Guides · United States
Bidding on tenders in United States.
How public procurement works in United States — registration, eligibility, bid security and submission — checked against the official rules.
Registration
How to register in SAM.gov and get a UEI
Step-by-step SAM.gov entity registration for 2026: UEI-only vs full registration, the information you need, the extra NCAGE step for foreign companies, how long it takes, annual renewal — and why you never need to pay for it.
Read the guideBidding
How to find and win US federal contracts
How US federal contracting works in 2026: where opportunities are posted on SAM.gov, what each notice type means, the new $15,000 and $350,000 thresholds, small-business set-asides, how bids are evaluated, and what foreign companies need to know.
Read the guideSmall business
US federal small-business set-asides explained: 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB and the rule of two
How US federal small-business set-asides work in 2026: the rule of two, the $15,000 and $350,000 thresholds, size standards and affiliation, the 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB and SDVOSB programs and their 2025–2026 changes, sole-source limits, limits on subcontracting, mentor-protégé joint ventures, protests, and what foreign companies can and can't do.
Read the guideForeign bidders
How EU companies can bid for US federal and state government contracts
What European companies need to know to sell to the US government in 2026: the Trade Agreements Act thresholds ($174,000 goods and services, $6.683 million construction), substantial transformation and CBP origin rulings, Buy American price penalties below the threshold (20%, 30%, DoD 50%), DoD qualifying-country status (18 EU members), the Berry Amendment and specialty metals, the 37 states and federal utilities covered by the GPA, set-asides closed to foreign firms, and SAM registration.
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