Government procurement , also known as public procurement or public tendering is the acquisition of goods or services on behalf of a public authority. These public authorities include all levels of government agencies and public works such as: federal, state, county, city, universities, schools, hospitals, municipalities, etc.

From a legal standpoint government contracting can be quite similar to contracts between private parties; however, the contract terms may not always be as negotiable. It is important to understand not only the acquisition process but the specific terms of the contract before beginning the bidding process.

For the most part, the government acquisition process begins with the identification of a need or requirement. After the requirement is identified, a Contracting Officer with the appropriate authority is issued. It is important to note that not all Contracting Officers are created equal. Each officer has specific guidelines that determine the conditions under which they are allowed to partake in federal contracting.

Depending on the industry and activity, some contracting officers may have little to no experience with the good or service. This can be considered a weakness in the government procurement process and something that vendors should be aware of before getting involved in government contracting.

If you're looking to expand your business and take advantage of the thousands of opportunities sent out daily then look no further. Find RFP receives bidding and contract opportunities every day from nearly 100,000 government agencies and sends them directly to you via daily email notifications based on your specifications.