Free ways to find set-aside contracts
You don't have to pay to find federal set-aside contracts. The government's own tools are free, and between them they cover open solicitations, upcoming buys, subcontracting leads and past awards. Here's what each one is for.
1. SAM.gov Contract Opportunities (the official source)
SAM.gov Contract Opportunities is where federal agencies generally post contract opportunities expected to exceed $25,000. Searching is free and needs no account. Use the Set Aside filter to see only the programs you qualify for. With a free SAM.gov account you can save searches and get email notifications. To bid as a prime, your business also needs a free Register your entity on SAM.gov. Our SAM.gov search guide walks through it.
2. Agency forecasts (what's coming next)
Agencies publish forecasts of planned purchases, often months before a solicitation reaches SAM.gov. GSA's Acquisition Gateway forecast dashboard gathers forecasts from participating agencies, shows whether a buy is expected to be set aside for small businesses, and needs no registration (GSA: Forecast of Contracting Opportunities tool). Forecasts are for planning only and can change or be cancelled, so confirm the final set-aside when the solicitation posts on SAM.gov.
3. SBA SUBNet (subcontracting leads)
SBA SUBNet subcontracting opportunities lists subcontracting opportunities posted by prime contractors that are looking for small subcontractors. It's free to browse by state or keyword, and you contact the prime directly. Subcontracting is a common way to build the past performance that helps you win prime contracts later.
4. Specialized buying systems
- DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS): the Defense Logistics Agency posts requests for quotations, mostly for supplies and parts. You need to register to submit quotes.
- GSA eBuy: agencies send requests for quotations to GSA Multiple Award Schedule and other GSA contract holders. Only those contract holders can respond.
5. Award history (who buys what)
USAspending.gov shows past federal awards by agency, NAICS code and place of performance. It won't show open opportunities, but it tells you which agencies buy what you sell and who won before, which helps when you respond to sources sought notices.
6. Free help
APEX Accelerators (free government contracting help) offer free one-on-one help with registration, finding opportunities and bids. Keep your profile current in SBA Small Business Search too: contracting officers and prime contractors use it to find small businesses by NAICS code, certification and location.
7. SetAside Signal (a free daily digest)
SetAside Signal republishes only the set-aside notices from SAM.gov's public data, sorted by set-aside type, state, agency and industry, and emails new ones every morning. It needs no account. It doesn't replace SAM.gov: every listing links to the official notice, and you should always read the full notice there before bidding.
When a paid bid-search service might be worth it
Commercial bid-search and market-intelligence services charge a subscription. Depending on the provider, they may add things the free federal tools don't, such as state and local bids, search inside solicitation documents, award analytics and pipeline or CRM tools. Features and prices vary widely, so compare each provider's own pricing and feature pages against what you actually need. If you only bid on federal set-asides, the free tools above cover the core sources.
A simple free routine
- Save a SAM.gov search for your NAICS codes and set-aside types, or subscribe to our free digest.
- Check the forecast dashboard monthly for buys planned in your NAICS codes.
- Browse SUBNet for subcontracting leads.
- Look up past awards on USAspending.gov before you bid.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free way to find set-aside contracts?
- Yes. SAM.gov Contract Opportunities is free to search and has a Set Aside filter, and a free SAM.gov account adds saved searches and email notifications. Agency forecasts, SBA SUBNet and USAspending.gov are also free.
- Where do federal agencies post set-aside contracts?
- On SAM.gov Contract Opportunities, where agencies generally post opportunities expected to exceed $25,000. Some buying systems, such as DLA DIBBS and GSA eBuy, post requests for quotations for specific purchases.
- How can I find set-asides before they are posted?
- Check agency procurement forecasts. GSA's Acquisition Gateway forecast dashboard gathers forecasts from participating agencies and shows whether a buy is expected to be set aside. Forecasts can change, so confirm on SAM.gov.
- Do I need a paid bid-search tool?
- Not to find federal set-asides: the official tools are free. Paid services may add features such as state and local bids, document search and pipeline tools. Compare their published features and prices with what you need.
SetAside Signal is an independent publication, not a government agency, and this isn't legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the official sources: SBA (sba.gov), SAM.gov and the FAR at acquisition.gov. Last updated .