What Is a Sources Sought Notice? How to Respond
A Sources Sought notice is a request from a federal agency asking which companies could do a piece of work, published before the agency decides how to buy it. Answering it is not bidding, but it puts your company in front of the buyer and can help the agency decide to reserve the contract for small businesses.
What it is and what it is not
A Sources Sought (and its close relative, the Request for Information) is a notice where the agency collects information about the market. It is not a solicitation: no contract is awarded from it, and answering does not commit you to bid later. Agencies use these answers for market research (FAR Part 10).
Kailu Bids treats both as a "position yourself" route, separate from regular bids: the goal is for the agency to see capable small businesses and, ideally, reserve the later solicitation for them.
Why it is a good first move for a new company
It asks for who you are and what you have done, not for a full proposal or a price. Kailu Bids prioritizes these notices for companies that are not yet registered or have no federal contracts.
The FAR requires SAM.gov registration to submit an offer, and an answer to a Sources Sought is not an offer. Many notices still ask for your UEI, so registering first (it is free) is the safe move.
What to put in a response
- Your company name, UEI and the NAICS code of the work.
- Your size status and any certifications you hold. State only what you can prove.
- Relevant past work, if you have any. If you have none, say so rather than invent it; a response with true limited experience is better than a false one, because false statements to the government have legal consequences.
- Capacity and location for the place of performance.
- Answer every question the notice asks and meet the deadline. Follow the notice's format and page limit exactly; each notice sets its own.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sources Sought notice?
A notice where a federal agency asks which companies could perform a job, before deciding how to buy it.
Is responding to a Sources Sought the same as bidding?
No. It tells the agency your company exists and is capable. The contract is bought later through a solicitation.
Do I need to be registered in SAM.gov to respond?
It depends on the notice; check it. Registering in SAM.gov is free.
Does responding guarantee a contract?
No. It can help the agency find and consider small businesses, nothing more.
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.