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Sources Sought Notices Open Now

137 sources sought notices are open right now. A sources sought notice is market research: the agency asks which businesses could do the work before it decides how to buy it. Your answer can persuade the contracting officer to set the contract aside for small businesses.

Notice types

Latest sources sought notices

Showing the 60 newest of 137. See every open bid on the open government contracts page.

Why early signals matter for small businesses

By the time an RFP is released, the requirement is set and the deadline is often a few weeks away. Early signals give you months instead. You can answer the agency's market research, show that capable small businesses exist, ask questions, find teaming partners and prepare your proposal before competitors notice the contract.

It matters most for set-asides. Under the FAR “rule of two”, a contracting officer generally sets a contract aside for small businesses when at least two capable small businesses are expected to bid at a fair price. Sources sought responses are how the contracting officer finds out.

How to respond to a sources sought notice

  1. Check the NAICS code and size standard: make sure your business counts as small for that code.
  2. Answer every question in the notice, in the format and page limit it asks for.
  3. Give your company name, UEI, CAGE code, size and any certifications (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB).
  4. Show relevant past performance: similar work, its size and the customer.
  5. Attach a short capability statement and send it to the named contact before the response date.

Government contract forecasts

Beyond notices on SAM.gov, most federal agencies publish an annual procurement forecast listing contracts they plan to award. Many are collected in GSA's Acquisition Gateway procurement forecast. Combine the forecast with the early signals here and the agency's contract spending history to see what is coming and who wins that work today.

Early signal terms

Sources sought notice
Market research by an agency asking which businesses could do the work. Answering can help persuade the agency to set the contract aside for small businesses.
Presolicitation notice
An advance notice that an agency plans to issue a solicitation soon.
RFI (Request for Information)
Market research where an agency asks businesses for information about a planned requirement, such as approaches, capabilities or pricing structures. It is not a bid.
Industry day
An event where an agency briefs interested businesses on an upcoming contract and answers questions, often announced in a special notice.
Solicitation
A notice asking businesses to submit bids, quotes or proposals for a contract.
Set-aside
A contract reserved for small businesses, or for a group such as 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Capability statement
A one- or two-page summary of what your business does, its past performance and its codes, used to introduce your firm to agencies and prime contractors.

Guides for getting ahead of the RFP

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Frequently asked questions

What is a sources sought notice?
A sources sought notice is market research an agency posts on SAM.gov to find out which businesses can meet a requirement before it decides how to buy it, including whether to set it aside for small businesses.
How do I respond to a sources sought notice?
Answer exactly what the notice asks, usually in a few pages: your company details and UEI, your size status for the NAICS code, relevant past performance and how you would do the work. Many businesses attach a capability statement. Send it to the contact named in the notice before the response date.
What is the difference between a sources sought notice and an RFI?
Both are market research and neither is a solicitation. A sources sought notice mainly asks who is capable of the work; a request for information (RFI) usually asks for input on the requirement itself, such as approach, pricing structure or technical details.
Should a small business respond to a sources sought notice?
Yes, if you can do the work. Under the FAR rule of two, a contracting officer generally sets a contract aside for small businesses when at least two capable small businesses are expected to bid at a fair price. Your response is the evidence that decides it.