How to find federal contracts for your small business (2026)
The U.S. government awards hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts every year, and a large share is reserved specifically for small businesses. The challenge isn't availability — it's finding the opportunities that fit you before the response deadline passes.
1. Get registered and organized
Make sure your business is registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity ID (UEI), and identify the NAICS codes that describe what you do. These codes are how the government classifies every opportunity.
2. Know where opportunities are posted
Federal contract opportunities are published on SAM.gov, the official System for Award Management. It's free — but it posts more than 24,000 notices a month across every industry, with no easy way to see only the ones relevant to your business.
3. Filter to what matches you
Businesses that win consistently don't scroll SAM.gov — they monitor it. They filter by their NAICS codes, keywords, geography, and any small-business set-asides they qualify for (WOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB), and they respond early.
Let the matches come to you
BidRadar watches SAM.gov every day and emails you only the new opportunities that match your business — automatically. Set your profile once and stop scrolling.
BidRadar is an independent service and is not affiliated with SAM.gov or any government agency. Always confirm details and deadlines on the official notice.