While government contracting can be lucrative, there’s no getting around the fact that potential contractors have a lot to learn. The mountain of government contracting acronyms and terminology can be tricky to understand, but at Empire APEX Accelerator, we can help you get started with government contracting and clarify some of the common terms you might see, including the following:

 

General Terms

  • ACO - Administrative Contract Officer

  • ANSI - American National Standards Institute

  • ARO - After Receiving Order

  • ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

  • BOA - Basis of Award

  • BPA - Blanket Purchase Agreement

  • CAGE - Commercial And Government Entity Code

  • CBD - Commerce Business Daily

  • CBL - Core Business Line

  • *CCR - Central Contractor Registry (now SAM)

  • CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

  • CICA - Competition In Contracting Act

  • CLIN - Contract Line Item Number

  • CO - Contract Officer

  • COB - Close Of Business

  • CONUS - Continental United Sates

  • COR - Contract Officer's Representative

  • COTR - Contract Officer's Technical Representative

  • COTS - Commercial Off The Shelf

  • CSC - Customer Service Center

  • CSP - Commercial Sales Practice Format

  • D&B - Dun & Bradstreet

  • DFARS - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

  • DIG - Designated Industrial Group

  • DLA - Defense Logistics Agency

  • DOA - Date Of Award

  • DOD - Department of Defense

  • DSN - Defense Switched Network (telephone network)

  • DUNS - Data Universal Numbering System (D&B)

  • DVD - Direct Vendor Delivery

  • ECH - Electronics Clearing House

  • EDI - Electronic Data Interchange

  • EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity

  • EFT - Electronic Funds Transfer

  • EIN - Employer Identification Number (=TIN)

  • EOE - Equal Opportunity Employer

  • EPA - Economic Price Adjustment

  • ESD - Estimated Shipping Date

  • FAIR - Federal Activities Inventory Reform

  • FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

  • FAR - Federal Acquisition Regulation

  • FFP - Firm Fixed Price

  • FISC - Fleet Industrial Supply Center

  • FOB - Freight On Board

  • FOB Destination - Price includes delivery

  • FOB Origin - Buyer pays price plus freight

  • FOIA - Freedom Of Information Act

  • FPDC - Federal Procurement Data Center

  • FSC - Federal Supply Classification

  • FSG - Federal Supply Group

  • FSS - Federal Supply Service

  • FTS - Federal Technology Service

  • G&A - General & Administrative

  • GAO - General Accounting Office

  • GBL - Government Bill of Lading

  • GFM - Government Furnished Material

  • GOCO - Government Owned Contractor Operated

  • GPC - Government Purchase Card

  • GSA - General Services Administration

  • GWAC - Government-Wide Acquisition Contract

  • HAZMAT - Hazardous Material

  • HUBZone - Historically Underutilized Business Zone

  • IAW - In Accordance With

  • IBR - Incorporated By Reference

  • IDIQ - Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

  • IFB - Invitation For Bid

  • IFF - Industrial Funding Fee

  • IMPAC - International Merchant Purchase Acquisition Card

  • INSP - Introduction of New Services/Products

  • IT - Information Technology

  • JWOD - Javits, Wagner, O'Day Act

  • LBO - Last Best Offer

  • LOC - Letter Of Commitment

  • LOCA - Lowest Overall Cost Alternative

  • MAS - Multiple Award Schedule

  • MFC - Most Favored Customer

  • MOB - Minority-Owned Business

  • MOBIS - Management, Organizational and Business Improvement Services

  • MPN - Manufacturer's Part Number

  • MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet

  • NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement

  • NAICS - North American Industrial Classification System

  • NECO - Navy Electronic Commerce Online

  • NIB - National Institute for the Blind

  • NISH - National Institute for the Severely Handicapped

  • NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • NLT - No Later Than

  • NPS - Non-Personal Services

  • NSN - National Stock Number

  • OMB - Office of Management and Budget

  • OSDBU - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

  • OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  • PBC - Performance-Based Contract

