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OUR MISSIONHelp small businesses win government work the right way: free first, in plain English.

Win government work. One clear step at a time.

Created by Jim Hanner — 17 years in nuclear quality assurance and procurement (1979–1996).

Federal, state, and local buyers spend billions with small businesses every year. BidReady shows you where to start, what to file, and how to find the work — in plain English.

Federal GovernmentSAM.gov • Agencies • GrantsStart free →State Government50 states • Portals • CertificationsStart free →Local GovernmentYour ZIP • Cities • Counties • SchoolsStart free →
Jim Hanner

Meet Jim Hanner, Creator of BidReady

From 1979 to 1996 Jim worked in nuclear quality assurance and procurement: he helped found a nuclear supply company, wrote its QA procedures, and later served as a QA procurement engineer at a power plant. Exact compliance decided everything. BidReady started when he helped a friend through SAM.gov registration and watched it snag at the final step.

Group Sessions

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

How BidReady works

1Pick Federal, State, or Local.
2Get ready: registrations, codes, certifications.
3Find the work and research the buyer.
4Bid with confidence — and learn after every result.

More from Jim and The Hub

Related Hubs you may like.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.

DIY Hub Map (Do It Yourself)

THIS PAGEEvery BidReady tool in one place. Find it yourself or ask Jim.

Everything in BidReady on one page. Look for it yourself, or ask Jim where to find it.

SHOP SMART

Spend smart. Free comes first.

THIS PAGEWhat is worth paying for, what to skip, and free help first.

Most of what you need to win government work is free. When you do pay for help, these are the services worth a look. BidReady is still evaluating providers, so nothing here links to a company yet.

Two ways to shop

or

Help me decide

Before you buy anything, start here.

Never pay for these. Anyone charging to register you in SAM.gov (it is free). Anyone promising a guaranteed award. "Proposal mills" that write the same response for everyone.

📄 Capability Statement Printing & Design

Your free capability statement guidance comes first. A designer or printer is optional.

🔔 Bid Alerts & Research

Free official sources first; a paid alert service only if you are chasing many bids.

🤝 Teaming & Subcontracting

Finding a prime or a sub.

🛡️ Bonding, Surety & Insurance

Bid bonds, performance bonds, and certificates of insurance.

🏛️ Registration & Certification Help

Official registration is free. Paid help is optional.

🧰 Equipment & Supplies

For public works and infrastructure bidders.

💡 Grant Support

Grant writers and reviewers, kept separate from contract help.

⭐ From Jim

Jim's own tools and Hubs.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency.
FREE · FEDERAL

Get ready for federal work — free.

THIS PAGEFederal registration, finding work, and bid checks, all free.

Registration, codes, certifications, and where federal agencies post their work. All from official public sources.

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses by agency, registration, certification, and more. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

Get Ready

Set up once, correctly. Everything downstream depends on it.

Find Work

Where federal buyers post opportunities — and the early signals before they do.

Research Buyers & Awards

See who bought what, from whom, and for how much.

Grants & Federal Assistance

Grants are not contracts. Different rules, different place.

Rules & Requirements

The rules that apply once you win — before you bid.

After the Bid

Win or lose, every result makes the next bid better.

Before You Respond

Five quick checks before you spend a weekend on a bid, plus Jim's inspector habit.

Ready to go further?

Federal Paid adds named tools and saved case files for the work you are chasing.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.

Federal tools that do the heavy lifting.

THIS PAGEFederal tools that save your work: matrix, log, case files.

Named tools, saved case files, and guided support — for every contract and grant you pursue.

Build & Bid Tools

Real tools you open and use. Every bid or quote is its own saved case file.

Your Workspace

Everything saved in one place.

What's included
  • Document and template library
  • Deadline and renewal calendar, including your SAM.gov renewal
  • Case files for every bid and quote
  • Award history for the agencies you chase
Works now
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Federal Grants & Assistance

Grant applications get their own case files, kept separate from contracts.

