The government contract marketplace can be confusing enough without all the acronyms. This is a short list of acronyms you may encounter as you navigate the government contract marketplace, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

Integrity Surety partners closely with government-contract education resource groups, in the local, state, and federal levels. We are very successful with bonding government contracts – how can we help YOU be successful in this marketplace?

8a – 8a refers to the section in the Small Business Act where the 8a program is described; 8a is a 9-year business development program managed by the SBA

A&ES – State of Washington, Architectural and Engineering Services

CVE – Center for Verification & Evaluation (VA Veteran Certification) https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/assistance/

DBE – Disadvantage Business Enterprise

DES – Washington State Department of Enterprise Services https://des.wa.gov/

DLA – Defense Logistics Agency

DSBS – Dynamic Small Business Search, also known as SBA Profile http://dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm

DUNS – Dun & Bradstreet maintains DUNS numbers, also known as Unique Entity Identifiers – this is a required element of an SBA surety application

EDWOSB – Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business

FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulation. The rules of the federal government procurement. https://www.acquisition.gov/browsefar

FBO Federal Business Opportunities, also known as FEDBIZOPPS https://www.fbo.gov/

GSA – General Services Administration gsa.gov

HUBZone – Historically Underutilized Business Zone SBA HUBZone map

IDIQ – Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quanitity. This is a kind of contract that provides an estimated ceiling dollar amount, although the dates of purchase and the quantity of service are not specified. Bonds for these contracts are less easy to place.

JBLM – Joint Base Lewis McChord

JOC – Job Order Contracting

MATOC – Multiple Award Task Order Contract

NAICS – North American Industry Classification System. This puts a number to your work specialty. A government, surety or insurance underwriter may ask you for (what sounds like) your “NICKS” code – hence this reference. https://www.naics.com/search/

NAVFAC – Naval Facilities Engineering Command

NAVSEA – Naval Sea Systems Command

NAVSUP – Naval Supply Systems Command

OMWBE – Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises http://omwbe.wa.gov/

PTAC – Procurement Technical Assistance Center, aka “the only acronym you really need to know”. PTAC is an excellent resource for guidance and education in the government contract marketplace, and a partner of Integrity Surety. http://washingtonptac.org/

RFP – Request for proposal

RFQ – Request for Quote

SAM – System for Award Management www.sam.gov

SB – Small Business – For federal, size is based on industry. See SBA Size Standards SBA size standards table

SBA – Small Business Administration provides countless resources for small businesses, including Surety Bond Guaranty programs, in which Integrity Surety is proud to participate. SBA.gov

SDVOSB – Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VA – Veterans Affairs

VOSB – Veteran Owned Small Business

WOSB – Women Owned Small Business

The Little Black Bond Book

Approach Surety with confidence using our 100% free Little Black Bond Book!