# Usage: curl -sSL https://seed.show/government.contracting.us | bash -s <install-path>
# <install-path> is the directory where the file should land.

set -euo pipefail
[ -z "${1:-}" ] && {
  echo "install requires a path: curl -sSL https://seed.show/government.contracting.us | bash -s <install-path>" >&2
  exit 1
}
TARGET="$1"
mkdir -p "$TARGET"
DEST="$TARGET/seed-fold.kOVuRV.folded.md"

cat > "$DEST" <<'PORTDOWN_297DBFF9'
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This is a `.folded.md` archive — a directory packed into one markdown
file. The markers below are load-bearing; don't edit them directly.

To unpack (requires bash — if you have no shell, tell the user):
  1. curl -sSLf https://fold.dom.vin/skill | bash -s <INSTALL_DIR>
  2. <INSTALL_DIR>/fold/scripts/unfold <this-file>
     (or: unfold <this-file>  if fold/scripts is on your PATH)
-->

---
fold: true
marker: 7a4b66
at: 2026-05-07T16:16:06Z
root: seed-pack.9cxUSz
---

<!--fold:7a4b66@file path="README.md" mode="644"-->
# US Federal Government Contracting — Agent Context

## What this file is and what NOT to hallucinate

This file gives you stable structural knowledge about US federal procurement. GovCon is a highly specialized, rule-dense domain with serious legal consequences for violations. The rules in this file are accurate as of their last update, but several categories change — **always verify with current FAR text and agency supplements before citing specific thresholds, dollar figures, or size standards**:

- Dollar thresholds (SAT, micro-purchase, CAS coverage, protest deadlines, subcontracting plan triggers) are updated by regulation and may shift
- Small business size standards are NAICS-specific and revised by SBA on a rolling basis
- SAM.gov registration requirements and UEI mechanics evolve
- CMMC implementation phasing, DFARS cybersecurity clauses, and CUI requirements are actively changing

**Do not fabricate FAR clause numbers, DFARS clause numbers, or protest decisions.** These are verifiable and incorrect citations cause material harm. If you do not know the clause number, say so and point to acquisition.gov.

---

## Mental model: compliance-first, not business-first

Federal procurement is a compliance-first process. The rules exist to protect the government — from waste, favoritism, fraud, and lack of competition. Violations carry serious consequences: contract termination, False Claims Act liability (treble damages), suspension and debarment, criminal prosecution. Understanding this shapes every question about strategy, pricing, and proposal writing.

The governing document is the **Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)** — Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 1–53. The FAR is the floor for all executive branch agencies. Agency supplements layer additional mandatory requirements on top of it.

| Supplement | Agency |
|------------|--------|
| DFARS | Department of Defense |
| HHSAR | HHS |
| GSAM | GSA |
| VAAR | VA |
| HSAR | DHS |
| DEARS | DOE |
| EPAAR | EPA |
| AGAR | USDA |

**Always establish the agency before analyzing clauses.** A cybersecurity clause that is mandatory under DFARS (DoD) does not apply to a civilian agency HHS contract. Never conflate the two.

---

## What agents get wrong

### 1. FAR vs. DFARS — not interchangeable, not optional

DoD contracts use **both** FAR and DFARS. DFARS supplements FAR; it does not replace it. When the two conflict, DFARS governs, but both bodies of requirements apply simultaneously.

DFARS adds requirements with no FAR equivalent:

- **Cybersecurity (CMMC/DFARS 252.204-7021):** Contractors must meet the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification level specified in the contract. Civilian agencies have no mandatory CMMC requirement. CMMC phasing is still being implemented — verify current status before advising.
- **Contractor business systems (DFARS 252.242-7005/7006):** Six systems (accounting, estimating, purchasing, MMAS, property, EVMS) with specific adequacy standards and payment withholds for deficiencies. No FAR equivalent.
- **Technical data rights (DFARS 252.227-7013/7014):** More restrictive than civilian agency technical data clauses. Government vs. contractor rights in data developed with mixed funding is a significant source of disputes.
- **DCAA audit rights:** DFARS provisions grant DCAA broader audit access than the general FAR cost accounting provisions.

Agents apply civilian agency rules to defense contractors, or layer DFARS onto civilian contracts where it does not apply. The tell: an answer about cybersecurity, business systems, or technical data that ignores DFARS on a DoD contract; or an answer that cites DFARS requirements for an HHS or GSA contract.