  • PBS - Public Buildings Service

  • PEA - Price Evaluation Adjustment

  • POC - Point Of Contact

  • PPE - Past Performance Evaluation

  • PTAC - Procurement Technical Assistance Center

  • PWS - Performance Work Statement

  • QPL - Qualified Product List

  • RFI - Request For Information

  • RFP / RFQ - Request For Proposal / Request For Quote

  • SADBUS - Small And Disadvantaged Business Utilization Specialist

  • SAM - System for Award Management

  • SBA - Small Business Administration

  • SBIR - Small Business Innovative Research

  • SBLO - Small Business Liaison Officer

  • SDB - Small Disadvantaged Business

  • SDD - Scheduled Delivery Date

  • SF - Standard Form

  • SIC - Standard Industrial Classification

  • SIN - Special Item Number

  • SOS - Source Of Supply

  • SOW - Statement Of Work

  • SPORTS - Sports, Promotional, Outdoor, Recreational, Trophies and Signs

  • T&C - Terms And Conditions

  • T&M - Time And Materials

  • TAPS - Temporary Administrative and Professional Staffing

  • TIC - Targeted Industry Category

  • TIN - Tax Identification Number

  • TPA - Trading Partner Agreement

  • TPIN - Trading Partner Identification Number

  • UL - Underwriters Laboratories

  • UPC - Universal Product Code

  • UPS - United Parcel Service

  • URL - Universal Resource Locator (Web or email address)

  • USC - United States Code

  • VA - Veterans Administration

  • VAMC - VA Medical Center

  • VAN - Value Added Network

  • VSC - Vendor Service Center

  • WOB - Woman-Owned Business

  • WOSB - Woman-Owned Small Business


Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Terms

  • AAC - Acquisition Advice Code

  • ADP - Automatic Data Processing

  • AFAO - Approved Force Acquisition Objective

  • AFM - Air Force Manual

  • AFMC - Air Force Materiel Command

  • AFR - Air Force Regulation

  • AMC - Air Mobility Command or Army Materiel Command

  • APOD - Aerial Port of Debarkation

  • APOE - Aerial Port of Embarkation

  • AR - Army Regulation

  • AUTODIN - Automatic Digital Network

  • CAGE - Commercial and Government Entity Code

  • CASKO - Component, Assembly, Set, Kit and Outfit

  • CBU - Commodity Business Unit

  • CIC - Content Indicator Code

  • CIRS - Contractor Inventory Redistribution System

  • CIT - Consumable Item Transfer

  • CMRP - Critical Maintenance Repair Program

  • COMRI - Communications Routing Indicator

  • CONUS - Continental United States

  • COPAD - Contractor Operated Parts Depot

  • CR - Country Representative

  • DAAS - Defense Automatic Addressing System

  • DAASC - Defense Automatic Addressing System Center

  • DAASO - Defense Automatic Addressing System Office

  • DAFIS - Departmental Accounting Financila Information System

  • DAISY - DRMS Automated Information System

  • DAMES - DAAS Automated Message Exchange System

  • DBR - Detail Billing Record

  • DCSC - Defense Construction Supply Center (S9C) (name change: see DSCC)

