Course 3
Solicitation Reading Deep Dive
Teaches users how to analyze the full solicitation package before deciding whether to bid, write, price, or ask questions.
What This Course Helps You Do
- Separate requirement, submission, evaluation, pricing, clauses, attachments, and risk.
- Use Sections A-M or equivalent formats.
- Track amendments, Q&A, deadlines, and submission rules.
- Build solicitation analysis tools before writing.
Templates
Module 1Solicitation Mindset
2 lessons
Lesson 1
The Solicitation Is the Rulebook
A solicitation is the government's buying instruction package. It tells the contractor what is being bought, what must be submitted, how offers will be evaluated, what clauses apply, and what risks may become contract obligations.
Lesson 2
The Three Core Questions
Every solicitation should answer: what does the government want, what must the contractor submit, and how will the government evaluate? Build separate lists for requirement, submission, evaluation, and risk.
Module 2Notice Type and Stage
2 lessons
Lesson 1
Notice Type
Identify whether the notice is Sources Sought, RFI, presolicitation, RFQ, RFP, IFB, combined synopsis/solicitation, award notice, or modification. The notice type controls the correct action.
Lesson 2
Acquisition Stage
Early-stage notices call for positioning and research. Active solicitations require bid/no-bid, questions, proposal, and submission. Award notices support market intelligence and recompete tracking.
Module 3File Inventory and Version Control
2 lessons
Lesson 1
File Inventory
List every document: main solicitation, PWS/SOW, pricing sheet, wage determination, QASP, drawings, forms, amendments, Q&A, and site visit notes. Identify what each file affects and whether action is required.
Lesson 2
Version Control
Track amendments and replaced attachments. Whenever an amendment is posted, update the file inventory, compliance matrix, pricing model, proposal schedule, and acknowledgment requirements.
Module 4Sections A-M
2 lessons
Lesson 1
Uniform Contract Format
Sections A through M organize many negotiated procurements. Section B affects pricing, Section C/PWS/SOW affects performance, Section H can hide special risk, Section I contains clauses, Section J lists attachments, Section L gives instructions, and Section M gives evaluation factors.
Lesson 2
Section L and M
Section L tells how to submit the proposal; Section M tells how it will be evaluated. Highlight commands like submit, provide, include, describe, demonstrate, sign, and acknowledge.
Module 5Pricing, Amendments, Deadlines, and Risk
4 lessons
Lesson 1
Pricing Instructions
Pricing rules may be scattered across Section B, Section L, Section M, pricing attachments, wage determinations, amendments, and Q&A. Identify contract type, CLINs, quantities, units, options, spreadsheets, and total evaluated price.
Lesson 2
Amendments and Q&A
Amendments formally change the solicitation, while Q&A may clarify scope, pricing, and submission. Review every answer for price, technical, schedule, and risk impact.
Lesson 3
Deadlines and Submission
Capture due date, time, time zone, question deadline, site visit, submission portal/email, file names, page limits, and receipt proof. Build internal deadlines earlier than government deadlines.
Lesson 4
Risk Scanning
Identify hard stops and cautions: set-aside mismatch, vehicle required, missed site visit, wage/cyber/security issues, vague scope, incumbent advantage, aggressive transition, and cash-flow burden.
Final Exercise
- Pick a solicitation.
- Inventory files.
- Build requirement, submission, evaluation, pricing, risk, and question lists.
- Make a bid/no-bid recommendation.
Final Takeaway
A beginner reacts to the title. A serious contractor analyzes the package.