Federal Contracting Resources & Regulatory Guidance
Navigating federal procurement requires a clear understanding of the regulations, systems, and classifications that govern U.S. Government contracting. This resource center provides access to essential federal frameworks, including acquisition regulations, registration systems, industry classification tools, and size standards that impact eligibility and compliance. DMC Service Solutions supports organizations in understanding and applying these resources effectively to pursue federal contracting opportunities with accuracy and confidence.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the main set of rules for U.S. government procurement, establishing uniform policies for executive agencies buying supplies and services, ensuring fairness, transparency, and best value, and covering everything from planning and contracting methods to socioeconomic policies, with DoD, GSA, and NASA jointly issuing it and agencies supplementing it. It's codified in Title 48, Chapter 1 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and applies to most federal contracts, detailing processes, required clauses, and team roles.
The FAR is jointly issued by the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and applies to all executive agencies.
To access the Federal Acquisition Regulations click here.
System for Award Management (SAM)
The System for Award Management (SAM) is the official U.S. government website (SAM.gov) where entities register to do business with the federal government, find contracting opportunities, and manage award information, serving as the central hub for federal grants and contracts, requiring an active registration for entities to receive funding or awards. It consolidates various functions, allowing businesses to get a Unique Entity ID (UEI), search contract listings (formerly FBO.gov), and access data, with mandatory annual renewal for active status.
Registration in SAM is the essential first step for any organization or individual wanting to receive federal contracts, grants, or other financial assistance. An active SAM registration is a mandatory requirement for receiving and maintaining federal awards.
To access the System for Award Management (SAM) click here.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
A NAICS code (North American Industry Classification System) is a standard six-digit code used by U.S., Canadian, and Mexican governments to classify businesses by their primary economic activity, helping agencies collect, analyze, and publish business statistics for economic tracking, administration, tax, and contracting purposes. It's a hierarchical system, with broader categories (like 'Manufacturing') broken down into more specific ones (like 'Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing'), allowing for detailed economic understanding and comparison across North America.
How it Works (Hierarchical Structure)
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First two digits: Broad sector (e.g., 31-33 is Manufacturing).
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Third digit: Subsector (e.g., 311 is Food Manufacturing).
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Fourth digit: Industry group (e.g., 3112 is Grain and Oilseed Milling).
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Fifth digit: Industry (e.g., 31121 is Flour Milling and Malt Manufacturing).
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Sixth digit: National industry (e.g., 311211 is Flour Milling).
Click here to search for NAICS Codes.
Small Business Administration (SBA) – Size Standards
The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small business size standards by industry (NAICS codes), using either average annual receipts (revenue) or average number of employees, varying greatly by sector (e.g., manufacturing often 500 employees, retail/wholesale has revenue caps like $16.5M for roofing), ensuring businesses aren't dominant in their field, and requiring businesses to check their specific industry's standard using the SBA Size Standards Tool.
Size standards are determined by Industry, Receipts (Revenue), or Employees. For Example:
By Industry: The key is your business's primary industry, identified by its NAICS code (North American Industry Classification System).
Receipts (Revenue): For many non-manufacturing, non-wholesale sectors, size is based on average annual receipts over the last five years, often ranging from under $1 million to over $40 million.
Employees: Manufacturing and some other industries often use an employee count, commonly 500 or fewer, but can be higher or lower depending on the specific industry.
Download the SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards here.