  • DDAA - Defense Distribution Depot Anniston, AL

  • DDAG - Defense Distribution Depot Albany, GA

  • DDBC - Defense Distribution Depot Barstow, CA

  • DDCN - Defense Distribution Depot Cherry Point, NC

  • DDCO - Defense Distribution Depot Columbus, OH

  • DDCS - Defense Distribution Depot Charleston, SC

  • DDCT - Defense Distribution Depot Corpus Christi, TX

  • DDDC - Defense Distribution Depot San Diego, CA

  • DDJC - Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, CA

  • Sharpe Facility

  • Tracy Facility

  • DDJF - Defense Distribution Depot Jacksonville, FL

  • DDLP - Defense Distribution Depot Letterkenny, PA

  • DDMC - Defense Distribution Depot McClellan, CA

  • DDMT - Defense Distribution Depot Memphis, TX

  • DDN - Defense Digital Network

  • DDNV - Defense Distribution Depot Norfolk, VA

  • DDOC - Defense Distribution Depot Oakland, CA

  • DDOO - Defense Distribution Depot Oklahoma City, OK

  • DDOU - Defense Distribution Depot Ogden, UT

  • Ogden Facility

  • Hill Facility

  • Tooele Facility

  • DDPF - Defense Distribution Depot Pensacola, FL

  • DDPW - Defense Distribution Depot Puget Sound, WA

  • DDRE - Defense Distribution Region East, New Cumberland, PA

  • DDRT - Defense Distribution Depot Red River, TX

  • DDRW - Defense Distribution Region West, Stockton, CA

  • DDRV - Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, VA

  • DDSP - Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna, PA

  • Mechanicsburg Facility

  • New Cumberland Facility

  • DDST - Defense Distribution Depot San Antonio, TX

  • DDTP - Defense Distribution Depot Tobyhanna, PA

  • DDWG - Defense Distribution Depot Warner Robbins, GA

  • DD Form - Department of Defense Form

  • DEPRA - Defense Program for Redistribution of Assets

  • DESC - Defense Energy Support Center

  • DESEX - Defense Emergency Supply Expert System

  • DFSP - Defense Fuel Supply Point

  • DI - Document Identifier

  • DIC - Document Identifier Code

  • DICOMSS - Direct Commissary Support System

  • DIDS - Defense Integrated Data System

  • DIP - Discounted Item Program

  • DISC - Defense Industrial Supply Center (S9I)

  • DIPEC - Defense Industrial Plant Equipment Center

  • DGSC - Defense General Supply Center (S9G) (name change: see DSCR)

  • DLA - Defense Logistics Agency

  • DLAR - Defense Logistics Agency Regulation

  • DLIS - Defense Logistics Information Service

  • DLSS - Defense Logistics Standard Systems

  • DNA - Defense Nuclear Agency

  • DNSC - Defense National Stockpile Center

  • DoD - Department of Defense

  • DODAAC - Department of Defense Activity Address Code

  • DODAAD - Department of Defense Activity Address Directory

  • DODDS - Department of Defense Dependent Schools

  • DOE - Department of Energy

  • DRC - Disposal Release Confirmation

  • DRD - Disposal Release Denial

  • DRMO - Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office

  • DRMR-E - Defense Reutilization and Marketing Region Europe

  • DRMS - Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service

  • DRO - Disposal Release Order

  • DSC - Defense Supply Center

  • DSCC - Defense Supply Center Columbus (S9C) (formerly DCSC)

  • DSCP - Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (S9P)

  • DSCR - Defense Supply Center Richmond (S9G) (formerly DGSC)

  • DSDC - DLA Systems Design Center

  • DSN - Defense Switched Network

  • DSO - Defense Subsistence Office

  • DSR - Defense Subsistence Region

  • DTID - Disposal Turn-In Document

  • DTS - Defense Transportation System

  • DVD - Direct Vendor Delivery

  • EDI - Electronic Data Interchange

  • EMACS - Equipment Management and Control System

  • EPPL - Excess Personnel Property List

  • ESD - Estimated Shipping Date

  • ESOC - Emergency Supply Operations Center

  • EVD - Enhanced Vendor Delivery

  • FAALC - Federal Aviation Administration Logistics Center (G69)

  • FAD - Force Activity Designator

  • FED LOG - Federal Logistics Data on Compact Disk

  • FEDSTRIP - Federal Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures

  • FF - Freight Forwarder

  • FF&V - Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

  • FILDR - Federal Item Logistics Data Record

  • FMS - Foreign Military Sales

  • FPMR - Federal Property Management Regulation

  • FSC - Federal Supply Class

  • FSE - Food Service Equipment

  • FSG - Federal Supply Group

  • GBL - Government Bill of Lading

  • GFM - Government Furnished Material

  • GMT - Greenwich Mean Time

  • GOCO - Government-Owned Contractor Operated

  • GSA - General Services Administration (GSA)

