As you browse DIBBS, you'll notice that some solicitations are flagged as "automated." It's a small label with a big practical meaning — and for a new vendor, it often points to your best early opportunities.
In one sentence: an automated solicitation is one the DIBBS system can evaluate and award without a contracting officer manually reviewing quotes — usually a smaller-dollar, commercial-item buy where the best-priced, eligible quote wins.
Automated vs. manual: the real difference
Every DLA requirement gets awarded one of two ways:
- Automated — the system makes the award decision, driven mainly by price and eligibility. These tend to be lower-dollar, straightforward commercial items, and they move faster. Some can even be awarded ahead of the listed deadline.
- Manual — a human contracting officer reviews the quotes before awarding. These can be larger or more complex, may weigh more factors than price alone, and generally take longer.
Why beginners should pay attention to automated solicitations
Three reasons they're beginner-friendly:
- Smaller and simpler. Lower-dollar commercial items are easier to source and easier to fund your first orders.
- Clear rules. The decision leans on price and eligibility, so there's less mystery about how you win.
- Faster feedback. Quicker awards mean you learn what wins sooner, instead of waiting weeks on every bid.
That combination is why a lot of vendors land their first contract on an automated buy and use it to build a track record.
What "automated" does NOT mean
It does not mean "cheapest automatically wins, no matter what." To take the award you still have to be:
- Responsive — your quote matches the exact item and terms requested
- Responsible — you're properly registered and genuinely able to deliver to spec, on time
And as always in federal contracting: there are no guaranteed awards. Price competitively, quote accurately, and deliver reliably.
New to the system? Read What Is DIBBS? first, then the step-by-step DIBBS Tutorial for Beginners.