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Upcoming Government Contracts

Find upcoming government contracts before the RFP. These early signals are federal notices posted on SAM.gov before a contract is put out to bid: 137 sources sought notices, 103 presolicitation notices and 0 special notices are open now. Updated daily.

Notice types

Live early signals

Showing the 60 newest of 240. See every open bid on the open government contracts page.

Upcoming government contracts by category

  • Equipment and manufacturing: 61 open early signals
  • Other: 50 open early signals
  • Construction: 15 open early signals
  • IT and telecom: 10 open early signals
  • Transportation: 10 open early signals
  • Repair and maintenance: 9 open early signals
  • Manufacturing: 8 open early signals
  • Real estate and leasing: 8 open early signals
  • Facilities and support services: 7 open early signals
  • Engineering: 7 open early signals
  • HVAC and Plumbing: 6 open early signals
  • Training and education: 5 open early signals

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

Ready to bid now?

Frequently asked questions

How can I find upcoming government contracts before the RFP?
Watch sources sought notices, presolicitation notices and special notices (industry days and RFIs) on SAM.gov, and read agency procurement forecasts. These are published before the solicitation, often weeks or months ahead. This page lists the open ones, updated daily.
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.
Is responding to a sources sought notice a bid?
No. It is market research. You are not making an offer and the agency will not award a contract from it, but it can shape the requirement and whether it is set aside.
Where are federal procurement forecasts published?
Most agencies publish an annual forecast of planned contracts. Many are collected in the Acquisition Gateway procurement forecast run by GSA, and agencies also post them on their small business (OSDBU) pages.