How to Read a Federal Contract Notice in 10 Minutes
Read a federal notice in this order: notice type, response deadline, set-aside, NAICS code, place of performance, then the attachments for the evaluation method, required licenses, bonding and insurance, and the contract value. If any of those rules you out, stop there and move on.
The fields on the notice page
These are the fields that decide most notices. The names match the SAM.gov API.
| Field | What it tells you | Rule out if... |
|---|---|---|
| type | Information request, solicitation or award | It is an award notice |
| responseDeadLine | Last day to respond | You cannot prepare in time |
| typeOfSetAside | Which category may bid | You are not in that category |
| naicsCode, classificationCode (PSC) | The industry and type of work | It is not your work |
| placeOfPerformance | Where the work happens | It is outside your service area |
| description, resourceLinks | Scope and attachments | A required license, bond or clearance is missing |
What to look for in the attachments
- How the offer is evaluated: lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA), best value, or price only, and how much weight past performance has.
- Licenses, bonding and insurance the contract requires.
- Whether there is a site visit, and the deadline for questions.
- The page limit and how to submit.
- The value. Check whether the amount is per year or the total for all years and options; they can differ several times over.
Notice types
- Sources Sought and Request for Information: the agency is gathering information. See our Sources Sought guide.
- Solicitations: the agency is asking for offers.
- Award notices: the contract has already been given. There is nothing to bid on, so Kailu Bids excludes them.
Other notice types you will see on SAM.gov: Presolicitation, Solicitation, Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Special Notice, Award Notice and Justification (J&A). Sources Sought is covered in its own guide.
Where Kailu Bids helps
We read the attachments for you, extract the points above and check them against your profile. Anything the notice does not state is left blank rather than guessed, and we say so.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check first on a federal notice?
The notice type, the response deadline and the set-aside. Those three rule out most notices in a minute.
Where is the evaluation method?
In the solicitation attachments, usually in the instructions to offerors. It tells you whether price or technical merit decides.
Why does the contract value look different in two places?
Because one may be per year and the other the total including all years and options. Always check which one the notice means.
Can I skip the attachments?
No. The licenses, bonding, insurance, site visit and page limits are in the attachments, and they decide whether you can bid.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Kailu Bids is an independent service of Kailu Media LLC and is not affiliated with SAM.gov, the SBA or any government agency. Rules change; check the sources above. Last reviewed: October 20, 2026.