There are many websites to search for federal government contracts, including free government agency sites, paid subscription sites, and free websites.
Finding the contracts is not as difficult as finding an easy way to organize the contracts by date, and ensure that you can adequately research and make bid decisions in time to provide a compelling response to the RFPs.
Here are several sites to begin the search for federal government contracts.
Government Agencies: Search specific agencies for a list of current and upcoming contracts. Determine which agencies you want to support and search their websites first, look for Procurement. If you are in the early stages of GovCon, you are most likely a small business, so look for a Small Business Office.
Once you locate the Small Business Office information, email or call them and arrange a visit if possible. Discuss opportunities for your business. Ask for introductions to other companies and a list of contracts that includes the current contractors.
SAM.gov (old FedBizOps) – The Government’s site for posting procurements, announcements about procurements, and industry days.
Small Business Dynamic Search Tool – SBA tool to search for SBA-certified HUBZone WOSB, 8(a), and other businesses.
8(a) Directory – SBA tool that easily references 8(a) companies by state, industry, and name. Provides start and end date of company’s 8(a) certification.
System for Award Management (SAM) – Government site where all GovCons must register, and update registration yearly.
Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Program – Required Code for GovCons. Must have different CAGE Code for each location.
Paid Services:
GovWin by Deltek – One of the first market intelligence sites providing notice of, often ahead of, solicitation release. Analysts contact Contracting Officers on your request and gather information. Prices vary and can be $10,000 or more for 1 user annually.
GovTribe – Consolidated federal contract and grant data, market research, teaming partners, Government decision-makers contacts. Plans/pricing: https://govtribe.com/plans
Periscope S2G – Consolidates bids from 100,000+ organizations and agencies, including states. Offers a free limited search plus paid options.
BidNet – Federal, state, and local government RFPs across the US. Market research on closed and awarded bids.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Small Business
Army Materiel Command Resource Guide 2022
Defense Information Systems Agency
Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
Department of Health & Human Services
Department of Homeland Security Small Business Assistance
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
General Services Administration (GSA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
National Institutes of Health Small Business
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Office of Personnel Management
US Army Office of Small Business Programs
US Navy Doing Business with DON
This is the 2nd in a 13-part series focused on learning about Government RFPs and your response to RFPs as a government Contractor. Be sure and download our complete guide, Government RFPs: What You Must Know to be Successful. Check back each week for another installment in the series. Happy Bidding!
OneTeam is a complete, secure, cloud-based collaboration platform for GovCons to track, qualify, capture, propose and win more contracts with fewer resources by streamlining and automating processes. OneTeam was designed and developed by a federal government contractor to address the lack of resources and time, as well as the pain associated with winning government contracts. Our team of Proposal Managers, Capture Managers, and BD Managers write extensively about business development topics and best practices.