FREE CHECKLIST
From Residential to Federal Construction
Most contractors scramble for these at the last minute. Smart contractors get them ready NOW.
You found the perfect federal contract. It matches your expertise. The price is right. Then you realize: you're missing half the documents they require.
Here are the 10 documents you need READY before you bid. Get this checklist and you'll know exactly what to prepare. You'll get:
Complete checklist of 10 required documents
Why each document matters (with references from Stan Uhlig)
Where to get each document (direct resource links)
Common mistakes to avoid
Estimated time/cost to obtain each
Bonus: 5 additional documents for larger contracts
Questions About Federal Contracting Documents
We know you have questions, we know the journey ahead is daunting, that's why we developed this checklist to simplify and organize the way ahead.
Do I really need ALL 10 documents before I can bid?
Not necessarily. It depends on the contract size and agency. Contracts under $25K (micro-purchases) might only need SAM.gov registration and a quote. But anything over $150K? You'll need most of these documents, especially bonding and past performance.
The point of this checklist is to get you READY so you're not scrambling when the perfect opportunity shows up. Most contractors lose bids simply because they run out of time gathering documents.
I only do residential work. Will my past projects count as "past performance"?
YES - and this is the biggest myth stopping residential contractors from bidding federal.
A $50K commercial roof you did for a private warehouse absolutely demonstrates your capability to do a $75K roof on a federal facility. What matters is: scope complexity, technical requirements met, timeline performance, and safety compliance.
The checklist shows you exactly how to reframe residential projects as relevant past performance (it's in Document #4). Government buyers care about CAPABILITY, not who the customer was.
How long does it take to get all these documents together?
Varies on your commitment. For all the documents we write about the longest will be your certifications.
What if I don't have bonding capacity yet?
We give you three options that you can do in the checklist.
Don't let lack of bonding stop you from getting everything else ready. You can win work while building toward bonding capacity.
Is this checklist only for federal contracts, or does it work for state/local too?
Get federal-ready and you're 80% ready for state/local work too. The checklist shows you which documents transfer and which need state-specific versions.
I downloaded a "capability statement template" online. Is that good enough?
The checklist includes what makes a capability statement actually work plus links to better templates. A strong capability statement is worth the 2-3 hours to do it right.
Ready to Get Federal-Ready?
They stay stuck chasing $5K-$15K Yelp jobs while $50K-$500K government and commercial contracts sit there unclaimed
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