Government Contracting Guides
Plain-language guidance for contractors learning how public procurement works, how to prepare a compliant response, and which requirements to verify before bidding.
Getting started
Public procurement basics
Learn how public agencies buy construction, supplies, and services—and what contractors should expect before pursuing a government opportunity.
Read the guide →How to bid
A practical step-by-step guide to finding, qualifying, preparing, and submitting a response to a public contracting opportunity.
Read the guide →IFB vs. RFP vs. RFQ
Understand common public solicitation types and how your response strategy should change for an IFB, RFP, or RFQ.
Read the guide →Registration vs. certification
Learn why registering as a government vendor is different from obtaining a contracting certification, license, or prequalification.
Read the guide →Government subcontracting
Learn how subcontractors participate in public projects, approach prime contractors, and review flow-down and payment requirements.
Read the guide →COMMBUYS vendor registration
How to create a free COMMBUYS vendor account, choose UNSPSC commodity codes, set bid-notification emails, and keep the account active for Massachusetts state solicitations.
Read the guide →CTsource registration
How Connecticut’s CTsource State Contracting Portal works — what the Bid Board and Contract Board show without an account, and what supplier registration unlocks for responding to state solicitations.
Read the guide →Preparing a response
Bid submission checklist
A practical pre-submission checklist for public bids, proposals, and quotes—from addenda and pricing to signatures and delivery proof.
Read the guide →Why bids get rejected
Review common public-bid failure points involving deadlines, signatures, addenda, security, pricing, forms, and bidder qualifications.
Read the guide →Reading a bid package
A contractor-focused method for reviewing solicitation instructions, scope, specifications, drawings, forms, contract clauses, and addenda.
Read the guide →Managing addenda
Learn how solicitation amendments can change scope, pricing, forms, and deadlines—and how to control them before submitting a bid.
Read the guide →Compliance and requirements
Certifications explained
Learn the difference between vendor registration, licensing, bonding, and government contracting certifications—and where to start.
Read the guide →Prevailing wage basics
A plain-language introduction to wage determinations, fringe benefits, worker classifications, and certified payroll on public construction.
Read the guide →Contract bonds explained
Understand what bid, performance, and payment bonds protect, when public buyers may require them, and how contractors can prepare.
Read the guide →Certified payroll basics
Learn what certified payroll records contain, when weekly submissions may apply, and how contractors can prepare their payroll process.
Read the guide →DCAMM certification
When DCAMM contractor certification is required for Massachusetts public building projects, how the category-based annual certification works, and what it does not cover.
Read the guide →New England prevailing wage
State-by-state thresholds and rules for prevailing wage on public construction in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine — plus how federal Davis-Bacon fits in.
Read the guide →After submission
Ready to look at real opportunities?
Browse Live Bids to see the current public inventory — no account required — or visit the New England government bids hub to see what ProcurAlerts monitors in each state: