# Find sources sought notices to shape requirements

To find sources sought notices with an AI agent, ask it to call search_opportunities with your NAICS code, type set to Sources Sought and open=true. It returns market research notices whose response date has not passed, with agency, deadline and the notice text, so you can respond while the requirement is still being written.

Small businesses that want to be in the room before a solicitation exists. Contracting officers use sources sought responses to decide whether enough capable small businesses exist to set a requirement aside (the rule of two), so two credible responses can change how the work is competed.

## The prompt

```
List open sources sought notices and RFIs under NAICS 541511, 541512 and 541519, with the agency, response date, and a two-sentence summary of what they are researching. Put the ones closing first at the top.
```

## What the agent calls

1. search_opportunities: Market research notices only, closing soonest first.

```json
{"name":"search_opportunities","arguments":{"naics":"541511,541512,541519","type":"Sources Sought","open":true,"sort":"deadline","user_request":"open sources sought in IT codes"}}
```

## Sample output

Trimmed; field names and structure match the live response, values are shortened or illustrative.

```json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "notice_id": "e75a0aa6a1ad4cd1966d5f88f093d546",
      "solicitation_number": "693JK327RFI01",
      "title": "Digital Repository Platform and Physical Library Management System",
      "type": "Sources Sought",
      "department": "TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF",
      "response_deadline": "2026-11-16T16:00:00.000Z",
      "set_aside": "No Set aside used"
    }
  ],
  "meta": {
    "as_of": "2026-11-12"
  }
}
```

## How to read the answer

- A sources sought with No Set aside used is the most valuable kind to answer as a small business: your response is evidence for setting the work aside.
- Special Notices also carry industry days and draft RFPs. Ask for type Special Notice in a second call if you track those.

## Make it yours

- Ask the agent to draft a capability response outline from the notice and your SAM.gov record.
- Filter to one agency with agency or agency_code.

## Pitfalls

- Some agencies label RFIs as Special Notice or Presolicitation. Search those types too before concluding there is nothing open.
- Respond in the format the notice asks for; a generic capability statement is often ignored.

## The same job over REST

```bash
curl "https://samgovapi.io/api/v1/opportunities?naics=541511,541512,541519&type=Sources%20Sought&open=true&sort=deadline" -H "Authorization: Bearer $SAMGOVAPI_API_KEY"
```

Plan: every plan. Credits: 1 credit per 100 rows returned, minimum 1.

## Questions

### What is the rule of two?

Under FAR 19.502-2, a contracting officer sets an acquisition aside for small business when there is a reasonable expectation of offers from at least two responsible small businesses at fair market prices. Sources sought responses provide that evidence.

### Does responding commit me to bid?

No. A sources sought is market research; responding creates no obligation.

All recipes: https://samgovapi.io/agents/recipes.md

Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by GSA, SAM.gov or any U.S. government agency. Registering in SAM.gov is free at sam.gov.