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Federal Government Contracting

Information Search Strategies


The Library of Congress offers a variety of resources for locating information on federal government contracting. They include the online catalog, which is available both on site and off site on the Web, as well as other other open-access Web resources listed below. Our subscription indexes are only accessible from an LC public workstation in an LC building. Some databases may have full text, and we have tools to help you identify them. When in doubt, you can always consult a reference librarian.

 

Open Access Sources   Subscription Resources   Further Reading

 


Where do you want to go? NJ Turnpike

New Jersey Turnpike, 1952.
From the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection
Reproduction Number: LC-G613-T-62221

Table of Contents

Introduction
Information Search Strategies
Rules of the Game
Opportunities Don't Always Knock

Open Access

Subscription Resources (Available only onsite.)

Further Reading Lists

LC Subject Headings

Materials in the LC catalog are described using LC Subject Headings, and using these to search is the most effective strategy for using the catalog. Some suggested Library of Congress Subject Headings:

In addition to LC Subject Headings, Keywords on the topic of federal contracting may also be useful, especially when searching other Web resources.

Some suggested Keywords:

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Portals & Gateways

Broad area search services on the Web are useful for beginning any search for government-generated information.Below are some recommended sites:
Government Industry Data Mart (GIDM)
Portal for government/industry data exchange; annotated links, electronic documents, procurement/ contracting data links, library of forms, publications and guides (DLA). Access to the CCR - The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system, the BINCS - Business Identification Number Cross-reference System, and others.
GPO Access
Official information from all three branches of the Federal Government: GPO Access full text databases include Budget of the United States Government, Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Business Opprtunities, and the Congressional Record.
National Technical Information Service
NTIS is the federal government's central source for the sale of scientific, technical, engineering, and related business information by or for the U.S. government and complementary materials from international sources. Approximately 2.5 million products are available in a variety of formats including online, electronic, multimedia, CD-ROM , paper, and microfiche. You can access information on more than 750,000 of these products from this Web site.
Procurement Gateway
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
An integrated collection of automated systems providing oversight for the management of procurement data from Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Supply Centers. Includes databases, data, downloads and more.
SearchGov. com
Links to any and all government agencies, independent agencies, and state and local governments. Searchable by internet domains.
STINET Multisearch
Defense Technical Information Center, Scientific & Technical Information Net work.
Access pertinent scientific and technical information over a wide range of sources by selecting up to 10 databases to search simultaneously or click on a database name for direct access to a single database.
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Abstracting & Indexing & Databases         Full Text Databases

Online Abstracting & Indexing Databases are often the best sources for current information with a narrow scope, such as articles in journals, newspapers, conference proceedings, and numerous other sources publishing on a periodic basis.These electronic databases are purchased on a subscription basis, and to access them you must be in the Library of Congress, using any public workstation. To see the complete list of currently available databases, go to the Databases & E-Resources page.

Selected Abstracting & Indexing Databases

Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA)
National Technical Information Service
Access to the latest U.S. government-sponsored research and worldwide scientific, technical, engineering, and business-related information. The National Technical Information Service is the central source for the sale of unclassified and publicly available information from research reports, journal articles, data files, computer programs and audio visual products from Federal sources (most reports cited in NTIS can be obtained from the LC Technical Reports & Standards section). NTIS also has a web-based search engine. 1964 - current; updated weekly, with approximately 3,500 new records added.
Dun & Bradstreet
International Business Locator
Look-up over 28 million global companies; Locator provides key business data including full address information, SIC / line of business details, business size (sales, net worth, employees), names of key principals and identification of this location's headquarters, domestic parent company and/or global parent company.

Dun & Bradstreet
Million Dollar Database
Information on approximately 1,600,000 U.S. and Canadian leading public and private businesses. Company information includes industry information with up to 24 individual 8-digit SICs, size criteria (employees and annual sales), type of ownership, principal executives and biographies.

