How to Find Government Contracts for Your Small Business

To find government contracts, search Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, the free official site where federal agencies post what they want to buy, and filter by your NAICS code, set-aside type and state. The small businesses that win also look earlier in the process: at sources sought notices, agency forecasts and past awards, so they see work coming before a solicitation is posted.

Where are government contracts for bid posted?

Federal contract opportunities are posted on SAM.gov, in the section called Contract Opportunities. Agencies generally have to post buys expected to exceed $25,000 there. Under the FAR overhaul text most agencies now use, the line is $20,000. That makes it the closest thing to a complete list. That makes SAM.gov the best website to find federal government contracts, and it's free.

Three things to know before you start:

• You don't need an account to search. SAM.gov says anyone may search contract opportunities without one.
• A free user account adds tools. When you're signed in, you can save searches, follow notices to see changes, and join a notice's interested vendors list.
• Searching isn't bidding. To bid as a prime contractor, your business needs an active SAM.gov registration. Plan on at least 10 business days after you submit, so start early. See how to register on SAM.gov.

There's plenty to look through. On September 25, 2026, FedReady's search of SAM.gov data showed about 11,100 open opportunities still accepting responses. About 3,400 of them (31%) were set aside for small businesses or Indian-owned firms.

What about local government contracts? SAM.gov lists federal opportunities. State, county and city governments post their bids on their own purchasing websites, so check your state's procurement office and your city or county purchasing department separately.

How to find government contracts on SAM.gov

Open Contract Opportunities and use the filters. Here's how to search SAM.gov for contracts that fit your business.

Search by NAICS code

This is the most useful filter. Each solicitation generally gets one NAICS code, and that code also sets the size standard for the buy. Enter each code you work under. If you haven't picked yours yet, see how to choose NAICS codes. If you sell products, also try filtering by Product Service Code (PSC).

Government contracts near me: search by state

To find government contracts near you, use the place of performance filter and pick your state. It matters most for services like cleaning, grounds work and construction, where your crew works at the government site. For example, here are open opportunities in Texas.

Filter by set-aside and notice type

Filter to the set-asides you qualify for. Any business that's small under a solicitation's NAICS code can bid on a total small business set-aside. Set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned (WOSB) and service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) businesses need SBA certification. Then choose the notice types you want to see, which the next section explains.

Search with the government's words

Keyword searches only find the words agencies actually use. A cleaning company should try "custodial" as well as "janitorial." A lawn care company should try "grounds maintenance," "mowing" and "snow removal." Open a few notices in your field and borrow their terms.

Two more habits save time:

• Open the attachments. The notice text is often a short summary. The real details, like the work statement and pricing sheet, are usually in the attached files.
• Look at inactive notices when you research. Last year's solicitation shows what an agency bought, how it described the work, and who handled it.

Which notice types should you watch?

A federal buy usually moves through a series of notices. Knowing the order tells you how much time you have and what the agency wants from you.

The counts are from the same September 25, 2026 snapshot of SAM.gov data. A few notes on reading them:

• RFIs (requests for information) are market research too. Responses aren't offers, so answering one doesn't commit you to anything.
• Presolicitation notices aren't always posted. Agencies can skip them in some cases, so don't wait for one.
• Combined synopsis/solicitations are the biggest group. They're used for commercial products and services, and the notice itself is the solicitation. The clock is already running when you see one.
• Justification notices explain why an agency bought from one source without full competition. They're useful research, not bidding opportunities.

When you find a solicitation worth a look, see how to read a government solicitation.

Why beginners should start with sources sought notices

A sources sought notice is the agency doing market research before it decides how to buy. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires agencies to use market research to decide whether capable sources exist and whether to use a small business program. Under the rule of two, if the contracting officer reasonably expects offers from at least two capable small businesses at fair prices, the buy must be set aside for small businesses.

That gives your response more weight than you might think:

• You can shape the competition. Your answer can be one of the two that gets a contract set aside for small businesses.
• It's cheap to do. There's no price proposal, just a short response about what you can do.
• It puts your name in front of the buyer. The contracting officer sees your business before the solicitation exists.
• It isn't a bid. A sources sought notice isn't a solicitation, so responding doesn't commit you to anything.