### 2. Small business socioeconomic categories — requirements, not just labels

The Small Business Act and FAR Part 19 create a tiered set-aside structure. These are compliance programs with certification requirements and ongoing obligations — not just marketing designations.

| Program | Administering Agency | Key Requirements |
|---------|---------------------|-----------------|
| 8(a) Business Development | SBA | SBA certification; 9-year program term; annual revenue and personal net worth limits; majority ownership and control by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals |
| HUBZone | SBA | SBA certification; principal office in HUBZone; 35% of employees in HUBZone; recertification required |
| SDVOSB | VA (CVE) / SBA | Veteran ownership 51%+; service-connected disability; veteran controls daily operations; VA contracts require VA CVE certification |
| WOSB / EDWOSB | SBA | Woman-owned 51%+; EDWOSB adds economic disadvantage test; SBA certification required (self-certification eliminated) |
| Small Business | SBA | Size standard tied to NAICS code of specific contract; not the firm's primary NAICS |

**Size standards are NAICS-code-specific.** A firm may be small under one NAICS and large under another. The applicable size standard is set by the NAICS code the contracting officer assigns to the specific contract — not the firm's primary NAICS code. Verify against SBA's current size standards table at sba.gov (see sources.md).

**Agents miss three things about set-asides:**
1. The certification requirements and ongoing compliance obligations. A firm that loses its HUBZone status mid-contract may have to notify the government and faces adverse contract actions.
2. The competitive dynamic. Set-aside contracts exclude large businesses entirely. A large business bidding on an unrestricted contract competes in a different pool than it would if the contract were set aside.
3. Sole-source thresholds. 8(a) and other programs have sole-source award thresholds (not just set-aside thresholds) that allow direct negotiation without competition. These differ from the competition thresholds.

### 3. SAM.gov registration — go/no-go condition, not a formality

**All entities doing business with the federal government must be registered in SAM.gov.** An entity without an active registration cannot receive an award. Lapsed registration after award can trigger stop-work and contract termination.

SAM.gov registration requires:
- A valid CAGE Code (assigned at registration)
- An active UEI (Unique Entity Identifier — replaced DUNS in April 2022)
- Completed Representations and Certifications (Reps & Certs): the contractor self-certifies socioeconomic status, size, and regulatory compliance
- Annual renewal — lapses are common and consequential

Agents advise on BD strategy, proposals, and pricing without mentioning SAM.gov registration status. Before any award-related advice, confirm registration is active.

### 4. Contract types and required accounting infrastructure

FAR Part 16 defines the contract type spectrum. The type determines who bears cost risk — and what accounting infrastructure the contractor must have.

| Type | Risk | When Used | Accounting Requirement |
|------|------|-----------|----------------------|
| Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP, FAR 16.2) | Contractor | Well-defined requirements, commercial items | None specific |
| Fixed-Price Incentive (FPI, FAR 16.4) | Shared | Defined requirements with cost uncertainty | DCAA-acceptable system helpful |
| Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF, FAR 16.3) | Government | R&D, uncertain requirements | DCAA-compliant accounting system required |
| Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF, FAR 16.3) | Government/shared | When contractor cost control matters | DCAA-compliant accounting system required |
| Time-and-Materials / Labor-Hour (T&M/LH, FAR 16.6) | Hybrid | Level of effort unknown | Adequate accounting system |

**Cost-reimbursement contracts require a DCAA-compliant accounting system.** A contractor without an approved system — one that segregates direct from indirect costs, allocates costs consistently with CAS, and is auditable — cannot be safely awarded a cost-plus contract. Agents recommend contract types based on requirements alone, ignoring accounting readiness. A small business without an approved accounting system pursuing a cost-plus R&D award is being set up for a compliance disaster.

**Unallowable costs under FAR 31.2** are costs the government will not reimburse on cost-type contracts. The list is specific and consequential: entertainment, alcohol, certain lobbying costs, executive compensation above the statutory cap, costs of IR&D and B&P above negotiated limits, costs of government contract fraud penalties, and others. Agents advise on cost pricing without flagging unallowable cost categories.

