Honest Reviews
Tools We Actually Use
We only recommend tools we've personally used in our own government contracting journey. No pay-to-play listings. No filler.
Transparency note: Some links on this page are paid affiliate links. If you choose to use the software we use to bid (like DeepRFP) through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we've personally used and genuinely think can help beginners.
DeepRFP
AI-powered proposal and bid writing for government contracts
If you've ever opened a 100+ page solicitation and immediately felt overwhelmed, this is the tool I'd start with.
DeepRFP extracts requirements, organizes critical information, and gives you a structured draft so you're not spending days figuring out where to begin.
Exclusive discount
Use code BIDDING-COMPASS-AETL at checkout for 10% off.
Affiliate link — supports this free site at no extra cost to you.
Free Government Resources
These are free, official government tools. No affiliate links — just genuinely useful resources.
SAM.gov
The federal government's official vendor database. Free registration required to bid on contracts.
Visit sam.gov
USASpending.gov
Free database of every federal dollar spent. Search by NAICS code to find agencies buying in your space.
Visit usaspending.gov
Census.gov NAICS Search
Official NAICS code lookup tool. Find the industry codes that match your business.
Visit census.gov/naics
SBA.gov
Small Business Administration resources, certifications, and contracting assistance programs.
Visit sba.gov