Sources Sought Notices
The earliest signal in federal contracting. A Sources Sought notice means an agency is researching the market before writing its solicitation — and the small businesses that respond shape whether the contract gets set aside at all.
294 active notices. Updated daily from SAM.gov.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)
Fire Truck Maintenance
General Hardware and Lumber Supplies
Highway Repairs at Mount Rainier
USNS Prevail Drydock Phased Maintenance Availability
Arkansas Valley Conduit Property Boundary Surveys
General Hardware Master BPA
Sony Switcher Equipment Maintenance
Information System Operational and Technical Services
Sources Sought — common questions
What is a Sources Sought notice?expand_more
It's market research, not a solicitation. Before an agency writes an RFP, it posts a Sources Sought notice asking 'who can do this work?' Businesses respond with a short capabilities statement — there is no bid, no pricing, and no award at this stage.
Why respond if there's nothing to win yet?expand_more
Because responses drive the set-aside decision. If enough capable small businesses respond, the Rule of Two pushes the contracting officer to reserve the eventual contract for small business — possibly for your certification specifically. Responding also puts your firm on the agency's radar before the RFP is written.
How long do I have to respond?expand_more
Response windows are typically two to four weeks from posting, and they're firm. Each notice lists its own response deadline and submission instructions — read the notice itself, since formats vary by agency.
What should a response include?expand_more
A concise capabilities statement: your company profile (UEI, CAGE, size status, certifications, NAICS codes), a point-by-point answer to what the notice asks, and two or three directly relevant past performances. It's market research, not a proposal — a few strong pages beat a long one.
Set-Aside Pro is an independent publication, not affiliated with the SBA or SAM.gov. Each notice's own text controls what a response must include — read it before submitting.