Federal glossary · Contract type
BIC (Best-in-Class) is an OMB designation for government-wide contract vehicles that represent the best value. Agencies are directed to use BIC vehicles when possible. Examples: SEWP, OASIS, EIS.
Example: A 5-year IDIQ with task orders or a GSA Schedule purchase.
Reference record · Sources: Federal Acquisition Regulation · Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Covers definition, governing source
Best-in-Class
Also known as
BIC (Best-in-Class) is an OMB designation for government-wide contract vehicles that represent the best value. Agencies are directed to use BIC vehicles when possible. Examples: SEWP, OASIS, EIS.
(Best-in-Class) is a contract type concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
BIC describes a specific contract structure that the federal government uses. For example: Example: A 5-year IDIQ with task orders or a GSA Schedule purchase. The contract type controls risk allocation, payment timing, reporting cadence, and how performance is measured — all of which affect whether the work is profitable and whether it fits a contractor's capability profile. Knowing whether a solicitation is structured as a BIC versus another vehicle is one of the first signals of how the government expects the work to be executed and what kind of contractor they're trying to attract. Misreading the contract type can mean either over-pricing risk you don't actually carry or under-pricing risk you do. The related terms above name the adjacent vehicles BIC most commonly competes with or rolls up under.
Example: A 5-year IDIQ with task orders or a GSA Schedule purchase.
Meaning in practice
BIC describes how the government structures the work, price, and risk.
Where you’ll see it
You will see it in solicitations, CLIN schedules, pricing tables, and award summaries. Example: Example: A 5-year IDIQ with task orders or a GSA Schedule purchase..
Common confusion
People often confuse a contract type with a vehicle, a task order, or a program name.
What to do next
Check payment timing, scope, and risk allocation before you bid or price the work.
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