Federal Contracting Acronym
NTP
Notice to Proceed
Plain-English definition
A Notice to Proceed authorizes a contractor to begin work or incur costs under a contract or order, subject to its stated limitations. In federal practice, Notice to Proceed connects to how contracting officers, program offices, and industry teams interpret requirements, document decisions, and execute awards. Authoritative context is typically found in FAR materials and agency supplements where applicable. Contractors should trace how NTP appears in the specific solicitation or contract rather than assuming uniform usage across agencies.
Why it matters
Understanding Notice to Proceed (NTP) reduces misalignment during proposal preparation, contract performance, and compliance reviews tied to acquisition obligations.
Where you will see it
SAM.gov notices, contract clauses and attachments, DoD forms and supply systems when applicable, and internal capture or program management documentation.
Example in context
During a bid review, the capture lead notes NTP in the solicitation, assigns a subject-matter owner to confirm requirements, and records the decision in the compliance matrix.