Once your business is registered, DIBBS — the DLA Internet Bid Board System — is where the actual work happens: finding requirements and submitting quotes. New to the term? Start with What Is DIBBS? This tutorial assumes you know what it is and walks you through using it.
Before you start: you need an active SAM.gov registration and a CAGE code. DIBBS is where you bid; SAM.gov is where you register. If you haven't done that yet, do it first — it's free.
Step 1 — Create and activate your DIBBS account
Go to the DIBBS website and choose vendor registration, then enter your CAGE code and follow the prompts. As a security step, the DLA mails a postcard containing a PIN to the address on your SAM record (plan on roughly ten days). You enter that PIN back in DIBBS to activate the account. We cover this step in detail in the DIBBS postcard & PIN guide.
Step 2 — Subscribe to your Federal Supply Classes
DIBBS organizes items into Federal Supply Classes (FSCs) — category codes for groups of similar products. Identify the FSCs that match what you can source, then subscribe to notifications for them. Now, instead of manually hunting, you'll be alerted when the DLA posts something in your lane.
Step 3 — Search for solicitations
Use the solicitation search to filter by your FSCs. Each result is a solicitation — a single requirement listing the item, quantity, specifications, and deadline. As a beginner, look for straightforward commercial items you can confidently price. You'll also notice some solicitations marked "automated" — those are typically smaller orders the system can award without manual review, which often makes for a cleaner first win. (More on that in What "Automated" Means on DIBBS.)
Step 4 — Read the requirement carefully
Before you price anything, confirm you can meet exactly what's asked:
- The precise item — part number, National Stock Number, or brand if specified
- The quantity and unit of measure
- Any packaging, marking, or inspection requirements
- The delivery timeline and the quote deadline
Some items include a Technical Data Package with drawings or specs — download and read it so you quote the right thing. If a requirement is brand-name-only and you can't source that brand, move on.
Step 5 — Get a supplier quote and submit your price
Contact a manufacturer or authorized distributor, get a price for the exact item and quantity, add your margin, and account for any shipping or packaging costs. Then submit your quote in DIBBS before the deadline. Remember: you don't buy anything yet — you only purchase after you win.
Step 6 — Track results and keep quoting
Awards aren't instant, and you won't win every one — pricing and volume decide outcomes. Treat it like building a business: quote consistently on items you can price well, learn from what wins, and refine. Over time, a steady quoting habit is what turns into steady awards, and eventually into recurring Long Term Contracts.
Want the bigger picture first? Read How to Sell to the DLA: A Beginner's Walkthrough for the full journey from registration to your first sale.