Guides · 4 min read
Sources sought and RFIs: why answering one can win you work
Updated October 30, 2026
Before many buys, the agency does market research: it posts a sources sought notice or a request for information (RFI) to learn who could do the work. There is nothing to win yet, which is why most companies skip them. That is a mistake.
Why it matters
Agencies generally must set a buy aside for small businesses when they expect at least two capable small businesses to offer fair prices. Your response is evidence that small businesses are out there. A handful of good responses can turn a buy that would have been open to everyone into one only small businesses may bid on.
What to send
- Your company name, UEI and CAGE code, and your size and any certifications.
- A short statement of how you would meet the requirement, or the source you would supply from.
- Relevant experience, even if small or commercial.
- Answers to any specific questions the notice asks, and nothing it does not.
Keep it short
One or two pages is usually plenty. Follow the format and deadline in the notice, and keep the solicitation number on everything.
Following a buying office in ZukoBid shows you its new notices, including sources sought, so you can respond before the solicitation is written.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules and thresholds change; the solicitation and the official rule are the authority.
More guides
How to win your first government contract (with no experience) →How to bid on DLA's DIBBS: a beginner's guide →Can you resell products to the government? The nonmanufacturer rule, explained →What is a set-aside, and do you qualify? →How (and when) the government pays you →What is an NSN? National Stock Numbers, explained →How to read a DLA RFQ, line by line →How to find a supplier for a government contract →How to price a government bid (and still make money) →How to register on SAM.gov, step by step (it's free) →What is a CAGE code? →SAM.gov notice types, explained →RFQ vs. RFP vs. IFB: what is the government asking for? →How to win micro-purchases (government buys under $15,000) →Unit of issue: the small detail behind big pricing mistakes →FOB origin vs. FOB destination: who pays to ship it? →First article testing, explained →Military packaging and marking for beginners →How to find out who won a government contract, and for how much →ZukoBid is an independent service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Figures come from public records and may contain errors; always check the official listing before you bid.