  • HMIS - Hazardous Material Information System

  • ICP - Inventory Control Point

  • IL - Identification List

  • ILCO - International Logistics Control Office

  • ILP - International Logistics Program

  • IMM - Integrated Materiel Manager

  • IPE - Industrial Plant Equipment

  • IPG - Issue Priority Group

  • IPU - Integrated Process Unit

  • IRPOD - Individual Repair Parts Ordering Data

  • I&S - Interchangeable/Substitute

  • IRIS - Interrogation Requirements Information System

  • ISSP - Interservice Supply Support Procedures

  • JCS - Joint Chiefs of Staff

  • LASE - Logistics Asset Support Estimate

  • LINK - Logistics Information Network

  • LIPS - Logistics Information Processing System

  • LMP - Lumber, Millwork and Plywood

  • LOGRUN - Logistics Remote Users Network

  • MAP - Military Assistance Plan

  • MASF - Military Assistance Service Funded

  • MCA - Management Control Activity

  • MCRL - Master Cross-Reference List

  • MCO - Marine Corps Order

  • MILSBILLS - Military Standard Billing System

  • MILSCAP - Military Standard Contract Administration Procedures

  • MILSPETS - Military Standard Petroleum System

  • MILSTAMP - Military Supply Transportation and Movement Procedures

  • MILSTEP - Military Supply and Transportation Evaluation Procedures

  • MILSTD - Military Standards

  • MILSTRAP - Military Standard Transaction Reporting and Accounting Procedures

  • MILSTRIP - Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures

  • MIPR - Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request

  • ML-C - Management Data List - Consolidated

  • MOV - Materiel Obligation Validation

  • MRC - Materiel Release Confirmation

  • MRD - Materiel Release Denial

  • MRO - Materiel Release Order

  • MRP - Materiel Returns Program

  • MRQ - Maximum Release Quantity

  • MSC - Military Sealift Command

  • M&S - Media and Status

  • MTMC - Military Traffic Management Command

  • MTMR - Military Traffic Management Regulation

  • NAVSUPINST - Naval Supply Instruction

  • NIIN - National Item Identification Number

  • NIMSC - Non-Consumable Item Materiel Support Code

  • NMCS - Not Mission Capable Supply

  • NOA - Notice of Availability

  • NSN - National Stock Number

  • NSO - National Sales Office

  • OCONUS - Outside Continental United States

  • ODS - Ozone Depleting Substances

  • PCH&T - Packing, Crating, Handling and Transportation

  • PD - Priority Designator

  • PICA - Primary Inventory Control Activity

  • PMRC - Pre-positioned Materiel Receipt Card

  • POC - Point of Contact

  • POD - Port of Debarkation

  • POE - Port of Embarkation

  • POPS - Paperless Order Placement System

  • PQDR - Product Quality Deficiency Report

  • PWRMS - Pre-positioned War Reserve Materiel Stock

  • QDR - Quality Deficiency Report

  • QPL - Quality Products List

  • QSL - Quality Status List

  • QUP - Quality Unit Pack

  • RAD - Required Availability Date

  • RCN - Record Control Number

  • RDD - Required Delivery Date

  • RDP - Required Delivery Period

  • RFI - Request for Information

  • RIC - Routing Identifier Code

  • ROD - Report of Discrepancy

  • RP - Record Position

  • RRR - Resource Recovery and Recycling Program

  • SA - Storage Activity

  • SAMMSTEL - Standard Automatic Materiel Management Telecommunication System

  • SAP - Security Assistance Program

  • SBR - Summary Billing Record

  • SDD - Scheduled Delivery Date

  • SF - Standard Form

  • SICA - Secondary Inventory Control Activity

  • SOS - Source of Supply

  • SPR - Special Program Requirement

  • SSC - Supply Status Code

  • SSR - Supply Support Request

  • TCMD - Transportation Control & Movement Document/Data

  • TCN - Transportation Control Number

  • TDR - Transportation Discrepancy Report

  • TFG - Terminal Facilities Guide

  • TIR - Total Item Record

  • UMMIPS - Uniform Materiel Movement and Issue Priority System

  • UPS - United Parcel Service

  • WCA - Water Clearance Authority

  • WPOD - Water Port of Debarkation

  • WPOE - Water Port of Embarkation

  • WSSP - Weapons Systems Support Program