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Bid/No-Bid Decision
Qualification gates (size, registration, responsibility, capability) and win-probability triage
What wins points
Ensures eligibility by confirming SAM registration, size‑standard compliance and contractor responsibility before bid submission.
What gets bids disqualified
Risk of disqualification from missing SAM registration, exceeding size standards, or failing responsibility criteria (financial resources, performance record, integrity).
Evaluator's view
Check Sections L & M for mandatory clauses; verify UEI in SAM and small‑business eligibility via SBA size standards before any further bid preparation.
Bid/No-Bid Decision
What this is
A concise guide for a solo small‑business owner to determine whether to submit a bid on a federal solicitation. It walks through the key eligibility and compliance gates that can disqualify a proposal.
When you need it
Use during the pre‑submission stage of any sealed‑bid, negotiated, simplified acquisition or commercial award. It is mandatory for all solicitations because non‑responsiveness (failure to meet basic registration, size‑standard or responsibility requirements) results in an outright rejection.
How to fill it in
- Identify the solicitation type – check Sections L & M of the solicitation to see if it is sealed‑bid (IFB), negotiated (RFP) or simplified acquisition.
- Check SAM registration – verify that your business is registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and has a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). See FAR Subpart 4.11 for the requirement to be registered at offer time【S6】.
- Confirm size‑standard eligibility – use SBA’s Size Standards Tool (or consult Subpart 9.1 for “Responsible Prospective Contractors”) to ensure your NAICS code and employee/receipt totals meet the applicable small‑business threshold【S22】.
- Determine responsibility – review FAR Subpart 9.1 which prescribes policies for determining whether a prospective contractor is responsible (financial resources, performance record, integrity, technical capability)【S8】.
- Identify mandatory clauses – note any required certifications in Section L (e.g., 52‑212‑1(f) on timeliness, 52‑204‑8 representations) and ensure you can comply.
- Assess set‑aside status – if the solicitation is a small‑business set‑aside, confirm you are self‑certified and that your contract value does not exceed any limitation‑on‑subcontracting thresholds.
- Document findings – fill in the template below with “Yes/No” answers and cite the specific solicitation sections where each requirement appears.
Template
Bid/No‑Bid Decision Checklist ----------------------------------- Solicitation #: [INSERT] Title: [INSERT] Type (IFB/RFP/etc.): [INSERT] 1. SAM registration active? Yes / No (UEI: __________) Ref: S6 2. Meets size standard? Yes / No NAICS: _______ Ref: S22 3. Responsible contractor? Yes / No – Financial resources, performance record, integrity – Ref: S8 4. Required certifications present? Yes / No (52‑212‑1(f), 52‑204‑8) Ref: solicitation Sec L 5. Set‑aside eligibility confirmed? Yes / No (self‑certified) Ref: solicitation Sec L/M 6. Page limit within requirement? Yes / No – see solicitation Sec M for limits – [PLACEHOLDER] 7. Submission deadline met? Yes / No – note exact time – [PLACEHOLDER] Decision: [ ] Submit bid [ ] Do not submit (reason: __________)
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