Unofficial. Not affiliated with SAM.gov or the U.S. government. Data from SAM.gov (public). Registration in SAM.gov is free — never pay anyone to register.
How to Bid on Federal Contracts: 6 Steps for Small Businesses
To bid on a federal contract you need a free SAM.gov registration, the right NAICS code, and an eligible open notice. Then you read the full solicitation and submit your offer before the response deadline. Here is the order to do it in.
1. Register your business in SAM.gov (free)
Every business that bids on federal prime contracts needs an active SAM.gov entity registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free on SAM.gov. It can take several weeks, and you must renew it every year. Companies that charge a fee to "register" you are not the government; you never need to pay for registration.
2. Find your NAICS codes
NAICS codes describe what your business does. Each notice lists one NAICS code, and that code decides which SBA size standard applies. Browse open opportunities by NAICS sector to see which codes agencies are buying under.
3. Check if you qualify as small — and for which set-asides
Compare your revenue or employee count with the SBA size standard for your NAICS code. Certifications such as 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, HUBZone and SDVOSB (SBA VetCert) open additional set-aside opportunities.
4. Read the whole notice and its attachments
The official notice on SAM.gov contains the statement of work, evaluation criteria, question deadlines and how to submit. Amendments are common, so check the notice again before you submit.
5. Respond early: sources sought, questions, then your offer
Answering sources sought notices with a short capability statement shows agencies that small businesses can do the work. Submit questions before the question deadline and send your offer exactly as the notice instructs, before the response deadline.
6. Get free help
APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs) and SBA resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers offer free or low-cost counseling on government contracting. Start from the SBA federal contracting guide.
Watch out for registration scams
SAM.gov registration is free. Some companies send official-looking letters or emails offering to register or renew you for a fee. You do not need them. Set-Aside never charges for anything and never asks for personal or bank information.