XL EagleSources Sought (Sources Sought Notice)
Sources Sought stands for Sources Sought Notice. A sources sought notice asks businesses to tell the government they are capable and interested in an upcoming requirement. It is market research, not a solicitation, and no contract is awarded from it. Most notices ask for a short capability statement, your business size, your socioeconomic status and your relevant experience.
Contracting officers often use the responses to decide whether to set the work aside for small businesses. If enough capable small businesses respond, the agency may reserve the later solicitation for them.
Why it matters to a small contractor
This is one of the few times a small business can directly change who gets to compete. If you stay quiet, the agency may conclude no small firms are interested and open the work to everyone, including large companies. A two-page response that proves you can do the work is one of the best uses of your time in govcon.
Example
An Army installation posts a sources sought notice for grounds maintenance on 300 acres. Four small landscaping firms reply with capability statements, and the later RFP comes out as a total small business set-aside.
Sources Sought: common questions
Will I get a contract from a sources sought response?
No. It is information gathering only. You still need to respond to the actual solicitation when it is posted.
What should I include?
Follow the notice's instructions. Typically that is your company name, UEI, business size and certifications, a short capability summary and examples of similar work.
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