Guide
How to find veteran set-aside bids on SAM.gov
Go to SAM.gov Contract Opportunities, search by keyword or use advanced search to narrow the results to your trade. Anyone can search without an account. An account lets you save searches, follow opportunities, and join interested vendor lists. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
What is posted there
Contract Opportunities holds procurement notices from federal contracting offices: pre-solicitation notices, solicitation notices, award notices, and sole source notices. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
Search smart
Search with words that describe your trade, and use advanced search to narrow the results. Read each notice for its set-aside type, NAICS code, and place of performance. With an account, save the search and follow the notices you care about. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
Read pre-solicitations and award notices too
Pre-solicitation notices show work before it is open for bids, and award notices show who won similar jobs and for what. Both are posted in Contract Opportunities. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
Use the interested vendors list
With a SAM.gov account you can join an opportunity’s interested vendors list. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
Before you bid
Make sure your SAM registration is active, because offerors must be registered when they submit. [FAR 4.1102, SAM registration policy] For SDVOSB set-asides, your SBA certification has to show in SAM. [FAR 19.1405, Set-aside procedures]
Common questions
- Do I need a SAM.gov account to search bids?
- No. Anyone may search contract opportunities without an account. An account lets you save searches, follow changes, and join interested vendor lists. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
- Does SAM.gov have grants?
- No. SAM.gov points grant seekers to grants.gov. [SAM.gov, Contract Opportunities]
Free
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Sources
Checked against these sources on October 14, 2026. Rules change, so always read the current solicitation and regulation. This guide is general information, not legal advice.