Preview draft General guidance prepared for NovusPointe, awaiting Christopher West’s approval before publication. Not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice.
Government contracting rewards preparation. Agencies expect accurate registrations, clear descriptions of what you provide, and documents that are easy to evaluate. The steps below are general guidance to help you get organized; the official requirements are always set by the agency or portal involved.
Get your business records in order
- Confirm your legal business name and address match across every record.
- Gather your business formation documents and tax registrations.
- Make sure your banking details are current and accessible to the right person.
Understand the registrations you may need
Federal opportunities generally require registration in SAM.gov, the federal government's official entity-registration and opportunity system. South Carolina state opportunities are published through SC Procurement Services. Read each portal's own instructions carefully; requirements can change.
Describe what you do, clearly
- Write a one-page capability statement: what you provide, who you have served (only what you can document), and how to reach you.
- Identify the industry classification codes that describe your work.
- Keep a short, factual list of past projects you are permitted to reference.
Build a simple bid calendar
Track opportunities, question deadlines, submission deadlines and required documents in one place. Missing a deadline is the easiest way to lose an opportunity you were qualified for.
Know where to get free help
APEX Accelerators provide no-cost government contracting counseling. Links to these and other official resources are on our Helpful Business Links page.
Agencies evaluate what you submit. Organized, accurate documents are the foundation.
NovusPointe can help you work through this checklist and review your documents. We do not guarantee registrations, eligibility or awards, and your submissions and certifications remain your responsibility.
