What Is a Recompete in Government Contracting?
A recompete is a new competition for work already under contract, held as the current contract ends. It's your chance to take work from the incumbent.
Recompete in plain English
Agencies usually compete the work again when a contract ends, so a contract's end date tells you roughly when its recompete is coming. That can give you months to prepare.
Watch for a sources sought notice or presolicitation before the new solicitation. Answering early can help shape how the work is bought, including whether it's set aside.
Use award data to learn the incumbent, the price and the period of performance, then plan your bid or a teaming approach.
Related terms
- Incumbent: The incumbent is the company doing the work under the current contract. When the agency competes the work again, the incumbent usually bids to keep it.
- Period of performance: The period of performance is the time during which a contractor must do the work under a contract, often a base period plus option periods.
- Option year: An option year is an extra year of work the government can add to a contract at its choice. Many service contracts have a base year plus option years.
- Sources sought notice: A sources sought notice is market research: an agency asks which businesses can do a job before it decides how to buy. Answering it isn't a bid.
Put it to work
Looking for another term? Browse the full glossary or the government contracting glossary guide.