Resources

The VisibleThread Glossary

Key terms and definitions for getting the most from VisibleThread.

Addendum (Commercial)

Buyer-issued changes or clarifications commonly used in commercial solicitations and construction.

Amendment (Solicitation)

A formal change to a solicitation that must be acknowledged by offerors to remain compliant.

BAFO (Best and Final Offer)

Legacy term similar to FPR; the offeror’s last chance to revise price and terms.

Best Value Tradeoff

Evaluation method allowing the buyer to trade higher price for superior non-price factors.

Bid/No-Bid Decision

Structured go/no-go determination based on fit, competitiveness, profitability, and risk.

BPA (Blanket Purchase Agreement)

A simplified method to fill recurring needs by establishing charge accounts with qualified sources.

Clarification Questions (Q&A)

Formal vendor questions submitted to resolve ambiguities or conflicts in the solicitation.

Clarifications vs. Discussions

Clarifications resolve minor issues; discussions address deficiencies and allow proposal revisions.

Competitive Range

Subset of proposals selected for discussions based on initial ratings and likelihood of award.

Contract Vehicle

A pre-competed mechanism (e.g., IDIQ, BPA, GWAC) through which agencies place orders.

CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System)

Official government system capturing past performance ratings on federal contracts.

Debriefing

Post-award explanation of evaluation results to offerors, used for learning and protest decisions.

Delivery Order

An order for supplies placed against an existing contract vehicle.

Draft RFP (DRFP)

Preliminary version of an RFP released for industry feedback before final issuance.

DUNS (Legacy)

Legacy Dun & Bradstreet identifier historically used for federal procurement; replaced by UEI.

Evaluation Criteria (Section M)

Standards and factors used by the buyer to assess proposals and make award decisions.

Final Proposal Revision (FPR)

The offeror’s revised submission after discussions, superseding previous proposal versions.

GSA Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule)

Pre-negotiated contract program enabling agencies to buy commercial products and services quickly.

GWAC (Governmentwide Acquisition Contract)

A multiple-award IDIQ for IT solutions used across the federal government.

Incumbent Advantage

Benefit held by the current contractor due to existing knowledge, systems, and relationships.

Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

A contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period.

LPTA (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable)

Evaluation method where the lowest-priced offer meeting minimum technical requirements wins.

Management Volume

Proposal section describing organization, staffing, governance, quality, risk, and communication plans.

Market Research (FAR Part 10)

Systematic process for understanding available products, services, and industry capabilities.

NAICS Code

Industry classification used to determine small business size standards and market segments.

NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)

Confidentiality agreement protecting sensitive information shared during capture and proposal phases.

Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ)

Customer-completed survey confirming performance quality and relevance for prior contracts.

Past Performance Volume

Proposal section showing relevant, recent contract results and customer satisfaction evidence.

Pre-Proposal Conference

Buyer-led meeting (often with site visit) to brief vendors and address questions before proposals are due.

Price/Cost Volume

Proposal section detailing pricing, basis of estimate, and cost realism as required by the solicitation.

Proposal

A vendor’s formal offer responding to a solicitation’s requirements and evaluation factors.

Protest (GAO)

A legal challenge to the terms of a solicitation or to the award decision.

PWS (Performance Work Statement)

Outcome-based scope that specifies results and performance standards rather than prescriptive tasks.

RFI (Request for Information)

Market research tool used to gather non-binding information from potential suppliers before a solicitation.

RFP (Request for Proposal)

Formal solicitation inviting vendors to propose solutions and pricing for a defined need.

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

Solicitation for price quotes where requirements are well-defined and price dominates the decision.

SAM.gov Registration (UEI)

Mandatory vendor registration in the federal System for Award Management with a Unique Entity Identifier.

Section L (Instructions to Offerors)

Binding proposal instructions covering format, organization, page limits, and submission requirements.

Section M (Evaluation Factors for Award)

Defines factors, subfactors, and relative importance used to rate proposals.

Set-Aside (Small Business)

Procurement reserved for eligible small businesses under SBA programs.

Solicitation

The formal notice and package (RFP/RFQ) through which a buyer requests offers from vendors.

SOO (Statement of Objectives)

High-level objectives that allow offerors to propose innovative methods and detailed work statements.

Sources Sought Notice

Agency notice to assess vendor interest, capabilities, and set-aside suitability before an RFP.

SOW (Statement of Work)

Contractual description of the work to be performed, deliverables, standards, and acceptance criteria.

Subcontract

Agreement under a prime contract where part of the work is performed by another company.

Task Order

An order for services placed against an existing contract vehicle such as an IDIQ.

Teaming Agreement

Pre-award contract between companies defining roles for a joint pursuit.

Technical Volume

Proposal section explaining the technical approach, architecture, methods, and performance outcomes.

UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)

Government-wide identifier that replaced DUNS for entity identification in federal awards.

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