Reference · Contracting basics & process
Sources sought
Sources sought notice (market research)
A sources sought notice is a market-research posting in which an agency asks whether capable vendors — often small businesses — exist for an upcoming requirement. It is not a solicitation; it shapes the acquisition strategy before an RFP is issued.
What it is
Agencies post sources sought (and Requests for Information) during market research to gauge the vendor pool, capabilities, and whether a set-aside is feasible. Responses inform, but don't award, anything.
Why it exists
It helps the government scope the requirement, test small-business capacity, and decide competition strategy before committing to a solicitation.
Who it applies to
Contractors watching for early demand — a sources sought is one of the earliest public signals that a specific requirement is coming, months before an RFP.
Frequently asked
What is a sources sought notice?
A sources sought notice is a market-research posting where an agency asks whether capable vendors exist for an upcoming requirement — often to gauge small-business interest. It is not a solicitation and awards nothing; it helps shape the acquisition before an RFP is issued.
Terms like this one describe the paper trail Longlead reads for you. It turns public records into a cited qualification brief with your confidence and lead time, typically 9–18 months before demand surfaces as a named solicitation on major projects. You make the call, from your own channels; nothing leaves the system.
Or just see what Longlead finds for your scope.
Tell us what you sell and what you don't, and see the demand Longlead is inferring for you right now.