# What is a sources sought notice? A sources sought notice is a market research posting in which an agency asks capable firms to identify themselves, often to decide whether to set a requirement aside for small businesses. A sources sought notice usually lists the draft requirement, the NAICS code and the questions the agency wants answered, and asks for a short capability statement by a deadline.Checked on 2026-11-12.Official source: [FAR 10.002](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/10.002) | Term | Sources sought notice | | --- | --- | | Source | FAR 10.002 | ## Sources sought notice meaning A sources sought notice is a market research posting in which an agency asks capable firms to identify themselves, often to decide whether to set a requirement aside for small businesses.A sources sought notice usually lists the draft requirement, the NAICS code and the questions the agency wants answered, and asks for a short capability statement by a deadline. The contracting officer uses the replies to decide whether the rule of two supports a small business set-aside. Notices are posted on SAM.gov with the notice type Sources Sought. ## Questions Is a sources sought notice a bid?No. Nothing is awarded from it; it is market research before a solicitation.What should a response include?Your UEI and CAGE code, size and socioeconomic status under the stated NAICS code, relevant past performance and direct answers to the agency's questions. ## Related - [Opportunity search](https://samgovapi.io/opportunity-search) - [Glossary](https://samgovapi.io/glossary)Updated 2026-11-12. Sources checked 2026-11-12.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.

---

HTML version: https://samgovapi.io/glossary/sources-sought . Markdown: https://samgovapi.io/glossary/sources-sought.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.

Get a free API key: https://samgovapi.io/sign-up?ref=ai-claudebot