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Where do I find subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts that have already been awarded?

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  • Luis, while Priya is correct that there isn't a central federal portal for post-award subcontracting opportunities, you can also look for subcontracting opportunities in the contract documents themselves or through the prime's small business liaison.
  • A prime contractor's small business subcontracting plan, required for contracts over $900,000 as per FAR 19.702(a)(1), will often list specific areas
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My firm is an SDVOSB specializing in cybersecurity, NAICS 541519. We're looking to subcontract on federal contracts, especially with primes on larger projects. I've been trying to find a central place where primes list their subcontracting opportunities after they win a federal award. I've seen some scattered portals and outdated pages on various agency sites. Is there a better way to find these opportunities? I'm specifically interested in how other SDVOSBs find primes to partner with after the prime has already won the contract. Are there any specific types of notices or portals I should be looking at for post-award subcontracting opportunities?

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asked Luis A. Verified vendorSDVOSB founder, court reporting and legal support · San Antonio, TX · 247 rep

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Luis, while Priya is correct that there isn't a central federal portal for post-award subcontracting opportunities, you can also look for subcontracting opportunities in the contract documents themselves or through the prime's small business liaison. A prime contractor's small business subcontracting plan, required for contracts over $900,000 as per FAR 19.702(a)(1), will often list specific areas where they anticipate needing small business support, even if it does not list specific solicitations. Many primes also attend small business outreach events sponsored by federal agencies or APEX Accelerators, which can be a good way to connect with them directly after they have won an award. Some agencies also host industry days where primes might discuss upcoming subcontracting needs related to their recent wins.

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answered Nadia F. Verified vendorWOSB owner, management consulting · Minneapolis, MN · 469 rep
Nadia, thanks for the tip on the small business subcontracting plan. I'll start looking for those in the contract documents to identify potential primes and their anticipated needs. · Luis A. ·
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There is no single central portal where prime contractors are required to list subcontracting opportunities after they win a federal award. Instead, a prime contractor that received an award over the $900,000 threshold (or $2 million for construction) and has subcontracting possibilities must submit a small business subcontracting plan, as required by FAR 19.702(a)(1). These plans outline the prime's commitment to utilize small businesses, but they do not typically include specific, real-time subcontracting solicitations. To find these opportunities, you should focus on building relationships with prime contractors that frequently win federal contracts in your NAICS code. Many primes will list their general small business outreach information on their corporate websites. You can also research past award data on SAM.gov or USAspending.gov to identify primes that have won contracts relevant to your cybersecurity services. Reach out to the small business liaison officers at these primes to introduce your firm and its capabilities. Some primes may use their own proprietary portals or simply advertise opportunities directly to small businesses they have identified through outreach.

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answered Priya S. Verified vendorCapture manager, IT services · Herndon, VA · 222 rep
The point about building relationships with prime contractors is key. Many primes will not advertise every subcontracting need publicly; they rely on their established network of known small business partners. · Dana K. ·

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