How to bid on federal construction contracts

The U.S. government hires builders every day, from roof repairs at a VA clinic to new runways at an Air Force base. Most of these jobs are posted publicly on SAM.gov, and many are reserved for small businesses. Here is how a small contractor goes from zero to a submitted bid.

1. Get registered in SAM.gov

You can read notices without an account, but to be awarded a federal contract your business must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). It is free. You get a Unique Entity ID, and a CAGE code is assigned as part of the process. Plan for it to take a few weeks the first time, so start before you find the job you want. Our SAM.gov registration guide walks through the steps.

2. Know your NAICS codes

Every notice is tagged with one NAICS code, and agencies use it to decide which businesses count as "small" for that job. General contractors usually work under 236220 (commercial and institutional building) or 237 codes for civil work. Specialty trades have their own 238 codes, such as 238220 for plumbing and HVAC or 238160 for roofing. List every code you can genuinely perform in your SAM.gov registration. See NAICS codes for construction contractors.

3. Find notices that fit

Search SAM.gov by NAICS code and place of performance, or let a service do it for you. Pay attention to the notice type. A sources sought notice is market research: answering it can convince the agency to set the job aside for small businesses. A presolicitation tells you a solicitation is coming. A solicitation is the real thing, with a deadline. Our guide to notice types explains each one. You can browse open federal construction contracts by state here, updated every morning.

4. Read the whole package before you price

A construction solicitation comes with attachments: the scope of work or specifications, drawings, a wage determination and the bid form (often Standard Form 1442). Look for:

• Set-aside: who is allowed to bid. A small business set-aside means large firms cannot.
• Magnitude: agencies state a price range, such as "between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000". It tells you whether the job fits your bonding capacity.
• Site visit: many jobs have one scheduled visit. Missing it makes pricing guesswork.
• Questions deadline: questions are usually due well before bids. Answers are published as amendments.
• Amendments: you must acknowledge every amendment in your bid, or it can be rejected.
• Evaluation method: sealed bidding goes to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. A negotiated procurement may weigh past performance and technical approach as well as price.

5. Line up bonds and wages

Federal construction contracts over $150,000 need performance and payment bonds, and the bid itself usually needs a bid bond. Most also require Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for workers on site. Talk to a surety early, because bonding capacity limits the size of job you can take. Read bonds and prevailing wages for the details.

6. Submit on time, exactly as asked

Federal deadlines are strict: a late bid is normally rejected. Follow the submission method in the notice (email, a portal, or a sealed envelope for a public bid opening), fill in every form, sign it, and acknowledge all amendments. After award, the agency publishes an award notice. If you lost, you can usually ask for the winning price, which is the best possible lesson for your next bid.

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.