XL EagleSolicitation
Solicitation. A solicitation is the document a government buyer issues to ask businesses for prices on something it needs. It is the umbrella term for an RFQ, an RFP or an IFB. It tells you what is being bought, where and when the work happens, how to respond, and how the winner will be picked.
Federal solicitations are posted on SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities, and state and local buyers post on their own portals. A solicitation can change after it is posted through amendments, so the version you read on day one may not be the final one.
Why it matters to a small contractor
Everything you are judged on is written in the solicitation. If you miss a required form, a signature block or a deadline buried on page 40, a lower price will not save you. Read the whole thing, including the attachments, before you price a single line.
Example
A county posts a solicitation for mowing at six parks. The scope says weekly cuts from April to October, the pricing sheet asks for a price per park per cut, and the instructions say quotes must be emailed as one PDF by 2:00 p.m. local time.
Solicitation: common questions
Is a solicitation the same as a contract?
No. A solicitation is an invitation to respond. A contract only exists after the government accepts an offer or issues an award.
Where do I find federal solicitations?
Most open federal opportunities are listed on SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities. Some agencies also use their own systems, and defense buyers sometimes post through PIEE or DIBBS.
Want the contract without the paperwork? Send XL Eagle your price on an open government job. We write and submit the bid under our registrations, free to you. Find open jobs →