### 5. Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) — threshold-triggered, not automatic

The Cost Accounting Standards (48 CFR Part 9903) are 19 standards (CAS 401–420, with gaps for retired standards) that prescribe how contractors must measure, assign, and allocate costs. They are not GAAP. CAS coverage triggers at specific dollar thresholds — verify current thresholds with the CAS Board text at acquisition.gov:

- **Full CAS coverage:** Large single award or cumulative CAS-covered awards exceeding the full-coverage threshold (historically $50M — verify current)
- **Modified CAS coverage:** Awards between the modified and full thresholds (historically $2M–$50M — verify current); only CAS 401, 402, 405, and 406 apply
- **CAS-exempt:** Contracts below the modified threshold; fixed-price commercial item contracts (FAR 12); contracts with small businesses; T&M and L-H contracts below threshold

CAS requires contractors to file a **Disclosure Statement (Form CASB DS-1)** documenting cost accounting practices, then follow those practices consistently. Changing a disclosed practice requires advance notification and may trigger retroactive cost impact negotiations.

**Agents advise on pricing for large programs without flagging CAS.** A contractor winning its first large cost-plus contract may face unexpected CAS compliance obligations — Disclosure Statement filing, retroactive cost impact calculations, DCAA audits of accounting practices — that were not budgeted.

### 6. Price vs. cost analysis — distinct legal requirements

- **Price analysis (FAR 15.404-1(b)):** Comparing offered price to competitive prices, historical prices, or independent government estimates. Used when price competition exists.
- **Cost analysis (FAR 15.404-1(c)):** Evaluating the reasonableness of each cost element in a cost proposal. Required when certified cost or pricing data is required.
- **Certified cost or pricing data (Truth in Negotiations Act / TINA):** Required for negotiated contracts over $2M (verify current threshold) unless an exception applies (commercial items, adequate price competition, catalog pricing). The contractor certifies accuracy of data at the time of agreement — if the data was inaccurate, the government has the right to a price reduction (defective pricing).

Agents conflate price analysis and cost analysis, or advise on proposal pricing without mentioning TINA applicability.

### 7. Protest procedures — deadlines are jurisdictional

| Forum | Filing Window | Decision Timeline |
|-------|--------------|-------------------|
| Agency-level | Typically 10 days after basis of protest is known | Agency discretion |
| GAO | 10 days after award, or 10 days after debriefing if timely debriefing was requested | 100 days (expedited: 65 days) |
| COFC (US Court of Federal Claims) | No strict statutory deadline, but equitable doctrines apply | Varies |

GAO protests trigger an **automatic stay** of contract performance unless the agency overrides for urgent and compelling reasons (written override required). COFC has no automatic stay but can issue injunctions. **Missing the 10-day GAO deadline is jurisdictional — the protest will be dismissed.** Agents give protest advice without mentioning filing deadlines.

---

## Key stable facts (verify thresholds before citing)

**FAR structure:** Parts 1–53. Part 15 = negotiated procurement. Part 12 = commercial items. Part 13 = simplified acquisition. Part 16 = contract types. Part 19 = small business. Part 31 = cost principles. Part 52 = contract clauses.

**Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT):** $250,000 (verify — updated by NDAA). Below SAT: FAR Part 13 applies; fewer competition requirements, streamlined documentation. Above SAT: full competition procedures unless a sole-source J&A is approved.

**Micro-Purchase Threshold:** $10,000 (verify). Below: purchase card, no competition required. Different for construction ($2,000) and overseas acquisitions.

**Subcontracting plans (FAR 19.7):** Required for contracts over $750,000 ($1.5M for construction) awarded to **large businesses**. Small businesses are exempt. Plans must include goals for small, SDB, WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone subcontracting.

**Written acquisition plan:** Generally required for acquisitions over $25M and for all IT acquisitions (agency policies often set lower thresholds).

**Competition requirements:** Full and open competition is the default (FAR Part 6). Sole-source awards require written Justification and Approval (J&A) documenting the exception to competition (FAR 6.302). The exceptions are specific and limited — unique qualifications, national security, urgency, follow-on for compatibility.

**Debriefing rights (FAR 15.505/15.506):** Unsuccessful offerors on competitive negotiated procurements are entitled to a debriefing. For competitive range exclusions: pre-award debriefing. For award without discussion: post-award debriefing. Requesting a timely debriefing extends the GAO protest window.

