GovCon Glossary
Demystify federal, state, and local contracting jargon. Search and filter over 490+ procurement terms, acronyms, and industry definitions.
Showing 495 terms
8(a) Business Development Program
This program, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), helps small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals gain access to federal contracting opportunities.
Acquisition Category
A designation that determines the level of review, decision authority, and applicable procedures for an acquisition program.
Acquisition Program Baseline
A document that establishes the baseline for cost, schedule, and performance objectives for a specific acquisition program.
Acquisition Quality Program
A program that ensures the quality of products and services acquired by the government through various quality assurance activities.
Acquisition Strategy Panel Meeting
A meeting held to review and approve the acquisition strategy for a specific procurement.
Administrative Contracting Officer
A contracting officer responsible for the administrative aspects of a contract, including modifications and management.
Air Force NETCENTS (Network-Centric Solutions)
A family of IDIQ contracts for IT products, services, and solutions.
Air Mobility Command
A major command of the United States Air Force responsible for air mobility operations.
Alliant
A multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle that provides flexible access to customized IT solutions from a large, diverse pool of industry partners.
Alliant 2 Small Business
A multiple-award IDIQ contract that provides federal agencies with customized IT services and IT services-based solutions from small businesses.
Annual Performance Report
A report that summarizes the performance of a contractor or program over the previous year.
Architectural and Engineering Services
Professional services required to support planning, design, construction, and maintenance of facilities.
Army ITES (Army Information Technology Enterprise Solutions)
A family of IDIQ contracts for IT services and solutions.
Army Requirements and Resources Tracking Tool
A tool used by the United States Army to manage and track requirements and resources.
Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies
A non-profit organization facilitating cooperative purchasing for schools.
Association of Proposal Management Professionals
A professional association for proposal managers and professionals.
Authority to Operate
A formal declaration by a designated approving authority that authorizes operation of a business product and explicitly accepts the risk to agency operations.
Automated Data Processing Equipment
Any equipment or interconnected system or subsystems of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information.
Automated Entry and Exit Screening
A system used by the Department of Homeland Security to screen individuals entering and exiting the United States.
Automated Information System
An assembly of computer hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of these, configured to accomplish specific information handling operations, such as communication, processing, data conversion, or data acquisition.
Basic Ordering Agreement
An agreement containing terms and conditions applying to future contracts between parties during its term.
Best and Final Offer
The last proposal revision opportunity provided to offerors.
BID Protest
A formal objection raised by an interested party against the award or proposed award of a government contract.
Bid Verification and Audit
A process used to verify the accuracy and completeness of a contractor's bid or proposal.
Bill of Materials
A list of the components, parts, and materials required to construct, manufacture, or repair a product or service.
Black Word Count
An estimate of the final page count of a document.
Blanket Purchase Agreement
A simplified acquisition method that allows agencies to establish 'charge accounts' with qualified sources of supply.
Broad Agency Announcement
A general announcement of an agency’s research interest.
Budget Estimate Submission
The process by which government agencies submit budget estimates to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the upcoming fiscal year.
Budgeted Cost of Work Performed
The earned value of the work actually performed in a given time period.
Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled
The budgeted cost for the work scheduled to be performed in a given time period.
BuyBoard (Texas Association of School Boards Cooperative Purchasing Program)
A cooperative purchasing program for Texas schools.
CAGE Code (Commercial and Government Entity Code)
A unique identifier assigned to suppliers to various government or defense agencies.
California Multiple Award Schedules
A cooperative purchasing program for California state agencies.
Capability Maturity Model Integration
A process improvement approach that provides organizations with the essential elements of effective processes that ultimately improve their performance.
CATS+ (Consulting and Technical Services+)
A Maryland state contract vehicle for IT consulting and technical services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Information Technology Outsourcing and Professional Services
A contract vehicle for IT services and solutions for the CDC.
Central Contractor Registration
A former system where companies had to register to do business with the federal government, now part of SAM.
Certified Professional
A certification offered by APMP for proposal professionals.
Certified Professional Public Buyer
A professional certification for public buyers.
Certified Public Procurement Counselor
A professional certification for public procurement counselors.
Certified Public Procurement Officer
A professional certification for public procurement officers.
Chief Information Officer
The senior executive responsible for the information technology and computer systems within an organization.
Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners 3
A Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) that provides IT solutions and services.
Clinger-Cohen Act
A law aimed at improving federal IT management and acquisition.
Combatant Commander
A commander of one of the unified or specified combatant commands established by the President.
Commercial Off-The-Shelf
Commercially available products that can be purchased and used under government contract without modification.
Commercial Solutions Opening
A competitive solicitation method used to acquire innovative commercial products, services, or solutions.
Common Access Card
A smart card used as standard identification for active-duty military personnel, reserve personnel, civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Procurement System
An e-procurement system for Massachusetts state agencies.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Cooperative Purchasing Program
A cooperative purchasing program for Pennsylvania local governments.
Communications Security
The protection of communications from unauthorized access or revision.
Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions
A consolidated IT contract vehicle for the U.S. Army.
Computer Network Defense
Actions taken to protect, monitor, analyze, detect, and respond to unauthorized activity within the Department of Defense information systems and computer networks.
Concept of Operations
A verbal or graphic statement, in broad outline, of a commander's assumptions or intent in regard to an operation or series of operations.
Consortium
A group of organizations that join around a shared mission, technology area, or acquisition channel, often to participate in Other Transaction opportunities.
Construction Specifications Institute
An association dedicated to improving construction specifications and codes.
Continuity of Operations Plan
A plan that ensures the continuation of essential functions during a wide range of emergencies.
Contract Administration Office
An office responsible for administering government contracts, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions.
Contract Data Requirements List
A list of data requirements imposed on a contractor under a government contract.
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