Government Contracting Compliance Checklist

Check expiration date. Registration must be active at time of award.

Verify your company's NAICS codes in SAM.gov align with RFP.

8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB certifications must be valid.

Size standards, years in business, geographic location, etc.

Check SAM.gov for any debarment or suspension.

Don't skip sections. Amendments often contain critical changes.

Note exact date/time, timezone, and submission portal (SAM.gov, email, etc.).

Agency questions typically due 5-7 days before proposal deadline.

Font size, margins, spacing, headers/footers, page numbering.

Know how proposal will be scored. Allocate effort accordingly.

Mark every 'shall', 'must', 'will' statement. Missing one = disqualification.

Review Section K and L of solicitation for incorporated clauses.

FAR 52.204-8, 52.209-5, and others as specified in RFP.

Required for contracts over $750,000 if you're not small business.

FAR 52.222 series clauses as applicable.

If providing products, verify Buy American compliance.

SCA applies to most service contracts over $2,500.

Match scope, size, complexity, and technical requirements of current RFP.

For government work, include actual contract numbers.

Show recency - recent projects typically score higher.

Name, title, phone, email. Verify they'll give positive reference.

Contractor Performance Assessment Reports. Include if positive.

Metrics, cost savings, performance improvements, on-time delivery.

Don't make evaluator connect dots. Explain why project is relevant.

Use compliance matrix to verify nothing missed.

Each phase should have defined deliverables and acceptance criteria.

Agile, Waterfall, specific industry framework - explain your approach.

Show you've thought through what could go wrong.

How will you ensure deliverable quality?

What makes your approach better than competitors'?

Clear reporting lines and roles.

Verify PM has required certifications, experience, clearances.

Evaluators score actual people higher than 'To Be Determined'.

Highlight relevant experience, education, certifications.

Include clearance level and expiration date.

Ensure people aren't over-committed to other projects.

Meeting frequency, reporting format, escalation procedures.

Government RFPs often require separate cost volume.

Use their spreadsheet/format if provided.

Explain basis for rates (GSA schedule, market rates, etc.).

Overhead, G&A, profit - show your math.

What's included/excluded, travel assumptions, etc.

Count pages. Includes front matter, excludes allowed appendices.

Use exact font specified. Don't cheat with narrow fonts.

Typically 1 inch all sides, but verify in RFP.

Don't reorganize. Follow their structure exactly.

Update after final edits.

Shows where each requirement is addressed.

Clear labels matching table of contents.

Architect-Engineer qualifications form.

Verify signatory authority in company records.

Current certificates meeting RFP requirements.

Professional licenses, business licenses, etc.

Financial statements, tax returns, credit references.

Letter from surety showing bonding capacity.

Typos and grammar errors hurt credibility.

Search for previous client names from templates.

Team size, timeline, budget must match everywhere.

Final approval from authorized decision-maker.

PDF, Word, specific naming convention, file size limits.

Electronic and/or hard copies as specified.

Don't wait until last minute - portal issues happen.

Save confirmation email/receipt. Proof of on-time submission.