Sources Sought Notices Explained: How to Respond

Updated November 10, 2026. Facts come from official pages read on that date (listed under Sources). EasBid is an independent bid search service and is not affiliated with any government agency.

A sources sought notice is an agency's market research request: it asks which businesses can do a planned piece of work, before any solicitation is issued, and a response is not a bid or an offer. Many vendors skip these notices because there is no contract attached. That is often a mistake, because the agency's market research is where it decides how to buy, including whether to set the work aside for small business. This guide explains the rules behind these notices in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and how to answer one well.

What is the difference between a sources sought notice and an RFI?

In practice the two are close cousins. FAR 15.201 lists RFIs among the ways agencies exchange information with industry before proposals arrive, together with industry or small business conferences, public hearings, market research, one-on-one meetings with potential offerors, presolicitation notices, draft RFPs, presolicitation or preproposal conferences and site visits. It says RFIs may be used when the government does not presently intend to award a contract but wants price, delivery, other market information or capabilities for planning, and that responses are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a binding contract.

A sources sought notice is usually narrower: the agency describes a requirement and asks capable firms, often small businesses, to say so and show their capability. Agencies use both labels, and the notice itself tells you what it wants.

Why do agencies post them?

Market research is required. FAR 10.001 says agencies must conduct market research appropriate to the circumstances before developing new requirements documents and before soliciting offers for acquisitions above the simplified acquisition threshold, among other times. FAR 10.002 lists techniques such as contacting knowledgeable people in government and industry, reviewing recent market research for similar needs, and publishing formal requests for information.

FAR 15.201 says the purpose of these early exchanges is to improve understanding of the government's needs and of what industry can do, so potential offerors can judge whether and how they can meet the need. FAR 5.205 also allows special notices for things like business fairs, long-range procurement estimates, prebid and preproposal conferences and draft solicitations.

How can a response lead to a set-aside?

The set-aside decision rests on what the contracting officer expects from small businesses. Under FAR 19.502-2, work above the simplified acquisition threshold must be set aside for small business when there is a reasonable expectation that offers will come from at least two responsible small businesses and that award will be at fair market prices; below that threshold, a set-aside is required unless that expectation is missing. FAR 2.101 sets the simplified acquisition threshold at $350,000.

If capable small firms do not respond to market research, the agency may not have the evidence it needs for a set-aside. A clear response from your business is one of the data points it can use. FAR 19.203 also says that above the simplified acquisition threshold the contracting officer first considers the 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB and WOSB programs, so state any of those statuses you hold.

Is there any risk in responding?

Little, if you follow the notice. The FAR 52.215-3 provision used on these requests says the government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the request or to pay for the information. Mark proprietary details as the notice instructs, and do not include pricing unless asked. Responding does not commit you to bid, and not responding does not bar you from bidding later.

What should a good response include?

Business basics. Company name, Unique Entity ID, CAGE code if you have one, address and a contact person's role and email.
Size and status. Your size under the NAICS code in the notice, and any SBA certification (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) you hold.
Direct answers. Answer each question in the notice in order, using its numbering. Do not send a generic brochure instead.
Relevant experience. Two or three similar jobs with scope, size and dates.
Capability for this work. How you would staff and deliver it, plus any licenses, clearances or equipment it needs.
Useful feedback. If the planned approach would shut out capable firms (bundling, unusual requirements), say so politely and suggest alternatives.

Keep it short, within any page limit, and send it by the deadline to the contact named in the notice.

Where do you find sources sought notices?

Federal notices are on SAM.gov, the governmentwide point of entry named in FAR 2.101. Many states and cities also post RFIs on their portals before large buys. EasBid lists notices from many sources; search your keywords and save the search to get new matches by email.

What happens after you respond?

Usually nothing you can see right away. The agency reviews responses, decides on its strategy and, if it goes ahead, posts a presolicitation notice or a solicitation. FAR 5.203 says a notice of a proposed contract action must generally be published at least 15 days before the solicitation is issued. Watch for the follow-on notice, and if the work is set aside for small business, you will already know the requirement well.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sources sought notice a bid?

No. It is market research. FAR 15.201 says responses to RFIs are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a contract.

Do I have to respond to bid later?

No. Responding is voluntary and does not commit you to bid. Skipping it does not bar you from the later solicitation, but your answer can influence how the work is bought.

Can my response make the contract a small business set-aside?

It can help. Under FAR 19.502-2, set-asides depend on a reasonable expectation of offers from two or more responsible small businesses at fair market prices, and market research is how agencies form that expectation.

Should I include prices?

Only if the notice asks for them. Many notices ask only for capability and experience. The FAR 52.215-3 provision says the government does not intend to pay for information it receives.

How long should a response be?

Short. Follow any page limit, answer each question in order, and include your size, status and two or three relevant past jobs.

Sources

FAR 15.201 Exchanges with industry before receipt of proposals (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 10.001 Market research policy (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 10.002 Market research procedures (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 5.205 Special situations (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 19.502-2 Total small business set-asides (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 19.203 Relationship among small business programs (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 2.101 Definitions (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 52.215-3 Request for information or solicitation for planning purposes (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)
FAR 5.203 Publicizing and response time (acquisition.gov, read November 10, 2026)

General information, not legal advice. Always follow the instructions in each solicitation.

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Sources sought notices explained