EBSCO Research Databases
Academic Search Premier
Full text for more than 3,600 scholarly publications, as well as indexing and abstracts for all 4,500 journals in the database. Updated on a daily basis. Coverage: 1965 to present.
EBSCO Research Databases
MasterFILE Premier
Abstracts and indexing for over 2,700 periodicals, plus searchable full text for nearly 1,800 active periodicals; good source for articles from general-interest or popular magazines. Coverage: oldest periodical is 1984, while most start in 1990.
infoUSA
ReferenceUSA
Directory information for publicly and privately owned companies in the United States and Canada, as well as information about individual consumers in both countries. Compiled from over 5,000 Yellow page directories, Business White Pages, Corporate Annual Reports, SEC 10K reports, Chamber of Commerce Directories, state directories, and other public information sources. Searchable by Yellow Page heading, Industry group, SIC code, city or geographic area, employee size, sales volume, and consumer name.
Mergent
Mergent Online
U.S. company data for over 15,000 public companies and their SEC filings and U.S. annual reports. Also contains International company data for approximately 17,000 companies, including international annual reports, FactSheets, and country information.
OCLC FirstSearch
Business Dateline
Indexing and abstracts for over 535 regional publications, Business Wire press releases, and major newspapers. Many of the titles are also available in full text. Coverage: 1985 to the present.
OCLC FirstSearch
FactSearch
Statistical evidence and date-linked data from more than 1,100 mainstream and alternative serial sources. Includes links to full text. Coverage: 1984 to present.
OCLC FirstSearch
Wilson Business Abstracts
Indexing and abstracts for over 600 publications; 50-to-150-word abstracts written by subject experts for each article and gives citations (but not abstracts) for book reviews. Include links to many full-text articles. Coverage: 1986 to present, abstracts since 1990.
OCLC FirstSearch
WorldCat
OCLC catalog of books and other materials in libraries worldwide: all the records cataloged by OCLC member libraries, with millions of bibliographic records, representing 400+ languages. Coverage: Before 1000 BC to present.
PolicyFile
Policy File
PolicyFile is the only electronic database indexing research and publication abstracts addressing the complete range of public policy research. PolicyFile draws its content from public policy think tanks, university research programs, research organizations and publishers. Coverage: 1990 to present; updated weekly.
ProQuest
ABI-INFORM Global
Bibliographic citations, abstracts, and full text of articles appearing in international business and management publications, academic journals, and trade magazines published worldwide. Coverage: 1971 to present.
ProQuest
Hoovers Company Capsules & Profiles
Company overviews, financials, histories, news, officers, employees, locations and subsidiaries, products/operations, and competitors on more than 18,500 public and private U.S. companies and international companies.
ProQuest
Newspapers
Full text of 300+ U.S. and international news sources. Includes coverage of 150+ major U.S. and international newspaper collections Coverage:1986 to present.
Standard & Poor's
NetAdvantage
Information for the investor on markets and the economy. Includes data and analysis of industries, companies, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, indexes, and current news.
Thomas Register
Product information for U.S. and Canadian manufacturing companies and the food service industry. Information for approximately 174,000 companies, compiled from the Thomas Register and three volumes of the Thomas Food Industry Register, as well as the Directory of Factory Automation, Products Systems and Services, the Office Automation Guide, and Industrial Equipment News.
Thomson Gale®
Business & Company Resource Center
Detailed company and industry news and information, including company profiles, company brand and product information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, news articles, industry associations, and legal issues.
Thomson Gale®
InfoTrac OneFile
Articles from more than 6,000 scholarly, trade, and general-interest periodicals, including 3,000 full-text. Coverage: 1980 to present.
Responsive Data Services
RDS Business Reference Suite
The RDS Suite allows you to search one or more of the databases from Responsive Database Services: Facts, figures and key events for international public and private companies, industries, products, and markets for manufacturing and service industries. Includes Business & Industry® , Business & Management Practices , and TableBase™ . Covers over 1360 leading trade magazines, newsletters, and the general business press to international business dailies. Coverage: 1995 to the present.
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Full text Databases

Much material in LC's subscription databases may actually be available in full-text. To identify these resources:

From any LC public workstation main screen, click on the Electronic Resources button, to go to the Databases & E-Resources page.

Select the link on that page to E-Publications & Tools (Electronic Journals, Newspapers and Books).

This page contains three sections linking to resources that provide access (either partial or full) to materials in full-text online in addition to related links to other freely available full-text resources.

  • Full-Text Newspapers
  • Electronic Books & Documents
  • Full Text E-Journal Collections

The fourth section on this page, E-Journal Search Tools contains links to three services which list journals by title and link to subscription services at LC which include those titles with full-text options.

  • EZB
  • TDNet
  • Serials Solutions
These materials are in constant flux; for up to date information on holdings, consult a reference librarian.
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Books

Bonthous, Jean-Marie. Bibliography of business/competitive intelligence and benchmarking literature. [Washington, D.C.], Washington Researchers, c1994. 246 p.
LC Call Number: Z7164.O7 B66 1994 (Business Reference Collection)
LC Catalog Record: 95168955

Cole, Peter S. and Joseph W. Beausoleil. Past performance handbook. Vienna, Va., Management Concepts, c2002. 320 p. Includes bibliographical references and index.
LC Call Number: HD3861.U6C655 2002
LC Catalog Record: 2002018838

Appendix A-- Best Practices for Collecting and Using Current and Past Performance Information.
Appendix B--A Guide to Collection and Use of Past Performance Information.

