Government Contracting Guides for DLA and SAM.gov Parts Suppliers
Practical guides for small-business federal research.
How to use these guides
These guides are for small machine shops, fabricators and distributors that want to sell parts to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and other federal buyers.
Most DLA spare-parts buys are posted as requests for quotations (RFQs) on DIBBS, the DLA Internet Bid Board System.
Getting started and using AI
- Federal contracting opportunities — where notices are posted on SAM.gov, DIBBS and GSA eBuy, and how a small supplier finds ones it can quote.
- How to find government contracts to bid on — SAM.gov, DIBBS, SubNet, award history and alerts, step by step.
- How to use AI to read a solicitation or RFQ — the 10 questions to ask and how to check the answers.
- Government contracting software for small businesses — the main types and what to look for.
Which guide should I start with?
Start here
- What is DIBBS? — A first-week guide for new DLA suppliers.
- How to bid on DIBBS — Register, find RFQs by NSN, research, quote on DIBBS.
- Search SAM.gov contract opportunities — Filters, saved searches and email alerts.
Research
- Search DIBBS by NSN — NSN vs NIIN, DIBBS search steps, award search.
- Research an NSN before you bid — Packaging, delivery and document checks.
- NSN lookup — Free and official ways to look up an NSN or part number.
- CAGE code lookup — Look up any company's CAGE and get your own.
Compare
- DIBBS vs SAM.gov — Which board parts suppliers should watch.
Decoders
- AMSC decoder — Read the letter next to the NSN before you quote.
- Set-aside codes — Who is allowed to bid. FedOpp shows the code on every row.
- Packaging code decoder — MIL-STD-2073 codes. This page already exists, so the guides link it instead of copying it.
Quote and read
- How to quote on DIBBS — Build the batch file in FedOpp, then upload it on DIBBS yourself.
- How to read a SAM.gov notice — Type, set-aside, NAICS and the response date.
Questions small shops ask
What is AMSC G on a DIBBS RFQ?
AMSC G means the data package is complete and the part can be fully competed.
How do I upload a DIBBS batch quote file?
Build the file in FedOpp, then upload it on DIBBS yourself.
What does FOB Destination mean on a DLA RFQ?
You pay freight and carry the risk until the shipment arrives.
What is the difference between an NSN and a NIIN?
An NSN is 13 digits. The last nine are the NIIN.
What is a CAGE code, and do I need one for DIBBS?
A CAGE is the five-character ID from SAM.gov. DIBBS quotes need one.
What does first article testing (FAT) mean?
You deliver sample units for approval before the production quantity.
What do the MIL-STD-2073 packaging codes mean?
They are the PKGING DATA codes for how a DLA item must be packed.
Can FedOpp tell me which RFQs fit my shop?
Yes. Each notice is marked Pursue, Review, Skip, or Incomplete.