The Float for
Government contractors
Federal work is steady and the customer always pays. It just pays on its own clock, and if you are a subcontractor you are waiting on the prime as well.
Get the government work section first
Same weekly issue, your industry up top.
Invoice accepted
Payroll and materials for the period are already paid.
Agency pays
Generally within 30 days of a proper invoice. Subs wait on the prime after that.
What we cover each week
- Payment timing under the Prompt Payment Act, and what makes an invoice proper.
- Appropriations deadlines, continuing resolutions and shutdown risk.
- New awards and where the money is going, by agency and state.
- Subcontract terms, pay-when-paid clauses and whose clock you are on.
Guides
Evergreen pieces we keep current. Each one is general information, not advice.
Invoicing through IPP and WAWF without rejections
Federal invoices go through an electronic system, and the payment clock does not start until the system accepts yours. Here is how the two main systems work and why invoices get bounced.
When the government pays: the Prompt Payment Act in plain English
Federal agencies generally must pay proper invoices within 30 days, or owe interest. Here is what that means for your cash plan.
SAM.gov lapses: how a missed renewal stalls your payments
Your SAM.gov registration has to be active to win work, and it has to stay active and accurate to get paid. Here is how it lapses, what breaks when it does, and a routine that keeps it current.
Subcontracting on federal work: whose clock are you on?
The government pays the prime. The prime pays you. Read the subcontract's payment terms closely.
What could your business qualify for? Take the two-minute check.