**Past performance (FAR 15.305(a)(2)):** A standard evaluation factor for negotiated acquisitions. Evaluated separately from technical approach. A firm with no past performance receives a "neutral" rating — neither good nor bad — not a disqualifying rating. Agents often miss this.

---

## What AI is changing in government procurement

**Automated source selection support:** AI tools are being used to evaluate proposals against evaluation criteria, flag inconsistencies in technical volumes, and score past performance submissions. GSA and DoD have both piloted AI-assisted source selection. The **Source Selection Authority (SSA)** — the human official responsible for the award decision — remains legally required; AI cannot be the SSA. GAO has not yet ruled directly on AI-assisted evaluations, but the underlying reasonableness standard (FAR 15.308) still applies.

**Contract management and compliance monitoring:** AI tools monitor contract performance, flag milestone deviations, and scan invoices for unallowable cost patterns. DCAA is piloting AI-assisted incurred cost audits. The legal effect of AI-flagged findings remains the auditor's professional judgment — AI findings do not independently trigger contract actions.

**Fraud detection:** The DoD Inspector General and DOJ Civil Division use AI to detect bid-rigging patterns, collusion signals in pricing, and False Claims Act violations. This is an area of active investment.

**GSA's AI procurement policy:** GSA has issued guidance on AI acquisition — including requirements that agencies consider AI fairness, explainability, and auditability in AI procurements. The FAR Council has published proposed rules on AI and emerging technology acquisition. These rules are evolving — check the Federal Register for current status.

**What stays human:** Source Selection Authority decisions. Protest adjudication (GAO Board of Contract Appeals, COFC). Debarment and suspension decisions. Termination for default decisions. These require human accountability and cannot be delegated to an automated system.

**ITAR and AI:** International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 CFR Parts 120–130) apply to defense articles and services on the US Munitions List. Exporting ITAR-controlled technical data to AI systems hosted outside the US, or processed by foreign nationals, can constitute an unauthorized export. AI tools used on ITAR-controlled programs require careful review of data residency and access controls.
<!--fold:7a4b66@file path="glossary.md" mode="644"-->
# Glossary — US Federal Government Contracting

Key terms. Definitions are stable structural concepts; dollar thresholds and regulatory citations should be verified against current FAR text and agency supplements.

---

**8(a) Business Development Program**
SBA-administered program providing contracting opportunities to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Certified 8(a) firms are eligible for set-aside and sole-source awards within dollar thresholds. The program is a 9-year term; firms graduate at the end and can no longer compete as 8(a). Certification is through certify.sba.gov.

**B&P (Bid and Proposal Costs)**
Costs incurred in preparing, submitting, and supporting bids and proposals. Allowable under FAR 31.205-18, subject to limitations. Not directly chargeable to a specific contract — pooled in overhead or G&A and allocated indirectly.

**Best Value**
A source selection approach where the government considers both price/cost and non-price factors (technical approach, past performance, management) to make an award decision. Contrasts with LPTA. The SSA has discretion to award to a higher-priced offeror if the tradeoff is documented and rational.

**CAGE Code (Commercial and Government Entity Code)**
A 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to each entity that does business with the federal government. Assigned at SAM.gov registration. Required on all contract awards, invoices, and subcontract flow-downs. Different from the UEI.

**CAS (Cost Accounting Standards)**
Nineteen standards (48 CFR Part 9903) issued by the CAS Board prescribing how contractors must measure, assign, and allocate costs on covered contracts. Not the same as GAAP. Triggered by contract size thresholds. Key standards: CAS 401 (consistency in estimating), CAS 402 (consistency in accumulating and reporting), CAS 403 (allocation of home office expenses), CAS 405 (accounting for unallowable costs), CAS 406 (cost accounting period), CAS 410 (G&A allocation), CAS 418 (allocation of direct and indirect costs).

**CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System)**
The federal government's system for recording contractor past performance. Contracting officers enter assessments after contract completion (and at interim points on longer contracts). Contractors can review and respond. CPARS ratings feed into PPIRS (Past Performance Information Retrieval System) and are a primary source for past performance evaluations on future proposals.

**CPSR (Contractor Purchasing System Review)**
A DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency) review of a contractor's purchasing system — the policies and procedures used to manage subcontracts. Required for contractors with DoD prime contracts above applicable thresholds with significant subcontracting. A deficient purchasing system can result in payment withholds under DFARS 252.242-7006.

**DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency)**
DoD agency that audits contractor accounting systems, cost proposals, and incurred cost submissions. DCAA has no authority to demand cost reductions — it issues audit reports with findings and recommendations; the contracting officer acts on them. DCAA audits contractor accounting systems for "adequacy" — a system deemed inadequate blocks cost-type contract awards.

**DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency)**
DoD agency that manages active contracts — monitoring contractor performance, approving contractor purchasing systems, overseeing deliverables, and administering contract actions (modifications, stop-work orders). Separate from DCAA. DCMA is the contracting officer's representative in the field.

**DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)**
The DoD-specific supplement to the FAR. Applies to all DoD contracts — prime and subcontracts. Does not replace FAR; adds to it. DFARS clauses are numbered 252.2XX-7YYY. Covers cybersecurity (CMMC), contractor business systems, technical data rights, and other defense-specific requirements.

**Disclosure Statement (CASB DS-1)**
A formal document filed with the cognizant federal agency (CFA) describing a contractor's cost accounting practices. Required for contractors subject to full or modified CAS coverage. Contractors must follow their disclosed practices consistently; changes require advance notification and may trigger cost impact negotiations.

**EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business)**
A subset of WOSB with an additional economic disadvantage threshold test (adjusted net worth, income, and assets). EDWOSB firms are eligible for set-asides in industries where women are substantially underrepresented, as designated by SBA.

**FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)**
The primary regulation governing federal procurement. Title 48 CFR, Parts 1–53. Applies to all executive branch agencies. The floor for all federal contracting — agency supplements add requirements on top of it. Maintained jointly by DoD, GSA, and NASA.

**FFP (Firm-Fixed-Price)**
A contract type (FAR 16.202) where the price is set at award and does not adjust for the contractor's actual costs. The contractor bears full cost risk. Preferred for well-defined requirements and commercial acquisitions (FAR Part 12 contracts are almost always FFP).

**Fringe / Overhead / G&A (Indirect Cost Pools)**
The three standard indirect cost pools in government cost accounting:
- **Fringe:** Employee benefits (payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement, PTO) allocated to direct and indirect labor as a percentage of labor dollars.
- **Overhead:** Indirect costs that benefit a specific department or contract type (facility costs, indirect labor supporting direct projects). Allocated to direct costs within the pool's base.
- **G&A (General and Administrative):** Business-wide costs (executive management, legal, finance, business development) that benefit the company as a whole. Allocated to total cost input or cost of sales. G&A is applied last.

**HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone)**
SBA-certified program for small businesses with their principal office in a designated HUBZone and at least 35% of employees residing in a HUBZone. HUBZone firms receive price evaluation preferences on unrestricted contracts and are eligible for set-asides and sole-source awards. Certified through certify.sba.gov. Requires recertification.

**ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)**
22 CFR Parts 120–130, administered by the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Controls export of defense articles and services on the US Munitions List. An unauthorized export (including deemed exports to foreign nationals in the US, or disclosure of controlled data to foreign persons) carries criminal penalties. Contractors handling ITAR-controlled technical data must control access — including access by AI tools with foreign data residency or foreign national users.

**J&A (Justification and Approval)**
Written document required to justify a sole-source award or other exception to full and open competition (FAR Part 6). Must document the specific statutory exception being invoked, the market research conducted, and why competition is not practicable. Approved by specified officials depending on contract value. Large sole-source J&As (above certain thresholds) must be posted publicly.

**LPTA (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable)**
A source selection approach where award goes to the lowest-priced offeror that meets the minimum technical requirements. No tradeoff between price and technical factors. Contrasts with best value. Appropriate when requirements are well-defined and risk of performance failure is low. NDAA provisions have restricted LPTA use in certain acquisitions (professional services, IT).

**NAICS Code (North American Industry Classification System)**
The industry classification system used to categorize businesses and contracts. The contracting officer assigns a NAICS code to each procurement — this determines the applicable small business size standard. A firm's primary NAICS is not controlling; what matters is the NAICS assigned to the specific contract.

**Past Performance**
A standard evaluation factor for negotiated acquisitions (FAR 15.305(a)(2)). Assessed based on CPARS records, references, and the relevance of prior work to the current requirement. A firm with no relevant past performance receives a "neutral" rating (neither favorable nor unfavorable) — not a disqualification. Agents frequently miss this and advise firms with limited history that they cannot compete.