To respond well, answer exactly what the notice asks, in the order it asks. Lead with your Unique Entity ID (UEI), CAGE code, NAICS codes, size and any certifications. Then give specific examples of similar work, commercial or government, with the size, location and scope. A tailored capability statement makes a good attachment when the notice allows one.

How to find contracts before they're posted

Agency procurement forecasts

Agencies publish forecasts of what they plan to buy. The Small Business Administration (SBA) says each agency's forecast includes contracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. Acquisition.gov links to the forecasts of more than 20 agencies at acquisition.gov/procurement-forecasts. GSA and many other agencies also post plans in a shared Forecast of Contracting Opportunities tool, which GSA says can help you prepare "sometimes months before a solicitation appears on SAM.gov."

Forecasts are plans, not promises. Use them to choose which agencies to contact and which solicitations to watch for.

Past awards on SAM.gov and USAspending.gov

Past awards show who buys what you sell, how often and for how much. Two free places to look:

• SAM.gov contract award search. FPDS.gov's search tool shut down on February 24, 2026. All its contract award data is now in SAM.gov, and you need a free SAM.gov account to search it.
• USAspending.gov. The Treasury Department's public spending site. Search it by NAICS code, agency and location.

Look for four things: which agencies buy the most under your NAICS codes, who holds the current contract (the incumbent), what it's worth, and when it ends. A contract near its end date may be competed again soon. The large companies that keep winning in your field are also your best subcontracting prospects.

Get on the agency's radar

Many agencies have an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) or an Office of Small Business Programs. They're there to help small businesses work with their agency, so reach out once you know which agencies buy what you sell.

Also make your SAM.gov profile complete and specific. It feeds SBA's Small Business Search (SBS), a database that agencies use to find small business contractors for upcoming contracts.

Other ways in: subcontracts, schedules and small purchases

Subcontracting with prime contractors

Large businesses that win federal contracts above $900,000 ($2 million for construction) generally need a subcontracting plan with goals for using small businesses. That gives them a reason to find you. SBA's SubNet database lists subcontracting opportunities posted by large contractors. You can search it by state or keyword, and you contact the prime contractor directly, not SBA. Plenty of small firms get their first federal work as a subcontractor.

GSA Schedule and eBuy

The GSA Schedule, also called the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), is a long-term contract that lets agencies order from you directly. Schedule holders get requests for quotes through GSA eBuy, which only contract holders can see. Getting on the schedule takes real work: GSA requires its Pathways to Success training and a Readiness Assessment, two years of relevant experience (its Startup Springboard option allows alternatives), and an offer through eOffer. For most beginners it's a later step.

Micro-purchases and the government purchase card

Micro-purchases are buys up to $15,000 (lower for construction and some services). They can be made without competing quotes if the price is reasonable, they're often paid with a government purchase card, and they don't have to be posted on SAM.gov. Agencies can also set card limits below $15,000. To win them, make it easy for nearby federal offices and bases to find you, and accept card payments.

Saved searches and a weekly routine

Finding contracts is a habit, not a one-time search. Set up your searches once, then check them on a schedule.

Set up your searches. Sign in to SAM.gov, search with your NAICS codes, set-aside and state, and save the search. Save a separate one for sources sought notices. Follow any notice you might bid on so you see amendments. You can also browse the same notices in FedReady's free search, updated daily from SAM.gov data. A free FedReady account lets you save searches and choose daily or weekly alerts, save opportunities to a watch list, and track their deadlines. Alert emails are coming soon.

Every week:

• Check your saved searches for new solicitations and combined synopsis/solicitations.
• Answer at least one sources sought notice that fits your business.
• Check the notices you follow for amendments and answers to questions.
• Put every due date and question deadline on your calendar, with the time zone.
• Look up the past award behind one promising notice.

Every month:

• Check the forecasts of your top three agencies.
• Search SubNet and contact one prime contractor.
• Update your capability statement and SAM.gov profile if anything changed.

Next steps

Once you've found a few notices worth a look, learn which set-asides you qualify for and how to read a solicitation quickly. When you're ready to bid, follow the 90-day plan to win your first federal contract.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm details on SAM.gov and the official agency sites linked above before you act. FedReady is an independent company and is not affiliated with any government agency.