How to Find Government Contracts: A Complete Guide for Small Businesses

The federal government spends over $700 billion a year on contracts. By law, a significant share of that spending is reserved for small businesses. But most small business owners never tap into this market because they do not know where to start.

This guide walks you through the entire process, from finding relevant contracts to positioning your business to win them.

Step 1: Register in SAM.gov

Before you can bid on any federal contract, you must register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Registration is free and takes about an hour, though approval can take one to two weeks.

You will need:

• Your business EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• A DUNS number or UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)
• Your bank account and routing numbers for electronic payment
• Your NAICS codes (more on this below)

SAM registration expires annually. Set a calendar reminder to renew it.

Step 2: Identify Your NAICS Codes

NAICS codes classify your business by industry. The government uses these codes to match contracts with qualified vendors and to determine small business size standards.

Every solicitation includes a primary NAICS code. If your business does not match the NAICS code on a solicitation, you may not be eligible to bid. Most businesses have two to five relevant NAICS codes.

You can look up your codes using the Census Bureau NAICS search tool or search contract awards by NAICS on GovContractData to see what codes are used for work similar to yours.

Step 3: Research Past Awards

Before chasing new opportunities, study what has already been awarded. Past award data tells you:

• Which agencies buy what you sell. Not every agency is a good fit. Focus on the ones that have a track record of buying your type of product or service.
• Who your competitors are. See which companies are winning in your space, what size contracts they win, and which agencies they work with.
• What typical contract values look like. This helps you calibrate your pricing and understand the scale of opportunity.

Search government contract awards on GovContractData by NAICS code, agency, or state to build this picture.

Step 4: Find Active Opportunities

New contract opportunities (solicitations, RFPs, and RFQs) are posted on SAM.gov under the Contract Opportunities section. You can search by keyword, NAICS code, agency, and set-aside type.

Tips for effective opportunity searching:

• Set up saved searches. SAM.gov lets you save search criteria and receive email notifications when new opportunities match.
• Check daily. Response deadlines can be tight. The sooner you find an opportunity, the more time you have to prepare a strong bid.
• Read the full solicitation. Pay attention to evaluation criteria, past performance requirements, and any certifications required.

Step 5: Leverage Small Business Set-Asides

The government reserves a portion of contracts specifically for small businesses. If your company qualifies under any of these programs, you face less competition:

• Small Business Set-Aside for any qualifying small business
• 8(a) Business Development for socially and economically disadvantaged firms
• HUBZone for businesses in underutilized areas
• SDVOSB for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses
• WOSB for women-owned small businesses

Check the SBA website to see which certifications your business may qualify for.

Step 6: Start Small

Your first government contract does not need to be a multi-million dollar award. Many businesses enter the market through:

• Micro-purchases (under $10,000) that do not require competitive bidding
• GSA Schedule contracts that let agencies buy from pre-approved vendors
• Subcontracting with established prime contractors who need partners

Starting with smaller contracts builds your past performance record, which is critical for winning larger awards later.

Step 7: Build Relationships

Government contracting is relationship-driven. Attend agency industry days, register in the SBA's SUBNet for subcontracting opportunities, and connect with Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) in your state for free counseling.

Research Your Market

The best way to start is with data. Search contract awards on GovContractData to understand your market, identify target agencies, and study the competition. You can filter by NAICS code, agency, state, and set-aside type to find exactly the contracts relevant to your business.

Ready for programmatic access? Check our API plans for automated contract data integration with your business development tools.