GovSentryGuides, strategies, and insights to help small businesses win government contracts.
June 2026 · GovSentry Team
Federal contracts flow through SAM.gov — but state, county, and city government contracts are scattered across thousands of separate portals. Here is how to find them, the free routes, and how AI consolidates the whole map.
Read more →June 2026 · GovSentry Team
Your SAM.gov registration expires every year — and a lapse can freeze payments and disqualify you mid-bid. A step-by-step registration and renewal checklist, common validation errors, and the free-vs-scam warning.
Read more →June 2026 · GovSentry Team
State and local contracts are often smaller and less competitive; federal contracts are larger and centralized. An honest comparison of size, competition, registration, and payment — and where a new small business should begin.
Read more →June 2026 · GovSentry Team
The honest answer: SAM.gov is free and lists federal opportunities — but it is federal-only, clunky, and you must chase state and local across hundreds of portals by hand. What you are really paying for is time, matching, and coverage.
Read more →June 2026 · GovSentry Team
SAM.gov is the free federal baseline, but its search and alerts are dated. A balanced look at the best SAM.gov alternatives — GovWin, BidNet, HigherGov, GovTribe, SamSearch — and where an affordable AI tool fits.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
Everything a first-time contractor needs to get set up in 2026: forming your entity, choosing NAICS codes, getting a UEI and registering in SAM.gov, set-aside certifications, your capability statement, and finding a first opportunity.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
The past-performance catch-22 stops most newcomers. Learn what actually counts as past performance and five proven strategies to land your first federal contract with no government experience.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
A side-by-side comparison of the four major set-aside programs — 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB — covering eligibility, benefits, and certification, so you can decide which one to pursue first.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
The same company can be small for one contract and large for another. Understand how SBA size standards work, the five-year receipts rule, the affiliation traps, and how to know whether you qualify before you bid.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
Recompetes are the most predictable opportunities in federal contracting. Learn how to find expiring contracts 12 to 18 months early using USAspending and FPDS, and build a pipeline before the RFP is ever published.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
Incumbents win most recompetes, but not all. Learn their real advantages and weaknesses, how to gather competitive intelligence, find the gaps, team strategically, and price to win as the challenger.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
Most contractors price blind and lose. Learn how to use public federal award data to see what agencies actually pay, find comparable contracts, understand LPTA versus best value, and build a price-to-win strategy.
Read more →May 2026 · GovSentry Team
SAM.gov returns thousands of irrelevant results with no relevance ranking. Learn how to filter the noise by NAICS, set-aside, location, and value, cover the sources SAM.gov misses, and find only the contracts you can win.
Read more →March 2026 · GovSentry Team
A comprehensive guide covering SAM.gov, USAspending, state portals, SBIR/STTR programs, and how AI tools are transforming contract discovery for small businesses.
Read more →March 2026 · GovSentry Team
Deep dive into SBA 8(a) eligibility requirements, net worth limits, the application process, common rejection reasons, and how to maximize the program's benefits over its 9-year lifecycle.
Read more →March 2026 · GovSentry Team
Learn how NAICS codes work, how they determine which contracts you can bid on, SBA size standards, and common mistakes businesses make when selecting their codes.
Read more →GovSentry monitors SAM.gov, state portals, and more so you never miss a contract opportunity.
Get Started Free