# How do I find federal contracts coming up for recompete? Sort awards by potential end date: a contract whose potential end date, including all options, falls in the next 12 to 18 months is the likeliest recompete. USAspending carries that date; this API's /recompetes endpoint returns awards ending within N months by NAICS, agency and set-aside, and found 36,507 loaded awards ending within 12 months. USAspending goes back to FY2001 and GovCon API serves 12.27 million contracts from FY2025.Checked on 2026-11-15.Official source: [USAspending API](https://api.usaspending.gov/docs/endpoints) | Awards ending within 12 months | 36,507 | | --- | --- | | Field used | Potential end date | | Awards loaded | 114,954 | | Alerts | Pro and Scale | ## The answer in detail Potential end date is the latest date the contract can run if every option is exercised. Agencies usually start the follow-on acquisition 12 to 18 months before it, with sources sought or an industry day, so a recompete list doubles as a list of notices to watch for.Not every ending contract is recompeted: work can be bundled into a larger vehicle, moved to a GWAC, brought in-house or extended with a bridge. The incumbent, the vehicle and the original competition type tell you how open the next round is.The count here covers only awards with an action since 1 Oct 2026, because that is the history loaded (114,954 prime awards with action dates from 1 Oct 2026 to 10 Nov 2026 (fiscal year 2027 so far)); long-running contracts with no recent action are missing. ## How the options compare | Option | Price | Access and limits | Coverage and history | Best for | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [USAspending API (official)](https://api.usaspending.gov/docs/endpoints) | Free, no key | No key and no published daily cap | Prime awards and subawards back to FY2001; no SAM.gov registration status or expiry | Award and spending history | 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 | | [HigherGov](https://www.highergov.com/pricing/) | Starter $500/yr, Standard $2,500/yr, Enterprise custom | API on paid plans; 10,000 records a month as its API page stated on 12 Nov 2026 | Opportunities, awards, awardees, IDVs and forecasts in a search UI with exports | Small BD teams who want a polished search UI | 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 - Award history is short: 114,954 prime awards with action dates from 1 Oct 2026 to 10 Nov 2026 (fiscal year 2027 so far). USAspending goes back to FY2001 and GovCon API serves 12.27 million contracts from FY2025. - Recompete alerts are a Pro plan feature here; GovCon API's recompete watchlist is on its $39 Pro plan. ## Try it Awards in NAICS 541512 whose potential end date falls within 12 months. ``` curl "https://samgovapi.io/api/v1/recompetes?naics=541512&months_ahead=12" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SAMGOVAPI_API_KEY" ``` ## Questions What is a bridge contract?A short extension or sole-source award that keeps work running when the follow-on is not ready.Where do recompetes get announced?In SAM.gov as sources sought, presolicitation or industry day notices, and in agency procurement forecasts. ## Related - [Recompetes](https://samgovapi.io/recompetes) - [Recipe: list recompetes in my NAICS](https://samgovapi.io/agents/recipes/list-recompetes-in-my-naics) - [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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