**PPB (Program/Project Baseline)**
An approved reference point for scope, schedule, and cost against which performance is measured — often the basis for EVMS (Earned Value Management System) reporting on large DoD contracts.

**SAM.gov (System for Award Management)**
The mandatory registration portal for all entities doing business with the federal government. Replaces the old DUNS number system with the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier). Contractors register here, maintain Reps & Certs (including socioeconomic certifications), and renew annually. An inactive SAM.gov registration is a go/no-go condition — awards cannot be made to an inactive registrant.

**SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)**
Small business majority-owned (51%+) by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability, who control daily operations. For VA contracts, CVE (Center for Verification and Evaluation) certification is required through SBA. Eligible for set-asides and sole-source awards within thresholds.

**Source Selection Authority (SSA)**
The human official designated to make the final source selection decision on a competitive negotiated acquisition. The SSA reviews the Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) findings and makes an independent, documented best-value tradeoff determination. The SSA cannot delegate this decision to an automated system.

**T&M / LH (Time-and-Materials / Labor-Hour)**
Contract types (FAR 16.601/16.602) used when the level of effort is not known in advance. T&M: the government pays a fixed hourly labor rate plus materials at cost with no markup. LH: same but no materials. These are high-risk contract types — the contractor has no cost incentive to control costs. FAR requires T&M/LH contracts to include a ceiling price.

**Technical Evaluation Factors**
The non-price criteria used to evaluate proposals in competitive negotiated acquisitions. Common factors: technical approach, management approach, past performance, staffing. The solicitation (RFP) must specify the evaluation factors and their relative importance. Proposals are evaluated solely on stated factors — the government cannot evaluate on unstated criteria.

**UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)**
The 12-character alphanumeric identifier that replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. Assigned by SAM.gov at registration. Required on all contract awards and federal financial transactions.

**Unallowable Cost**
A cost that the government will not reimburse on a cost-type contract (FAR 31.201-2 and 31.205). Key categories: entertainment and alcohol, certain advertising costs, certain IR&D above agreed amounts, lobbying and political costs, executive compensation above the statutory cap, costs of government contract fraud penalties, fines and penalties, legal costs for certain claims against the government. Contractors must segregate unallowable costs in their accounting systems (required under CAS 405). Including unallowable costs in a cost proposal or invoice can constitute a False Claims Act violation.

**WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business)**
Small business majority-owned (51%+) and controlled by women who are US citizens. Eligible for set-asides in industries where women are substantially underrepresented. Certified through certify.sba.gov (self-certification eliminated). A subset — EDWOSB — requires additional economic disadvantage criteria.
<!--fold:7a4b66@file path="sources.md" mode="644"-->
# Sources — US Federal Government Contracting

These sources are authoritative. When in doubt about a threshold, clause number, or size standard, go to the source — do not rely on memory or secondary summaries.

## FAR: Federal Acquisition Regulation — full text
https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

Title 48 CFR, Parts 1–53. Browse by part or search by clause number. Clause numbers: FAR 52.2XX-YY. Part structure: Part 15 (negotiated procurement), Part 12 (commercial items), Part 13 (simplified acquisition), Part 16 (contract types), Part 19 (small business), Part 31 (cost principles), Part 52 (clauses). Always reference the FAR text directly rather than secondary summaries.

## DFARS: Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — full text
https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/dfars

Full text of the DFARS on acquisition.gov. Supplements FAR for all DoD procurements — does not replace it. DFARS clauses: 252.2XX-7YYY. Read alongside FAR. Key DFARS sections: Part 204 (administrative matters, CMMC), Part 215 (contracting by negotiation), Part 242 (contractor business systems), Part 252 (clauses).

## SAM.gov: System for Award Management — registration portal
https://sam.gov/

Mandatory registration portal for all entities doing business with the federal government. Register, renew annually, maintain Reps & Certs. Also used to search contract opportunities (replaced FedBizOpps), search existing registrants by CAGE code or UEI, and verify entity active status before award or subcontracting decisions.

