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*CBD - Commerce Business Daily. Published by the Department of Commerce, this publication is the common method of contract advertisement for procurement and contract awards of $25,000 and up.
*CCR - Central Contractor Registry. An electronic database of government vendor firms used by the Department of Defense. For information about the CCR, call the DoD Electronic Information Center at 800-334-3414.
*DACA - Days After Contract Award. This is generally used in scheduling to refer to due dates for various stages of the project.
*DUNS - Data Universal Numbering System. Provided by Dun & Bradstreet, a DUNS number is used by the government to identify contractors and their locations. A DUNS number is frequently required to register with the CCR (Central Contractor Register). To get a DUNS number at no cost, call Dun & Bradstreet at 800-333-0505.
*EDI - Electronic Data Interchange. Refers to a standardized system for exchanging data electronically between trading partners. Typical EDI documents are purchase orders, invoices, and bids. The government's primary method of EDI is FACNET.
*FACNET - Federal Acquisition Computer Network. The government-wide computer system created to make every step of the government acquisitions process -- from bid solicitation to award and payment -- completely electronic by January 1, 2000. To find out how to access FACNET call the Department of Defense Electronic Commerce Information Center at 800-334-3414.
*FAR - Federal Acquisition Regulations. The "bible" of government procurement, FAR is the primary set of rules used by agencies when purchasing goods and services. The guide can be found at most public libraries and federal agency resource centers.
*FARA - Federal Acquisitions Reform Act. The 1996 law reforming the government procurement process. FARA modified competition requirements and expanded the use of simplified procurement procedures.
*FASA - Federal Acquisitions Streamlining Act. The 1994 law streamlining the procurement process and setting up electronic contracting.
*FSS - Federal Supply Service. The arm of the General Services Administration which makes purchases for the purpose of reselling to other federal government agencies.
*GSA - General Services Administration; this is the major supply arm of government which does most of the government's buying.
*IAW - In Accordance With. When used in government contracting, it is usually followed by a reference to a federal regulation (FAR) number.
*IDIQ - Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity. An IDIQ is a type of "procurement vehicle" or contract. With an IDIQ vehicle the government allots a certain amount of money for purchases it will make with specified vendors, but leaves open the dates the purchases will be made and the exact quantity of each item that will be bought. The contract ends when the money is gone; but the agency may extend the IDIQ if it chooses.
*IFB - Information for Bid. Generally used when the government is soliciting bids for goods or services that are simple to describe and quantify. Bids are opened publicly and low bid wins. Back to List of Acronyms
*OSDBU - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Most federal departments and agencies have an OSDBU to ensure that they award an equitable share of prime and subcontracts to small firms.
*OFPP - Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Part of the Office of Management and Budget, it keeps track of the various procurement regulations for every federal government agency. It also issues an annual report listing and totaling annual federal procurements.
*PTAC - Procurement Technology Assistance Center. The centers exist to help small businesses with all steps of the process in doing business with the government. They are frequently based at universities and run in partnership with the SBA. They can be especially useful for assistance in electronic commerce with the government. Call the SBA for the PTAC near you.
*RFP - Request for Proposal. RFPs are generally issued when the government wants a detailed technical proposal giving more information than can be conveyed in a simpler IFB (invitation for bid). With RFPs, contracts are negotiated (as opposed to low bid wins).
*RFQ - Request for Quote. RFQs are sometimes used for fact finding when the government is merely checking into the possibility of acquiring a product or service. They are not binding on either party, but are sometimes the basis for issuing a government purchase order.
*SADBU - Small and Disadvantaged Business Unit. The office in most government agencies which is responsible for assisting small and disadvantaged businesses in getting government contracts.
*SBA - Small Business Administration. As the government's small business advocate, the SBA oversees various federal procurement initiatives, and serves as an information resource for small businesses looking to learn more about contracting.
*SBS - Small Business Specialist. The title of the person who works in an agency's SADBU.
*SDB - Small Disadvantaged Business. The catch-all term used in federal procurement for minority-owned businesses.
*VAN - Value Added Network. VANs are private companies that help individual businesses find appropriate government procurement opportunities.
