Glossary

Sources sought

A sources sought notice is a federal market-research notice asking companies whether they can do a planned piece of work, usually by sending a short capability statement. It is not a solicitation, but the responses help decide how the work will be bought, including whether it is set aside for small businesses.

By BidAuthorPublished Aug 27, 2026Updated Nov 6, 2026

01Why agencies post them

Before buying, agencies must do market research appropriate to the purchase (FAR Part 10). A sources sought notice, posted on SAM.gov, is one way to learn who can do the work. Its main use is the set-aside decision: if the contracting officer expects offers from at least two capable small businesses at fair prices, the work must be set aside for them (FAR 19.502-2). If too few qualified small businesses respond, the agency may open the competition to all firms. A response can therefore decide whether you compete against large companies at all.

02Where to find them

On SAM.gov, sources sought is its own notice type, so a saved search can filter for it by NAICS code, agency and set-aside. Agencies also announce industry days and draft requirements as special notices. Read every attachment: the draft statement of work in a sources sought notice is often close to the final one.

03What contracting officers do with responses

Decide whether to set the work aside. The rule of two applies above the simplified acquisition threshold, and below it, purchases above the micro-purchase threshold are reserved for small business by default (FAR 19.502-2).
Consider a partial set-aside when a total set-aside is not appropriate but the work can be divided (FAR 19.502-3).
Choose a program. There is no order of precedence among 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned set-asides (FAR 19.203).
Refine the requirement, including the scope and the NAICS code.
Justify limited competition if only one capable source turns up: an award without full and open competition needs a written justification, which is made public (FAR 6.305).

04What to send

Answer what the notice asks, in its order and within its page limit. A response that covers what most notices ask for:

Part	What to include
Header	The notice number and title, company name, Unique Entity ID, CAGE code and a point of contact
Status	Size under the notice's NAICS code, socioeconomic certifications, and contract vehicles such as a GSA schedule
Capability	How you would meet each requirement in the draft scope, in its order, with your capacity and locations
Experience	Two to five relevant contracts (past performance): customer, value, dates and what matched
Answers	The notice's specific questions, and any comments on the draft requirements or the NAICS code

Be specific about what you have done that matches, and honest about gaps. An overstated response does not help when the solicitation arrives.

05Mistakes that cost you

Sending a generic capability statement instead of answering the notice.
Leaving out your size and status under the stated NAICS code; the contracting officer needs it to count you toward the rule of two.
Overstating capacity or experience you would have to prove later.
Missing the deadline or the page limit.

06After you respond

Responses rarely get a reply. Track the notice and watch for the presolicitation notice or solicitation that follows, and use the time for capture: partners, key personnel and the customer's priorities. For how a sources sought notice differs from an RFI, see that entry.

Sources sought: common questions

Do I have to respond to a sources sought notice to bid later?

No. A solicitation that follows is open to eligible firms whether or not they responded. But responses can affect whether the work is set aside and how it is described.

How long should a sources sought response be?

Follow the page limit in the notice. When there is none, a few focused pages that map to the requirements are more useful than a full brochure.

Is a sources sought notice the same as an RFI?

They overlap: both are market research and neither is a solicitation. Sources sought notices focus on finding capable firms, often small businesses; RFIs can also ask about approaches, pricing and the requirement itself.

Can a sources sought notice lead to a sole-source award?

It can, if market research finds only one capable source. An award without full and open competition then needs a written justification, which is made public (FAR 6.305).

Sources

FAR 10.001 — Policy (market research)Acquisition.gov
FAR 10.002 — Procedures (market research)Acquisition.gov
FAR 19.502-2 — Total small business set-asidesAcquisition.gov
FAR 19.502-3 — Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award contractsAcquisition.gov
FAR 19.203 — Relationship among small business programsAcquisition.gov
FAR 6.305 — Availability of the justificationAcquisition.gov
Get Opportunities Public API (SAM.gov contract opportunities)GSA Open Technology

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