## SBA: Small business size standards by NAICS code
https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards

SBA's current table of small business size standards by NAICS code. Size standards are expressed as employee count or average annual revenue depending on industry. Authoritative for determining whether a firm qualifies as small for a specific contract. The applicable NAICS code is assigned per-contract by the contracting officer — verify against the solicitation, not the firm's primary NAICS.

## SBA: Small business certification programs
https://certify.sba.gov/

Portal for 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB certification. Verify certification status here. Certifications have expiration dates and compliance obligations — active status must be confirmed, not assumed.

## GAO: Bid protest decisions database
https://www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests/search

Searchable database of GAO bid protest decisions (B-XXXXXX.X format). GAO decisions are not binding precedent but are highly influential — agencies follow them in practice. Useful for researching protest grounds, understanding GAO's interpretation of specific FAR clauses, and identifying agency-specific patterns. Decision text is available at no cost.

## DCAA: Contract Audit Manual
https://www.dcaa.mil/guidance/cam/

DCAA's internal guidance that auditors use when auditing contractor accounting systems, incurred costs, and proposals. Authoritative for understanding what DCAA will examine in a business systems audit, incurred cost submission review, or forward pricing audit. The CAM chapters map to contractor risk areas.

## CAS Board: Cost Accounting Standards — full text
https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-9903

Full text of the Cost Accounting Standards (48 CFR Part 9903). Includes all 19 active standards (CAS 401–420, with gaps for retired standards), coverage rules, Disclosure Statement requirements, and cost impact provisions. Current coverage thresholds are in Part 9903.201.

## USASpending.gov: Federal contract awards database
https://www.usaspending.gov/

Public database of federal contract awards, grants, and spending. Search by agency, NAICS code, contractor, award amount, set-aside type, and contract type. Use for market research: identifying incumbent contractors, understanding agency spend patterns in a product/service area, and identifying contract vehicles in use. Data is typically 30–90 days behind real-time awards.

## Federal Register: Proposed and final acquisition rules
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-acquisition-regulation

FAR changes are published in the Federal Register before codification. Search here for pending FAR and DFARS rule changes, AI acquisition policy, CMMC implementation updates, and threshold adjustments. Use to verify whether a regulation is proposed, interim, or final.

## FPDS-NG: Federal Procurement Data System — contract data
https://www.fpds.gov/

The government's primary contract data reporting system (the backend that feeds USASpending.gov). Useful for more granular contract-level data, including the contracting officer's name, place of performance, and modification history. Data is available for download.

## Acquisition.gov: One-stop for FAR, DFARS, and agency supplements
https://www.acquisition.gov/

Central access point for FAR, DFARS, and most civilian agency supplements (GSAM, HHSAR, VAAR, etc.). Also hosts the CAS Board standards, FAR forms, and the eCFR integration.
<!--fold:7a4b66@end-->
PORTDOWN_297DBFF9

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  current { print >> current }
' "$DEST"
SEED_EXTRACTED=$(find "$TARGET" -type f -not -path "$DEST" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
if [ "$SEED_EXTRACTED" = "0" ]; then
  echo "seed: archive contained no files — refusing to delete the source" >&2
  echo "  archive preserved at: $DEST" >&2
  exit 1
fi
rm -f "$DEST"

echo "" >&2
echo "✓ seed unpacked → $TARGET ($SEED_EXTRACTED files)" >&2
find "$TARGET" -type f | sort | while IFS= read -r _sf; do
  echo "  ${_sf#${TARGET}/}" >&2
done
echo "" >&2
if [ -f "$TARGET/SKILL.md" ]; then
  echo "This seed contains a skill (SKILL.md). Install it in your agent's skills directory." >&2
  echo "" >&2
fi
echo "Install the seed skill if not already installed:" >&2
echo "  https://seed.show/skill" >&2
echo "" >&2
echo "Publisher prompt:" >&2
sed 's/^/  /' >&2 <<'__SEED_PROMPT_END_AC1F2B__'
You have the US federal contracting context. Read README.md first — it tells you what NOT to hallucinate and where agents typically fail. Establish the agency and contract type before any FAR analysis; ask if not stated. SAM.gov registration is a go/no-go condition, not a formality. Fetch sources.md for authoritative links to current FAR/DFARS text, size standards, and protest decisions. Glossary.md has key GovCon terms if definitions are needed. Then ask what contracting question to work through.
__SEED_PROMPT_END_AC1F2B__
exit 0