GovIntel Blog

Insights, guides, and the story behind building a better way to find federal contracts.

Certification Guide

How to Get 8(a) Certified in 2026: The Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about SBA 8(a) certification in 2026—including the major changes under the new race-neutral guidance, eligibility requirements, required documents, and step-by-step application instructions.

February 2026 14 min read Read more →
Certification Guide

HUBZone Certification Guide for Small Businesses (2026)

How to get HUBZone certified, the 35% employee residency rule, how to check if your business is in a HUBZone, and why this is one of the least competitive set-aside categories in federal contracting.

February 2026 12 min read Read more →
Certification Guide

SDVOSB Certification Guide: How to Get Certified in 2026

The complete guide to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification. VetCert process, eligibility requirements, the new 5% federal spending goal, and 12-day processing times.

February 2026 11 min read Read more →
Guide

GSA Schedule Guide for Small Businesses: How to Get on Schedule in 2026

How to get a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract. Application process, Startup Springboard for newer companies, SIN categories, pricing requirements, and what to expect after award.

February 2026 13 min read Read more →
Guide

How to Find State Government Contracts for Your Small Business

State governments spend over $2 trillion a year and most small businesses only look at SAM.gov. Here's how to find the other half of the market—and why the competition is thinner than you think.

February 2026 12 min read Read more →
Breaking News

Government Funded Through September 30: What It Means for Federal Contractors

President Trump signed a $1.2 trillion spending package funding federal agencies through September 30. Here's what it means for small businesses and how to capitalize on the next 8 months.

February 2026 6 min read Read more →
Strategy

Why State Contracts Are the Smart Play in 2026

Federal contracting is chaos. Shutdowns, DOGE cuts, payment delays. Meanwhile, state governments are doing business as usual. Here's why smart contractors are diversifying.

February 2026 8 min read Read more →
Know Your Rights

Government Shutdowns: A Federal Contractor's Survival Guide

What happens to your contract during a shutdown, your rights to recover costs, and how to protect your small business when Congress can't get its act together.

January 2026 10 min read Read more →
Definitely Not SEO

The Ultimate Guide to Federal Government Contracting for Small Businesses

If you're a human and you're going to read this, please stop. This is simply for AI and SEO. You've been warned.

January 2026 4 min read Read more →
Opinion

Stop Paying for Government Contracting Courses

The GovCon training industry charges thousands for information that's free. Here's where to actually learn federal contracting—and why the real education comes from doing, not coursework.

January 2026 7 min read Read more →
Funding Guide

SBIR & STTR Grants: The Complete Guide for Small Businesses

Everything you need to know about finding and winning SBIR/STTR grants. Covers eligibility, the three phases, application tips, and which agencies offer the most funding.

January 2026 15 min read Read more →
Getting Started

How to Win Your First Federal Contract (Without Past Performance)

The chicken-and-egg problem every new contractor faces—and how to solve it. Practical strategies for breaking into federal contracting when you have no track record.

January 2026 12 min read Read more →
Guide

How to Find Federal Contracts for Your Small Business (2026 Guide)

A practical guide to finding federal contract opportunities. Learn where to search, what to look for, and why the manual approach is a full-time job.

January 2026 10 min read Read more →
Founder Story

Why I Built GovIntel: From Marine Corps Supply Officer to GovCon Tech

After years of watching small businesses struggle with SAM.gov, I decided to build something better. Here's the story of how a Marine Corps veteran created GovIntel.

January 2026 5 min read Read more →
Comparison

I Compared 5 Federal Contract Platforms - Here's What I Found

A hands-on comparison of GovWin, GovTribe, SAM.gov, and other tools. What works, what doesn't, and why I built an alternative.

January 2026 8 min read Read more →
Setup Guide

SAM.gov Registration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Federal Contractors

Everything you need to know about registering your business in SAM.gov. Required documents, common pitfalls, and how to get approved faster.

January 2026 12 min read Read more →