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How do I use SAM.gov to find 'presolicitation notices' for upcoming federal contracts?

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I'm trying to get an early look at federal janitorial contracts, specifically for school districts or other government buildings. I keep hearing about presolicitation notices on SAM.gov, but when I search, I mainly find active Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB) listings. My NAICS code is 561720 for janitorial services. I've tried filtering by 'Notice Type' on SAM.gov, but 'Presolicitation' doesn't always show up as a clear option or the results are minimal. Am I missing something? How do I actually use SAM.gov to find these presolicitation notices to get ahead on upcoming federal contracts?

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asked Marcus T. Verified vendorOwner, janitorial and facilities firm · Columbus, OH · 1413 rep

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To find presolicitation notices on SAM.gov, you should primarily look for the 'Special Notice' or 'Sources Sought' notice types, as a dedicated 'Presolicitation' filter may not always be present or yield comprehensive results. A presolicitation notice serves as a preliminary announcement that an agency intends to issue a solicitation, offering an early look before the formal RFP or IFB is released.

Contracting officers use these notices to conduct market research, often in the form of a sources sought notice or a Request for Information (RFI), to gauge industry interest and capability. You can filter your SAM.gov search by your NAICS code (561720) and then review the 'Notice Type' filter to see if 'Special Notice' or 'Sources Sought' are available. These notices will sometimes state that a formal solicitation is forthcoming. While the FAR 5.201 allows for presolicitation notices, the specific labeling can vary.

For state and local janitorial contracts, you would need to check individual state procurement portals or local government websites, as they operate under their own acquisition regulations and use different posting systems.

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answered Dana K. Retired contracting officer, 22 years · Alexandria, VA · 445 rep
This is helpful. I usually search for `561720` on SAM.gov, but I haven't specifically filtered by `Special Notice` or `Sources Sought` type. I will try that next time. · Marcus T. ·

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Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

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