Most small businesses skip sources sought notices and requests for information (RFIs) because there’s no contract to win yet. That’s a mistake. Your response can decide whether the eventual contract is set aside for small or certified businesses, or opened to everyone.
What a sources sought notice is
Before an agency issues a solicitation, the contracting officer does market research. A sources sought notice asks businesses whether they can do the work and what their size and certifications are. An RFI asks for broader input on requirements, approach or pricing.
Why your response matters
Under the federal “rule of two,” if a contracting officer reasonably expects offers from at least two capable small businesses at fair prices, the contract should generally be set aside for small businesses. The same logic applies to 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB and SDVOSB set-asides.
If qualified small or certified firms don’t respond, the agency has no evidence they exist, and the contract often goes full and open. Your response is how the contracting officer knows you’re there.
Where to find sources sought notices
- SAM.gov Contract Opportunities, filtered by notice type “Sources Sought” and your NAICS codes
- Agency forecasts of upcoming contracting opportunities
- Email alerts on SAM.gov saved searches
How to write a strong response
- Answer exactly what’s asked, in the order asked, within any page limit.
- State your size and certifications up front, along with your UEI, CAGE code and NAICS codes.
- Show relevant capability with specific, similar past work, including commercial or subcontract work.
- Recommend a set-aside if you can perform the work, and say which type.
- Flag problems politely, such as requirements that unnecessarily exclude small firms.
- Attach a one-page capability statement. See what goes on a capability statement.
Certification makes your response count
A response from a certified 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB or SDVOSB firm can support a set-aside that only certified firms can bid on. An uncertified firm’s response can only support a general small business set-aside. See what certification unlocks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sources sought notice?
It is a market research notice an agency posts before a solicitation to find out whether capable businesses, especially small and certified businesses, can do the work.
Should small businesses respond to sources sought notices?
Yes. Responses help contracting officers decide whether to set the contract aside for small or certified businesses. If qualified firms don’t respond, the work is more likely to be opened to everyone.
Is responding to an RFI the same as submitting a proposal?
No. An RFI or sources sought response is not an offer and does not lead directly to an award, but it shapes how the solicitation is written.
What is the rule of two?
If a contracting officer reasonably expects offers from at least two capable small businesses at fair market prices, the contract should generally be set aside for small businesses.
Work with GERC
We track sources sought notices in your NAICS codes and write responses that position your firm for a set-aside. GERC is a woman-owned firm in San Bernardino, registered in SAM.gov under CAGE code 11SD2 and certified by the State of California as a Small Business (Micro) and a Small Business for Public Works (SB-PW). Book a consultation or see our capability statement.