https://militarycontractor.com Military Contractor explains how defense companies are built, financed, contracted, scaled, and judged. en-us Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-evaluate-and-quote-your-first-dla-dibbs-rfq/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-submit-your-first-wawf-invoice-contract-instructions-routing-and-acceptance/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Contracts Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/prime-contractor-vs-subcontractor-choosing-an-entry-path/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/dcaa-compliant-accounting-systems/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/dcaa-compliant-accounting-systems/ Accounting-system readiness depends on contract terms, cost controls, and traceable records. Software alone cannot establish government acceptance. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/sbir-phase-i-ii-and-iii-for-defense-startups/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/sbir-vs-sttr-for-defense-technology-companies/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/cmmc-requirements-for-defense-contractors/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/controlled-unclassified-information-for-contractors/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/defense-contract-proposal-checklist/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/defense-contract-proposal-checklist/ Check the final defense proposal against solicitation instructions, technical commitments, pricing support, security requirements, and proof of receipt. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/far-vs-dfars-what-defense-suppliers-need-to-know/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/fixed-price-vs-cost-plus-defense-contracts/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Contracts Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-price-a-government-contract-bid/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-read-a-federal-solicitation/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/idiq-contracts-explained/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Contracts Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/itar-compliance-for-defense-suppliers/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Manufacturing Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/nist-800-171-compliance-for-small-defense-businesses/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/other-transaction-agreements-vs-far-contracts/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Contracts Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-bid-on-government-contracts/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-find-defense-contract-opportunities-on-sam-gov/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/how-to-get-government-contracts-a-defense-supplier-roadmap/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/rfi-vs-rfq-vs-rfp-in-federal-contracting/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/sam-gov-registration-for-defense-contractors/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/uei-vs-cage-code-vs-naics-code/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/cmmc-level-2-cost-small-defense-contractors/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/cmmc-level-2-cost-small-defense-contractors/ 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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/jobs/ https://militarycontractor.com/jobs/ 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. Military Contractor Editorial Analysis Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/palantir-army-business-contracts/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/palantir-army-business-contracts/ 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. Military Contractor Editorial Companies Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/sentinel-140-billion-cost-vs-northrop-contract/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/sentinel-140-billion-cost-vs-northrop-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. Military Contractor Editorial Contracts Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://militarycontractor.com/articles/defense-supply-chain-visibility-gap/ https://militarycontractor.com/articles/defense-supply-chain-visibility-gap/ 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. Military Contractor Editorial Manufacturing Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT