/ govcon glossary
Plain-English definitions of the 30+ federal contracting terms that actually matter — CDRL, CPARS, FAR, DFARS, SF 1034, CLIN, IDIQ, CMMC, 8(a), and more. Bookmark it, send it to your new hires, write your proposals against it.
Contract Data Requirements List
A list attached to DoD contracts (via DD-1423 forms) that defines every data deliverable a contractor must submit: format, frequency, recipient, and acceptance criteria. CDRLs are how the government tells you what to write, when to send it, and who to send it to.
Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System
The federal database where agencies rate contractor performance at the end of every contract or annually on long-running awards. CPARS ratings follow you on future bids and directly affect award decisions. 'Satisfactory' is the new failing grade.
Federal Acquisition Regulation
The master rulebook for how the U.S. government buys things. FAR clauses flow into almost every federal contract and dictate invoicing format, inspection, termination rights, intellectual property, and more. FAR Part 52 is the clause library.
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
DoD's addendum to the FAR. Adds defense-specific requirements like NIST 800-171 cybersecurity, Buy American, and specialized cost accounting. If you work on DoD contracts, DFARS clauses are in your award.
Standard Form 1034 — Public Voucher
The government's preferred invoice format for cost-reimbursement and some time-and-materials contracts. If your contract cites SF 1034, your invoice must match the form exactly — wrong format means rejection and 30+ day payment delays.
Period of Performance
The window during which you are contractually obligated to perform work. Includes a base period and option periods (years the government can elect to extend). Tracking PoP is non-negotiable — work done outside it is unbillable.
Contract Data Requirements List form
The physical DoD form that documents a CDRL. Each CDRL is one line on a DD-1423 and defines: block 4 (title), block 5 (authority/DID), block 10 (frequency), block 12 (date of first submission), block 14 (distribution).
Data Item Description
A standardized template the government uses to define what a deliverable must contain. CDRLs reference DIDs — so if block 5 says 'DI-MGMT-81650', you must write your deliverable to match that DID's format.
Contract Line Item Number
The line-item breakdown of what the government is buying. Every CLIN has a scope, a price (or ceiling), and usually a separate funding source. Invoicing must map directly to CLINs — comingling burn across CLINs is an audit finding.
Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity
A master contract vehicle with no guaranteed minimum beyond a small floor. The government issues task orders against it as needs arise. GSA MAS, Alliant, OASIS, and CIO-SP3 are all IDIQs.
Firm Fixed Price
You quote a price, you deliver the scope, you eat the overrun. Lowest administrative burden but highest contractor risk — no cost accounting required but no relief if effort doubles.
Time and Materials
You bill labor hours at fixed rates plus materials at cost. Requires detailed timesheets and strong labor category mapping. Common on professional services awards.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee
Government reimburses allowable costs, contractor gets a fixed dollar fee on top. Requires DCAA-approved accounting system. Used on R&D and complex programs where scope can't be pinned down up front.
Contracting Officer's Representative
The technical lead on the government side. Cannot change scope or price (that's the CO's job) but owns day-to-day technical acceptance, deliverable review, and CPARS input. Keep your COR happy.
Contracting Officer
The only person on the government side with authority to obligate funds and modify contracts. Anything affecting scope, price, or schedule has to go through the CO — never rely on verbal direction from the COR.
Performance Work Statement
A performance-based description of what the government wants done — outcomes, not methods. PWS replaces prescriptive SOWs on most modern awards. Your CDRLs and acceptance criteria are traceable back to PWS paragraphs.
Statement of Work
The prescriptive description of tasks, deliverables, and standards on a contract. Traditional SOWs tell you exactly how to do the work. Replaced on most modern awards by performance-based PWS.
Statement of Objectives
The least prescriptive version — the government describes outcomes and leaves the how entirely to the contractor. Common on innovation and OTA contracts.
Wide Area Workflow / Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment
The DoD portal where you submit invoices and receiving reports. WAWF is the old name; PIEE is the current umbrella platform. Everything from SF 1034 vouchers to property reports flows through here.
Protecting CUI in Nonfederal Systems
The 110-control baseline DoD contractors must meet to handle Controlled Unclassified Information. Required by DFARS 252.204-7012. CMMC Level 2 is built directly on top of NIST 800-171.
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
DoD's third-party-audited cybersecurity certification. Level 1 (basic), Level 2 (NIST 800-171 assessed), Level 3 (advanced). Rolling in over the next few years — certification will be contract-eligibility for a huge swath of DoD work.
Defense Contract Audit Agency
The agency that audits contractor accounting systems, incurred costs, and forward pricing rates for DoD. An approved DCAA accounting system is a prerequisite for most cost-type contracts.
Defense Contract Management Agency
DoD's contract administration arm. Where DCAA audits, DCMA manages — quality assurance, earned value compliance, property administration, and performance monitoring during contract execution.
Earned Value Management (System)
A schedule + cost control discipline required on contracts over a certain dollar threshold. Measures planned value, earned value, and actual cost to detect schedule slips and cost overruns early.
GSA Multiple Award Schedule
The government's largest IDIQ vehicle — a long-term contract with pre-negotiated prices for commercial products and services. If you hold a Schedule, agencies can buy from you without a full competition.
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
A 9-year small business development program for firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Enables sole-source awards up to $7M (or $4.5M for services). Highly competitive to enter.
Historically Underutilized Business Zone
SBA program for firms with their principal office in a qualifying HUBZone and 35% of employees living in one. Provides a 10% price evaluation preference on full-and-open competitions and sole-source eligibility under certain thresholds.
Women-Owned Small Business / Economically Disadvantaged
SBA certifications for women-owned small businesses. EDWOSB adds economic disadvantage criteria. Enables set-aside awards in designated NAICS codes.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Certification for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. VA has a strong sole-source and set-aside program for SDVOSBs.
System for Award Management
The central federal contractor registration database. Every prospective contractor must maintain an active SAM.gov registration to receive awards. Holds UEI, CAGE, reps + certs, and financial information.
Unique Entity Identifier
The 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to contractors in SAM.gov. Replaced DUNS in April 2022. Every award and invoice references it.
Commercial and Government Entity code
A 5-character code identifying a contractor facility in federal databases. Assigned by DLA. Required on DoD contracts and used in PIEE, WAWF, and shipping documents.
Flow-down clauses
FAR and DFARS clauses that primes must pass down to subcontractors. Subcontractors inherit the prime's compliance obligations — cybersecurity, small business reporting, labor standards, and more.
Past Performance evaluation
One of the most heavily weighted evaluation factors on federal bids. Agencies pull your CPARS ratings and sometimes call references directly. A single 'Unsatisfactory' rating can disqualify you for years.