Bid/no-bid calculator
Score a federal opportunity across seven weighted criteria and get a transparent go/no-go recommendation you can print and defend in a review. The weights are visible and the math is simple on purpose — it's a decision aid, not a black box.
How well the scope matches what you actually deliver.
Relevance of your past work to this requirement.
Set-aside, size standard, and certifications appear to align (verify against the notice).
Your differentiators vs. likely competitors and any incumbent.
Time and staff available vs. the proposal deadline and period of performance.
Your relationship with, and insight into, the buying agency.
Contract value and probability of win vs. your cost to bid.
Promising, but shore up the weak criteria before committing.
| Criterion | Rating | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Capability fit | 3/5 | 12 |
| Past performance | 3/5 | 9 |
| Eligibility confidence | 3/5 | 9 |
| Competitive position | 3/5 | 9 |
| Capacity | 3/5 | 9 |
| Customer knowledge | 3/5 | 6 |
| Economics | 3/5 | 6 |
This is decision-support, not a verdict. Verify eligibility, requirements, and deadlines against the official SAM.gov solicitation before deciding. GovConAgent does not guarantee awards.
Make it a habit
The teams that win consistently run every serious opportunity through the same quick filter before they commit hours. For the full framework behind these criteria, read the bid/no-bid checklist, and to understand how an opportunity's fit is scored automatically, see how to read a federal solicitation.
Frequently asked questions
How does the bid/no-bid calculator work?
You rate the opportunity from 0 to 5 on seven weighted criteria — capability fit, past performance, eligibility confidence, competitive position, capacity, customer knowledge, and economics. Each rating contributes its weight toward a 0–100 score, which maps to a go/no-go recommendation. Every weight is shown, so nothing is hidden.
What score means I should bid?
As a rule of thumb: 70+ is a strong pursue, 55–69 is lean-pursue if you can close the weak spots, 40–54 is borderline and needs a real plan, and under 40 is usually a no-bid. Treat the bands as a prompt for discussion, not an automatic decision.
Why is bidding everything a mistake?
Every proposal consumes hours you can't spend elsewhere. Chasing low-probability work drains the capacity you need for the opportunities you can actually win. A disciplined bid/no-bid process is how small teams compete against larger, better-resourced firms.
Does this check my eligibility?
No. The 'eligibility confidence' criterion is your own judgment about whether the set-aside, size standard, and certifications appear to align. Actual eligibility is determined by the government — always verify it against the official SAM.gov notice before you commit.
Can I save or share the result?
Yes — use 'Print / save as PDF' to capture the scored result (the input controls are hidden in the printout, so you get a clean one-page summary to file or circulate).
Let GovConAgent score the fit for you
Instead of rating every opportunity by hand, build a company profile and GovConAgent scores live SAM.gov opportunities against it — with a 0–100 fit score and a full bid/no-bid brief. No login required.
GovConAgent is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Government. GovConAgent does not guarantee contract awards, eligibility, compliance, or proposal success. Users are responsible for verifying all solicitation details, deadlines, requirements, and submission instructions through official government sources.