How to find government contracts for a small business

Federal agencies post most contract opportunities over $25,000 on SAM.gov, which anyone can search for free. States and cities post on their own bid sites, so a small business finds work by searching those official sites for its own codes and words, then reading the notices that fit.

Start with what you sell

Before you search, write down three things:

1. Your NAICS codes. These six-digit industry codes are how buyers label work. See NAICS codes and size standards.
2. Your plain words. The terms a buyer would use for your work, such as "janitorial", "HVAC repair" or "software development".
3. Where you can work. The states and cities you can serve, or "remote" if the work can be done from anywhere.

These three lists turn a pile of notices into a short list.

Search the federal site first

SAM.gov is the official home of federal contract opportunities. You do not need an account to read notices.

1. Open the Contract Opportunities search on SAM.gov.
2. Filter by your NAICS codes and keep "Active" notices only.
3. Add a place of performance filter for your states.
4. Save the search when you sign in, so SAM.gov can email you new matches.

Read the notice type on each result. A solicitation asks for an offer. A Sources Sought notice or a Request for Information is market research, and answering it early is one of the best moves a new business can make. See Sources Sought: why to answer them.

Add your state and local buyers

States run their own bid sites. In Texas, state agencies post on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD). Cities, counties and school districts usually use their own portals, and each one needs its own vendor account. List the five to ten local buyers closest to you and register with each.

Look at the past and the future

• The past: USAspending.gov shows who won earlier contracts in your codes, which office bought, and how much was committed. It tells you who buys what you sell.
• The future: Many agencies publish forecasts of planned buys. A forecast is a lead, not a promise that a solicitation will post.

Get free help

APEX Accelerators give free counseling on finding and answering bids, in person and online. SBA district offices and Small Business Development Centers help too. You never need to pay anyone to search SAM.gov.

Common mistakes

• Searching only by keyword and missing notices labeled with your NAICS code.
• Ignoring market research notices because they do not lead straight to a contract.
• Waiting until a solicitation posts to learn who the buyer is.
• Paying for a list you could pull yourself from SAM.gov for free.

How Victavio helps

Victavio reads SAM.gov's public notices every day, adds Texas state bids from the ESBD, and scores each one against your profile, so you read a short list instead of thousands of notices. You still decide what to pursue, and you click Submit on the buyer's own site.

Do I need to register before I can search?

No. Anyone can read notices on SAM.gov without an account. You need an active SAM.gov registration to submit most federal offers, and SAM.gov registration is free.

How often should I search?

Check new notices at least a few times a week. Many responses are due in 30 days or less, and some much sooner.

What if nothing fits yet?

Answer market research notices in your field, and read past awards to learn who buys your work. Then follow those buyers.