# How do I find sources sought notices through an API? Filter opportunities by notice type Sources Sought: the official Get Opportunities API uses ptype=r, and this API uses type=Sources Sought with NAICS, agency and open filters. On 15 Nov 2026 the loaded file had 5,081 active sources sought notices, posted before any solicitation exists. A sources sought notice is market research under FAR Part 10. Many sources sought notices carry the NAICS code and an anticipated set-aside.Checked on 2026-11-15.Official source: [FAR Part 10](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-10) | Active sources sought | 5,081 | | --- | --- | | Active presolicitations | 6,907 | | Rule | FAR Part 10 market research | | Official type code | ptype=r | ## The answer in detail A sources sought notice is market research under FAR Part 10. Agencies use the responses to decide whether to set a requirement aside for small businesses (the rule of two) and which vehicle to use, so a capability response here can change who is allowed to bid later.Many sources sought notices carry the NAICS code and an anticipated set-aside. Responses are short: capability, past performance, size status and any teaming. Deadlines are often one to three weeks.Presolicitations (6,907 active) and special notices such as industry days are the next signals in the same feed. ## How the options compare | Option | Price | Access and limits | Coverage and history | Best for | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [SAM.gov APIs (official)](https://open.gsa.gov/api/entity-api/) | Free | 10 requests a day with no SAM.gov role, 1,000 with a role or a non-federal system account; keys expire every 90 days | The live, authoritative record: entities, opportunities, exclusions, contract awards, hierarchy, subawards | Anyone who needs the official record itself, at low volume | 2026-11-12 | | [GovCon API (govconapi.com)](https://govconapi.com/pricing) | Developer $19/mo, Pro $39/mo; 14-day trial | 1,000 requests an hour (50 a minute burst); trial 50 a day | 12,265,150 contracts and 758,552 opportunities from FY2025; 904,090 entities, monthly | Developers who want the lowest entry price and FY2025+ history | 2026-11-15 | | [samgovapi.io](https://samgovapi.io/pricing) | Free (100 credits a month, no card); Developer $49/mo, Pro $149/mo, Scale $499/mo | 20 to 180 requests a minute by plan, no daily cap; REST, MCP and keyless MCP search | 881,370 entities (1 Nov 2026 extract), 74,420 notices, 169,191 exclusions, 114,954 awards since 1 Oct 2026 | Developers and AI agents who want entities, bids and exclusions joined in one API | 2026-11-15 | ## Where samgovapi.io is the weaker choice - Opportunities load nightly from SAM.gov's Contract Opportunities file, so a notice posted this morning appears tomorrow; SAM.gov has it at once. - The notice set is the 74,420 notices in SAM.gov's current file; GovCon API serves 758,552 notices from FY2025, including archived ones. ## Try it Open sources sought notices in engineering services. ``` curl "https://samgovapi.io/api/v1/opportunities?type=Sources%20Sought&naics=5413&open=true&sort=deadline" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SAMGOVAPI_API_KEY" ``` ## Questions Is a sources sought notice a bid?No. It asks for capability information; there is no award from it, but responses shape the later solicitation.What is the rule of two?If two or more capable small businesses are expected to bid at a fair price, the contracting officer sets the requirement aside (FAR 19.502-2). ## Related - [Sources sought](https://samgovapi.io/glossary/sources-sought) - [Recipe: sources sought to shape requirements](https://samgovapi.io/agents/recipes/sources-sought-notices-to-shape-requirements) - [API docs](https://samgovapi.io/docs) - [Pricing](https://samgovapi.io/pricing) - [Answers](https://samgovapi.io/answers)Updated 2026-11-15. Sources checked 2026-11-15.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.

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