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Glossary

The words on a federal notice, in plain English.

Notice
One publication on SAM.gov. Every revision of a notice gets a new notice id, so one solicitation usually has several.
Opportunity
On this site, every notice that shares a solicitation number, plus the award USAspending recorded for it.
Solicitation
A formal request for proposals, quotes or bids. Offers are due by the response deadline.
Combined synopsis and solicitation
A streamlined commercial-item buy in which the notice itself is the solicitation.
Presolicitation
Advance notice that a solicitation is coming, usually within a few weeks.
Sources sought
Market research. The agency asks who could do the work before deciding how to compete it. Responding does not commit you to bid.
Special notice
Industry days, draft requirements and program announcements. Not a solicitation.
Award notice
Who won, on what date, for how much, and under which contract number.
Justification
The written reason, citing the FAR authority, for limiting competition or awarding without it.
Set-aside
A restriction of who may compete: small businesses generally, or a specific program such as 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned or women-owned.
NAICS
North American Industry Classification System. A six-digit industry code the buyer assigns; it decides which small-business size standard applies.
PSC
Product or Service Code. Four characters describing what is bought. A letter first is a service, a digit first is a product.
CGAC
Common Government-wide Accounting Classification. The three-digit code of a department or independent agency.
FPDS sub-tier code
The four-character code of a bureau, service or command under a department.
AAC
Activity Address Code. The six-character code of a contracting office; most solicitation numbers start with it.
UEI
Unique Entity ID. The twelve-character identifier SAM.gov assigns to every registered vendor. It replaced DUNS in 2022.
CAGE
Commercial and Government Entity code. A five-character identifier the Defense Logistics Agency assigns.
PIID
Procurement Instrument Identifier. The contract number. Orders placed under a contract carry the parent PIID as well.
Obligation
Money the government has committed on a contract action. Negative on a de-obligation. Not the same as the contract ceiling or what was eventually paid.
Extent competed
How the award was competed: full and open, competed under simplified acquisition procedures, not competed, or not available for competition.
Place of performance
Where the work is done. A notice gives a state, a city and a ZIP code when it states one; an award gives the county as well. This site groups both by state, county and city.
FIPS code
Federal Information Processing Standard code. Two digits name a state, five a county or county equivalent (51710 is Norfolk, Virginia). FPDS files every award under one.
FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulation. The rulebook; set-aside programs cite their part of it.