Ten yes/no questions built for post-acquisition business owners. Your score is instant and free. The prioritized action plan — your top three gaps and how to close them — takes 30 seconds and an email address.
Is your business registered in SAM.gov with an active UEI?
Have you confirmed that federal agencies spend money in your NAICS codes (via USASpending.gov)?
Has the government been formally notified of your ownership change (or novation filed for any active contracts)?
Do you have a working capital source arranged for the 90–180 day gap between contract award and first payment?
Have you reviewed your SBA loan covenants for any government contracting restrictions?
Have you read the Termination for Convenience clause (FAR 52.249-2) in any solicitation you are considering?
Do you have documentable past performance citations available (your own or novated from the seller)?
Have you checked your eligibility for set-aside certifications (SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, or 8(a))?
Is your bonding capacity confirmed (or confirmed unnecessary) for the contracts you plan to bid?
Do you have 3 years of financial statements and tax returns ready for agency and lender review?
The score measures ten factors that determine whether a post-acquisition business owner is prepared to bid on and win federal government contracts. Each factor maps to a specific gap that commonly prevents first-time government contractors from winning, receiving payment, or maintaining compliance. The score is not a legal or regulatory certification — it is a structured self-assessment to identify your highest-priority actions.
SAM.gov is the System for Award Management — the federal government's official vendor database. Any business that wants to receive a federal contract must be registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Registration is free, takes 7–10 business days, and must be renewed annually. Without an active registration, your business cannot be awarded a federal contract regardless of how strong your proposal is.
Possibly, but not automatically. Past performance is tied to entity identifiers (UEI and CAGE code). In a stock purchase, those identifiers may transfer with the legal entity. In an asset purchase, they typically do not — you get a new UEI and must negotiate a novation agreement that explicitly transfers past performance citations. Even in a stock purchase, the government must be notified of the ownership change.
The SBA Working Capital Pilot (WCP) is a revolving credit line specifically designed for the gap between when you start work on a government contract and when you receive the first payment. For a buyer carrying SBA acquisition debt, this gap — typically 90–180 days — creates a real risk of missing loan payments. The WCP is the most cost-effective bridge instrument for this scenario, but it requires a pre-existing SBA lender relationship. Checking your readiness for it before you win a contract is why it appears in this assessment.
Set-aside certifications allow businesses that qualify — veteran-owned (SDVOSB), woman-owned (WOSB), located in historically underutilized areas (HUBZone), or socially disadvantaged (8(a)) — to compete for contracts reserved exclusively for that group. The value depends on your timeline: SDVOSB and WOSB are faster to obtain and have large set-aside pools. 8(a) certification takes 12–18 months to approve and has a 9-year term limit. For a buyer who closed 6 months ago and needs revenue in 12 months, SDVOSB or WOSB is the rational first choice if eligible.
FAR 52.249-2 (Termination for Convenience of the Government) allows the federal government to cancel a contract for any reason, with 10 days' written notice. The contractor is entitled to costs incurred plus a reasonable profit on work completed, but is not entitled to lost profits on uncompleted work. For a buyer carrying SBA acquisition debt, a mid-contract termination can create an immediate cash flow crisis if the working capital plan assumed the full contract would pay out.