Guide to contract pricing : cost and price analysis for contractors, subcontractors, and government agencies. 3rd ed. Edited by John Edward Murphy. Vienna, Va., Management Concepts, c2001. 211 p.
LC Call Number: JK1673.M87 2001
LC Catalog Record: 2001265111

Appendix A--Checklist for Adequacy of Submitted Cost and Pricing Data.
Appendix B--Glossary.

Hearn, Emmett E. Federal acquisition and contract management. 5th ed. Los Altos, Calif., Hearn Associates, c2002. 350 p.
LC Call Number: KF849.H429 (Law Library Reading Room)
LC Catalog Record: 2003269041

Appendices include Abbreviations & Acronyms, Glossary of Terms, Contract Administration Office Functions, Reference Documents and Supplemental Readings.

Shannon, Rebecca A. Government proposals : cutting through the chaos. Vienna, Va., Management Concepts, c2001. 238 p. Includes index.
LC Call Number: HD3861.U6 S5
LC Catalog Record: 00067887

Appendix A--Checklists
Appendix B--Samples.

Stanberry, Scott A. Federal contracting made easy. Vienna, Va., Management Concepts, c2001. 310 p. Includes index.
LC Call Number: KF850.S73 2001 (Law Library Reading Room)
LC Catalog Record: 00049010

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Serials & Selected Articles

Most serial publications may be found in print or online (or both) formats. In some cases, older issues may be available in microform. Most recent print issues will be found in one of the following:
BRS       ... Business Reference Services;
LL RR    ... Law Library Reading Room
MRR      ... Main Reading Room
NCP RR ... Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room.
Contract management. [Vienna, Va., etc.] National Contract Management Association. Monthly.
LC Call Number: KF842.C66 LL RR
LC Catalog Record: 79640277
Publisher's Web site: http://www.ncmahq.org/

Federal government contractor's manual. San Diego, Harcourt Brace Professional Pub. Annual.
LC Call Number: KF849.F363 BRS, LL RR
LC Catalog Record: 2001202429

The Federal technology source : who's who in government technology. Washington, D. C., Government Executive. Annual.
LC Call Number: T58.5. F43 BRS, MRR
LC Catalog Record: 94648412

Special annual issue of Government Executive (see next entry).

Government Executive. Washington, Executive Publications. 15 no. a year.
LC Call Number: JK1.G58 NCP RR
LC Catalog Record: 73006339

Online at http://www.govexec.com/
Includes: Top 200 Federal Contractors, FAIR Act Report, & Digital Government.

Public Contract Law Journal. Chicago, Ill. : Section of Public Contract Law, American Bar Association. Quarterly.
LC Call Number: K16 .U17 LL RR
LC Catalog Record: 70618216

Article abstracts available online at http://www.law.gwu.edu/pclj/

VARbusiness. Manhasset, N.Y., CMP Publications. Biweekly.
LC Call Number: HD9696.C63 U59344 NCP RR
LC Catalog Record: 87641551

Recent issues available online at http://www.varbusiness.com/

Selected Articles

  • The Basics of government contract administration. Contract Management, June 2003, v. 43: 42A.
    LC Call Number: KF842 .C66 LL RR
    LC Catalog Record: 79640277

  • Baur, F. Trowbridge vom. Early days of government contract practice. Public Contract Law Journal, March 1989, v. 18: 446-459.
    LC Call Number: K16 .U17 LL RR
    LC Catalog Record: 70618216

  • Bruce, Agnes Rodriguez. United States v. Winstar Corp.: a case study in institutional government ethics. Public Contract Law Journal, Spring 1997, v. 26: 397-421.
    LC Call Number: K16 .U17 LL RR
    LC Catalog Record: 70618216

  • Kelman, Steven. Remaking federal procurement. Public Contract Law Journal, Summer 2002, v. 31: 581-622.
    LC Call Number: K16 .U17 LL RR
    LC Catalog Record: 70618216

  • Lindemann, Carl. How To Sell To the DoD --Whether you're a veteran or a neophyte, you can profit from these six steps to success. VARbusiness, June 10, 2002.
    LC Call Number: HD9696.C63 U59344
    LC Catalog Record: 87641551

  • Wall, Richard J. and Carolyn M. Jones. Navigating the rugged terrain of government contracts. Internal Auditor, April 1995, v. 52: 32.
    LC Call Number: Microfilm (o) 82/206 Request in the Microform RR.
    LC Catalog Record: 58038521       Microfilm Record:

  • Webb, Cynthia L. The federal challenge: Federal government IT is a red-hot market, but tech firms should know a few things before jumping into the fray. Washington Post.com Technews, Wednesday, March 27, 2002.
    Available online

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   June 20, 2005
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