Teaming Arrangement

A teaming arrangement is any structured collaboration between two or more companies formed to pursue a specific federal contract opportunity, ranging from formal written teaming agreements to broader partnership structures such as mentor-protege arrangements and joint ventures.

What is a Teaming Arrangement?

FAR 9.6 authorizes teaming arrangements and distinguishes them from bid-rigging or anti-competitive collusion when they enable competitors to offer capabilities neither could provide alone. The regulation covers both "prime-subcontract" arrangements, where one firm leads the proposal and the other supports it, and joint venture arrangements, where both firms share in contract performance as co-owners.

The defining feature of any teaming arrangement is that it is formed specifically to pursue an identified opportunity or contract vehicle. General partnership agreements or preferred-vendor relationships do not constitute teaming arrangements under FAR.

Agencies sometimes issue Requests for Information (RFIs) or sources sought notices that explicitly ask for teaming structure information, signaling that they expect offerors to team. Solicitation sections may evaluate the qualifications of the entire proposed team, not just the prime, making the strategic choice of partners directly relevant to proposal scores.

Teaming arrangements are also used to gain access to contract vehicles. When an IDIQ vehicle like OASIS+ or SEWP opens for on-ramps, companies that cannot qualify independently may team with a vehicle holder to access task orders, with the vehicle holder acting as prime and the teaming partner performing work as a subcontractor.

Why Teaming Arrangements matter for government contractors

The federal market rewards teams that combine technical depth, past performance breadth, and socioeconomic diversity. A thoughtfully constructed teaming arrangement turns a company's gaps into solved problems, filling capability holes, satisfying set-aside requirements, and demonstrating to evaluators that the team can execute the full scope of work.

Example

A cybersecurity firm specializing in cloud architecture wants to pursue a five-year CISA contract requiring both cybersecurity and data analytics capabilities. It forms a teaming arrangement with a data analytics firm, executing a teaming agreement that designates it as prime and the analytics firm as a key subcontractor performing 35% of the work. Together, their combined past performance covers every evaluation factor in Section M.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a teaming arrangement and a teaming agreement?

A teaming arrangement is the general concept of companies partnering to pursue a contract. A teaming agreement is the specific written document that formalizes one type of teaming arrangement between a prime and proposed subcontractors.

Can teaming arrangements violate antitrust law?

Yes, if they are used to divide markets, fix prices, or eliminate competition rather than enable a combination that neither company could offer alone. FAR 9.6 is clear that arrangements must be procompetitive. Consult legal counsel before structuring a teaming arrangement among competitors in the same space.

Do agencies require teaming arrangements to be disclosed before award?

Solicitations often ask offerors to identify proposed subcontractors and their roles in the technical volume. The teaming agreement itself is typically not submitted with the proposal, but the proposed team structure and each member's qualifications are evaluated.

How do I identify good teaming partners?

USAspending subaward data reveals which companies frequently subcontract together, and in what NAICS codes. Industry events, contract vehicle incumbents lists, and capability statement exchanges are also effective ways to identify partners before an opportunity is released.