: How They Work and How to Win Them (2026)
A sole-source set-aside is a federal contract awarded to a single qualified small business without competition. How sole-source authority works and how to position for these awards.
Set-Aside Contracts & Small Business Statistics: The Complete Federal Data for 2026
The federal government awarded $178.3 billion in small business set-aside contracts in FY2025. Agency-by-agency, program-by-program statistical breakdown with BD targeting insights.
Top 10 Government Contractors by Spend (2026): The Definitive Ranked List
The 10 largest federal contractors across all agencies ranked by total contract obligations, what changed year over year, and lessons for smaller contractors.
What Data Is Reported to FPDS? Every Field in the Federal Procurement Data System (2026)
FPDS tracks every federal contract action: award amounts, contractor info, NAICS codes, set-aside types, competition methods, and 120+ other data fields.
How Much Does the US Spend on Intelligence? IC Budget Breakdown (FY2025)
The US intelligence community budget is $72.4 billion (FY2025): $52.6B for the National Intelligence Program and $19.8B for the Military Intelligence Program.
How to Do an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE): The Complete Guide (2026)
An IGCE is the government internal estimate of what a contract should cost. Understanding how IGCEs work helps you price competitively and avoid cost realism flags.
What Is Value for Money in Government Procurement? Best Value vs LPTA Explained (2026)
Value for money in federal procurement means getting the best combination of price, quality, and performance -- not always the cheapest option.
Can You See Where the Government Spends Its Money? (Yes — Here Is How)
The federal government spent $6.75 trillion in FY2025. Every dollar is tracked. Here is exactly where to find it and what the data reveals.
How to Look Up Government Contracts: The Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Whether you want active opportunities, past awards, pricing data, or competitor intel — here is exactly how to look up government contracts.
HUBZone Contract Opportunities: The $13.2B Program Most Contractors Overlook (2026)
HUBZone is the least-competitive major set-aside -- and the hardest to keep. Full FY2025 breakdown by agency, NAICS, and certification traps.
WOSB Contract Opportunities: The $30.1B Market for Women-Owned Businesses (2026)
Women-Owned Small Business contracts exceeded $30B for the first time in FY2025. Agency breakdown, NAICS restrictions, and EDWOSB sole-source strategy.
Federal Procurement Data: Every Source Explained (FPDS, SAM, USAspending, and More)
The federal government publishes procurement data across a dozen systems. Here's what each source contains, how to access it, and which ones actually matter for winning contracts.
Government Contract Database: Every Free and Paid Tool Ranked (2026)
From USAspending to Bloomberg Government, we ranked every government contract database by data depth, usability, pricing, and features that actually help you win.
Federal Contract Search: How to Find $7.2 Trillion in Opportunities (in Under 60 Seconds)
Most contractors waste hours searching SAM.gov. Here's how modern federal contract search actually works -- and why the best BD teams find opportunities before they're posted.
Federal Spending Trackers: The 2026 Buyer's Guide for GovCon Teams
GovSpend, Bloomberg Government, USAspending, Fed-Spend—which federal spending tracker actually helps you win? We tested them all so you don't have to.
SAM.gov Registration Step-by-Step: Get Your UEI and Start Bidding (2026)
The complete walkthrough for registering in SAM.gov, getting your Unique Entity Identifier, and making your business visible to federal buyers. Free, no third parties needed.
NAICS Codes for Government Contracts: How to Pick the Right Ones (and Why It Matters)
Your NAICS codes determine which contracts you can bid on. We analyzed federal award data to show which codes have the most opportunity and least competition.
8(a) Certification: Is It Worth It in 2026?
An analysis of 8(a) program benefits, sole-source thresholds, and success rates. We analyzed 50,000 contracts to reveal the true value of 8(a) certification.
Federal Spending Trends FY2026: Where the Money Is Flowing
DOD spending up 8.2%, HHS modernization surge, and the rise of AI contracts. Here's where federal dollars are going in FY2026.
SDVOSB vs HUBZone: Which Set-Aside Is Right for You?
Comparing two popular small business set-aside programs. We break down eligibility, contract volumes, and success rates to help you choose.
5 Bloomberg Government Alternatives That Won't Break the Bank
Bloomberg Gov costs $8,000+/year. Here are 5 alternatives (including Fed-Spend) that offer similar or better capabilities for a fraction of the price.
Federal Contract Win Rates: What the Data Really Shows (2026 Analysis)
We analyzed 250,000 federal contract awards to reveal the real win rates, pricing strategies, and factors that determine who wins.
The Complete Guide to Federal Contract Pricing Strategy (2026)
Pricing can make or break your federal proposal. Learn proven strategies for cost-plus, fixed-price, and T&M contracts.