Sources sought, presolicitation, solicitation: SAM.gov notice types explained
SAM.gov publishes several kinds of notices, and only some of them can be bid on. Knowing the difference saves time, and the early ones are often where contracts are really won.
| Notice type | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sources sought | Market research. The agency wants to know who could do the job, often to decide whether to set it aside for small businesses. | Answer it if you can do the work. A short capability statement is usually enough. |
| Request for information | Similar to sources sought, often with questions about the approach or the market. | Answer if the work fits you; it can shape the final requirements. |
| Presolicitation | A solicitation is coming. Usually gives the scope, the expected date and the set-aside. | Start preparing: line up subcontractors, bonding and a site visit. |
| Solicitation | The request for bids or proposals (IFB, RFP or RFQ) with the full package and a deadline. | Read every attachment and amendment, then bid. |
| Combined synopsis/solicitation | Announcement and solicitation in one notice, common for commercial products and services. | Bid directly; deadlines are often short. |
| Special notice | Anything else: industry days, draft documents, events. | Read it. Industry days are a good way to meet the buyer. |
| Award notice | Who won and for how much. | Use it to learn prices and competitors in your trade. |
| Justification | The agency explains why it is buying from one source without full competition. | If you could have done the work, contact the contracting officer. |
IFB, RFP and RFQ
An invitation for bids (IFB) uses sealed bidding: bids are opened publicly and the lowest price from a responsive, responsible bidder wins. Many construction jobs work this way. A request for proposals (RFP) is a negotiated procurement, where the agency can weigh past performance and technical approach as well as price. A request for quotations (RFQ) is common for smaller purchases. The solicitation always explains how it will be evaluated.
Why the early notices matter
By the time a solicitation is posted, the requirements and the set-aside are fixed. Sources sought and presolicitation notices are your chance to influence both, and to start preparing weeks earlier than competitors who only watch solicitations. BidFox includes them in your alerts with fewer points than open solicitations, so they don't crowd out jobs you can bid on today.
Deadlines
The response date on a notice is final unless an amendment changes it. Times are usually given in the agency's local time zone. Late submissions are almost always rejected, so aim to submit a day early. See all federal contracts closing this week.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and dollar thresholds change, so check the solicitation and the official sources linked above.