What's included
  • Eligibility checklist
  • Budget and narrative outline
  • Deadlines and attachments tracker
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Guided Support

One BidReady assistant, metered by your plan.

What's included
  • Plain-English help reading a solicitation
  • Help organizing your response
  • Monthly allowance set by your plan — not unlimited
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Group Sessions

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

BidReady Federal Paid Access

Starter
$39.95 / mo

Core tools and guided support.

Pro
$79.95 / mo

More case files and more guided support.

Team
$149.95 / mo

For growing teams and more bids.

Enterprise
Custom

Talk to us about your team.

Exact plan allowances are being finalized. Guided support is metered by plan, not unlimited.

Paid sign-up: Coming soon.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.
FREE · STATE

Sell to your state — and the 49 others.

THIS PAGEState portals, certifications, and bid checks, all free.

Every state buys differently. Pick a state and we organize its portals, certifications, and rules for you.

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses by state and topic. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

State Registration Basics

Register to do business and get on the state vendor list.

Find State Bids

Where your state posts its buying.

Getting Paid

Know the payment rules before you sign.

Before You Respond

Five quick checks before you spend a weekend on a bid, plus Jim's inspector habit.

Ready to go further?

State Paid adds named tools and saved case files for the work you are chasing.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.

Your State File — organized and saved.

THIS PAGEState tools: State File, matrix, log, and multi-state planner.

Portals, certifications, thresholds, and payment rules for each state you sell to, in one place.

State Tools

Real tools you open and use.

Plan & Expand

Included with State Paid.

What's included
  • Vendor registration and portal setup, step by step
  • Certifications and preferences planner
  • Multi-state expansion planner
  • State buyer and agency research
Works now
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Bid & Comply

Included with State Paid.

What's included
  • Proposal and compliance checklist
  • Forms and attachments tracker
  • Saved workspaces for every bid
Works now
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Group Sessions

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

BidReady State Paid Access

State Paid
$39.95 / mo

All State Paid tools and saved workspaces.

Paid sign-up: Coming soon.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.
FREE · LOCAL

Start with your ZIP code.

THIS PAGELocal buyers near you, purchasing basics, and bid checks, all free.

Cities, counties, schools, and special districts near you buy every day. Find them, register, and learn their rules.

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses by location, buyer type, and topic. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

Who Buys Locally

More buyers than most people realize.

Local Purchasing Basics

How small purchases, quotes, and bids work locally.

Public Works & Infrastructure

Roads, water, buildings — the work that keeps a town running.

Before You Respond

Five quick checks before you spend a weekend on a bid, plus Jim's inspector habit.

Ready to go further?

Local Paid adds named tools and saved case files for the work you are chasing.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.

Every local buyer within your radius.

THIS PAGELocal tools: buyer lists, quote packets, and outreach plans.

ZIP and radius buyer intelligence, saved local workspaces, and the packets buyers ask for.

Local Tools

Real tools you open and use.

Set Up & Get Paid

Included with Local Paid.

What's included
  • Vendor registration and portal setup
  • Quote, W-9, and insurance packet
  • Outreach preparation: introduction email and follow-up plan
  • Local buyer and agency research
Works now

Bid & Plan Ahead

Included with Local Paid.

What's included
  • Proposal and compliance checklist
  • Capital Improvement Plan projects near you
  • Saved local workspaces
Works now
Planned for launch — tap to preview

Group Sessions

Group Sessions — meet, learn, help each other

Live sessions with other small businesses. Share what worked, ask what didn't, and learn together.

BidReady Local Paid Access

Local Paid
$39.95 / mo

All Local Paid tools and saved workspaces.

Paid sign-up: Coming soon.

Not a government agency. BidReady is not connected with SAM.gov, the SBA, or any government agency. Registration on SAM.gov is always free. BidReady charges only for its own guidance, tools, and support.