SalesHelp glossary
Use this reference when a search field or result column uses a procurement or stock-item term. Read the full notice, item record or award detail before acting on a result; a short label does not supply every requirement.
| Term | Meaning in these guides |
|---|---|
| NAICS | North American Industry Classification System. A NAICS code identifies a line of business, such as an industry used to search for opportunities or contractors. Read the code's description before selecting it. |
| FSG | Federal Supply Group. The broad two-digit product group; a selected group supplies more specific FSC choices. |
| FSC | Federal Supply Class. A four-digit product class within an FSG. It is also the first four digits of a full NSN. |
| NSN | National Stock Number. The 13-digit identifier for a cataloged supply item: a four-digit FSC followed by a nine-digit NIIN. Keep all leading zeros when entering it. |
| NIIN | National Item Identification Number. The last nine digits of an NSN, identifying the catalog item. Keep leading zeros. |
| CAGE | Commercial and Government Entity code. An identifier for the organization shown with a company profile, award or part-number reference. Read a part number and its CAGE together. |
| DLA | Defense Logistics Agency. Its catalog, buying and supplier information appears in the stock-item guides. |
| DUNS number | An older business identifier shown in some company records. Keep it distinct from the company's CAGE or UEI. |
| PSC | Product Service Code. A classification for the product or service associated with a notice or company record. Check the specific code and notice scope. |
| SIN | Special Item Number. A category used within GSA Schedule contracting to identify covered products or services. |
| GSA Schedule | A purchasing contract through which government buyers can acquire covered products or services. A Schedule count or profile link is a starting point for research; check the particular contract and its scope. |
| SAM.gov / View SAM Details | SAM.gov holds federal entity registrations. View SAM Details opens the registration fields shown in a company profile; check the displayed identity and dates. |
| Solicitation | A buyer's notice or request describing work or supplies it seeks. The solicitation number identifies the particular notice. Read the linked notice for requirements, response instructions and dates. |
| Set-aside | The business eligibility or competition category recorded for a notice, such as a small-business category. Check the notice for the requirements that apply. |
| Award | A recorded government purchase or contract. Award searches may group related records under a contract or show individual actions in separate rows. |
| Award action | An individual recorded transaction associated with a contract. Read its contract number, modification identifier, date and amount together; the action amount can differ from a contract total. |
| Modification / ModNumber | The identifier for a particular change or other recorded action on a contract. The same contract number can appear with several modification identifiers. |
| Action Obligation | The amount shown for the selected award action on Award Details. Read it separately from a parent contract's displayed total. |
| Contract line item / Line Item | A numbered item within a contract or award line. Read it with the contract number, item, quantity and price to identify the particular purchase line. |
| Contracting office / Office ID | The buying office associated with a notice or award, and its displayed identifier. An Office ID link can open that office's profile and related research. |
| Place of performance | Where the work is to be performed. A state or ZIP filter uses the worksite location; it need not match the vendor's mailing address. |
| Part number / Part No. | A manufacturer's or other recorded reference number for a part. Compare its exact characters with the item name, NIIN and associated CAGE; one item may have several references. |
| FLIS Header | The catalog-identification view for a selected NSN or NIIN. It shows the item's name and identification codes; an individual code needs its own field reference. |
| MOE rule | Major Organizational Entity rule. A row of service or agency management and acquisition codes for a catalog item; read the values together. |
| MCRL | Master Cross-Reference List. The item page labels this view FLIS Reference Numbers; its rows pair part or reference numbers with organizations and codes for the selected NIIN. |
| MRC | Master Requirement Code. In technical characteristics, it identifies the characteristic described by the adjacent Requirement and Reply. |
| APL / AEL | Allowance Parts List / Allowance Equipage List. Historical equipment lists that can lead to a parts list and supporting information. |
| AMC / AMSC | Acquisition Method Code / Acquisition Method Suffix Code. Read the two recorded codes together. See the AMC 1 / AMSC G example for the sourcing conditions shown in the forecast and item records. |
| ROP / BO_Qty / ADQ | Reorder point, backorder quantity and annual demand quantity in dated inventory views. A blank ROP supplies no reorder-point value; these figures do not establish today's available stock. |
| Shelf Price / Last Award Price | Separate item-page price fields: the displayed catalog shelf price and the displayed price from a previous award. Check the award date, quantity and unit before comparing them. |
| Unit of issue / UI | The unit used for an item's quantity, such as each or a package. Check it before comparing quantities or prices. |
| RFQ | Request for quotation: a buyer's request for a price or offer. Read the actual notice for its instructions and deadline. |