Analysis
How to Evaluate and Quote Your First DLA DIBBS RFQ
Read a real DLA RFQ, check source and technical-data requirements, build a complete cost worksheet, and verify your DIBBS quotation.
Article library
The record, organized.
Military Contractor publishes durable reporting that distinguishes announcements from awards, obligations, delivery, revenue, and profit.
28 published analysesPrimary-source reporting and original synthesis
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02
Contracts
How to Submit Your First WAWF Invoice: Contract Instructions, Routing, and Acceptance
Build your first WAWF submission from the contract instructions, check routing and line items, and follow invoice and receiving-report status separately.
03
Analysis
Prime Contractor vs Subcontractor: Choosing an Entry Path
Compare prime and subcontract roles through delivery responsibility, payment terms, flowdowns, and the capacity needed to pursue a federal opportunity.
04
Analysis
DCAA-Compliant Accounting Systems
Accounting-system readiness depends on contract terms, cost controls, and traceable records. Software alone cannot establish government acceptance.
05
Analysis
SBIR Phase I, II, and III for Defense Startups
SBIR moves from feasibility research to development and externally funded follow-on work. Each stage needs clear customer, contract, and technical records.
06
Analysis
SBIR vs STTR for Defense Technology Companies
SBIR and STTR differ in research workshare, investigator employment, and partner rights. Match the team to the opportunity and plan for the defense customer beyond R&D.
07
Analysis
CMMC Requirements for Defense Contractors
CMMC self-assessments remain required during the certification rollout suspension. Contract terms determine the necessary safeguards, assessment status, and records.
08
Analysis
Controlled Unclassified Information for Contractors
Identify CUI, connect it to the right contract obligations, and keep system and assessment records current through the CMMC Phase II suspension.
09
Analysis
Defense Contract Proposal Checklist
Check the final defense proposal against solicitation instructions, technical commitments, pricing support, security requirements, and proof of receipt.
010
Analysis
FAR vs DFARS: What Defense Suppliers Need to Know
FAR sets the federal acquisition baseline; DFARS adds defense requirements. Learn how clauses, deviations, and flowdowns affect a supplier's bid and delivery commitments.
011
Contracts
Fixed-Price vs Cost-Plus Defense Contracts
Firm-fixed-price puts ordinary overruns on the contractor. Cost-plus reimburses allowable costs, but fee, funding, and payment terms still shape business risk.
012
Analysis
How to Price a Government Contract Bid
Build a bid from direct costs, indirect rates, and profit, then test cash exposure and the pricing data requirements that apply to your contract.
013
Analysis
How to Read a Federal Solicitation
Read the submission rules, evaluation criteria, and contract obligations together, then turn them into a requirements matrix before committing to a bid.
014
Contracts
IDIQ Contracts Explained
An IDIQ award opens a path to future orders, while its minimum, ceiling, and funding mean different things. Learn how to evaluate the vehicle and manage each order.
015
Manufacturing
ITAR Compliance for Defense Suppliers
Determine when ITAR applies, separate registration from export authority, and connect supplier handoffs to the controls and records they require.
016
Analysis
NIST 800-171 Compliance for Small Defense Businesses
Small defense businesses need a defined CUI environment, working safeguards, and records that support their contract-required assessments. Revision 2 remains the current defense baseline.
017
Contracts
Other Transaction Agreements vs FAR Contracts
An OTA offers room to negotiate development, payment, and licensing terms. Compare that flexibility with FAR contract protections, current exemptions, and the conditions for production.
018
Analysis
How to Bid on Government Contracts
Confirm eligibility, delivery capacity, and financing before writing a proposal. Build a compliant federal bid from the solicitation through documented submission.
019
Analysis
How to Find Defense Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov
Search by capability and buyer, distinguish planning notices from solicitations, and turn relevant SAM.gov results into qualified defense pursuits.
020
Analysis
How to Get Government Contracts: A Defense Supplier Roadmap
Start with a buyer and a requirement you can deliver. Use this defense supplier roadmap to qualify opportunities, prepare an offer, and carry an award into delivery and payment.
021
Analysis
RFI vs RFQ vs RFP in Federal Contracting
Compare federal RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs by response requirements, evaluation, contract formation, and the business decisions each request demands.
022
Analysis
SAM.gov Registration for Defense Contractors
Complete the right SAM registration, resolve identity and CAGE checks, and keep the record active for defense bids. Start with the legal entity and the provision in the solicitation.
023
Analysis
UEI vs CAGE Code vs NAICS Code
UEI and CAGE identify the bidder and its location. NAICS connects the work to a size standard; none alone establishes eligibility for a federal competition.
024
Analysis
How Much Does CMMC Level 2 Cost for a Small Defense Contractor?
A small defense contractor with a limited CUI environment and mature cybersecurity controls may spend about $46,500 in the first year. Contractors that need more extensive remediation, compliance support, technology upgrades, and preparation for a future C3PAO assessment should budget roughly $140,000 to $185,000.
025
Analysis
Military Contractor Jobs: Roles, Requirements, and How to Evaluate Openings
Defense contractors hire civilians across technical, trade, support, and business roles. This framework shows how to match your experience and verify the employer, clearance, work location, contract status, and written offer.
026
Companies
Inside Palantir’s Army Business: From Bid Protest to a $10 Billion Ceiling
Court records, award notices, and SEC filings trace how a commercial-software challenge preceded Palantir’s expanding Army business, and why the Army’s $10 billion ceiling is not revenue.
027
Contracts
Sentinel’s $140.9 Billion Cost Is Not Northrop Grumman’s Contract
The public record contains several different Sentinel money stories: program estimate, prime award, obligations, budget requests, backlog, and sales. Treating them as one number obscures what the Air Force has actually committed.
028
Manufacturing
Why Federal Award Origin Fields Cannot Map the Defense Supply Chain
Federal award records classify end-product manufacture and origin under domestic-sourcing rules. They do not map the lower-tier suppliers, materials, and equipment behind the finished item.