By default, Search only returns Active opportunities (those with a future due date). To include expired or future-scheduled opportunities, open Filters and adjust Due Date.
Quickstart
Describe what you want
In Smart Search mode, type your query in plain English. Switch to Keyword Search when you need boolean operators.
Search and save
Press Search, then use Save Search on results worth tracking. Manage saved queries on Saved & History.
New to SamSearch? The empty Search page shows three suggested queries — click any to run an example search.
Search modes
Smart Search (default)
Smart Search (semantic search) uses natural language — no boolean operators required. Examples:- “AI solutions for cybersecurity”
- “construction services for government buildings”
- “software development for healthcare systems”
Search defaults to a hybrid of Smart and Keyword matching. For reproducible, operator-based queries, switch explicitly to Keyword Search.
Keyword Search
For precise control using boolean operators, exact phrases, and Lucene syntax. Basic examples:("cybersecurity" AND "AI") AND NOT "project management""construction" AND ("government" OR "federal")"software" AND "healthcare" AND NOT "hardware"
Keyword Search syntax reference
Full operator reference: wildcards, field search, ranges, proximity, and worked examples.
AI Query Generator
Use the AI Query Generator to convert plain English into Keyword Search syntax.Write your query in plain English
Example:
I need cybersecurity services for cloud infrastructure but not project management rolesClick Generate
The AI converts it to syntax, e.g.
("cybersecurity" AND "cloud infrastructure") AND (NOT "project management")
- Smart Search
- Keyword Search
Use Smart Search when:
- You want to search using natural language
- You are exploring opportunities and want broad, relevant results
- You prefer AI to understand intent and context
- You are new to government contracting searches
Sources
SamSearch supports multiple opportunity sources. Toggle between them to find opportunities that match your business.| If you want… | Use this source |
|---|---|
| Federal solicitations on SAM.gov | Federal |
| State, city, county, school RFPs | SLED |
| DLA supply / small-parts opportunities | DIBBS |
| Contracts ending soon for follow-on bids | Recompete |
| Opportunities agencies plan to release | Forecasts |
| Prime-contractor subcontracting needs | Subcontracting |
| Federal grant funding | Grants |
| Cast a wide net across sources | Multi-Source |
Multi-Source
Search across multiple sources simultaneously.
Federal Contracts
Traditional government contracts and solicitations
SLED Opportunities
State, Local, and Education contracts
DIBBS
Defense Logistics Agency opportunities
Forecasts
Upcoming contract opportunities
Subcontracting
Subcontracting opportunities from prime contractors
Grants
Federal grant opportunities
Recompete
Expiring contracts likely to be recompeted
Source guides
Federal Contracts
Federal contracts are solicitations posted on SAM.gov from agencies including DOD, GSA, VA, and more.
SLED Opportunities
SLED covers state, local, municipal, school district, and education opportunities across 5,000+ websites.
Can’t find a specific site? Email support@samsearch.co — we add new sources regularly.
DIBBS Opportunities
DIBBS (Defense Logistics Agency Internet Bid Board System) lists DLA supply and service opportunities.
Forecasts
Forecasts show upcoming opportunities agencies plan to release — useful for early pipeline building.
Subcontracting
Find subcontracting opportunities posted by prime contractors. Filter by Confidence Level to prioritize the strongest leads.
High Confidence
Active subcontracting opportunities posted by primes seeking small business subcontractors.
Medium Confidence
Inferred opportunities from federal contracts with subcontracting plans (FAR 52.219-9).
Low Confidence
Similar to medium but with approaching deadlines or lower contract amounts.
Federal Grants
Federal grants from NIH, NSF, DOE, and other grant-making agencies.
Recompete
Recompete surfaces federal contracts approaching the end of their period of performance so you can position for the follow-on award — often 6–18 months before a new solicitation posts. Why recompetes matter:- Early identification before competitors react to posted solicitations
- Higher win probability when you understand the incumbent contract
- Strategic pipeline building from award data and agency behavior
Filter by Contract End Date to focus on contracts expiring soon and maximize preparation time.
Multi-Source
Enable Multi-Source to search several sources at once. All sources are selected by default; click a source again to deselect it.
Filters
Each source has its own sort and filter options. Open Filters from the search bar.- Federal
- SLED
- Forecasts
- Grants
- Subcontracting
- Recompete
| Sort by | Filter by |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Contract type (Solicitation) |
| Due date | Dept. / Ind. Agency |
| Alphabetically | Set Aside Code |
| Posted date | State |
Search results
Click any result to open the full opportunity. Learn more on Contract Page Overview.Export results
Click Export above the result list to download the current result set (respecting your filters) as CSV.Saving and managing results
Save Search
Use Save Search to store your current query, source, mode, and filters. Use the Saved dropdown next to Save Search to load a previously saved query without leaving the Search page.Manage alerts and history on Saved & History.
Save opportunities
Click Save on any result to add it to Saved Opportunities.Search tips
- Use natural language in Smart Search for exploration
- Be specific — include industry, service type, or location
- Try different sources — the same work may appear under multiple categories
- Use filters strategically — start broad, then narrow
- Save searches — monitor markets with alerts on Saved & History
Common search recipes
Copy-paste examples for Texas SLED, recompetes, grants, subcontracting, and more.