What is a government contract forecast?

A contract forecast is an advance notice published by a federal agency indicating it plans to solicit a contract in the future. Forecasts include estimated solicitation dates, award dates, contract values, and NAICS codes, giving contractors months of lead time to prepare.

How are forecasts different from active solicitations?

Forecasts are advance planning documents, they are not yet open for bids. When an agency is ready to proceed, it publishes an official solicitation on SAM.gov. SamSearch alerts you the moment a forecast turns into a live solicitation so you never miss your window.

Which agencies publish contract forecasts?

Most major federal departments publish annual or quarterly forecast documents, including DOD, DHS, NASA, HHS, VA, and GSA. SamSearch aggregates forecasts from 20+ agencies so you have a single place to monitor the forward pipeline.

What do the estimated dates mean?

The 'Est. Solicitation Date' is when the agency expects to publish the formal RFP or RFQ. The 'Est. Award Date' is when they expect to select a winner. Both are planning estimates and can shift, SamSearch tracks updates automatically.

How should I use forecasts to win more contracts?

Use forecasts to build a pipeline months in advance: identify target opportunities early, research the incumbent (if any), align your NAICS codes, and start building agency relationships well before the solicitation drops. SamSearch tracks forecasts through award so you never lose sight of an opportunity.

How current is the forecast data?

SamSearch refreshes forecast data regularly as agencies publish and update their procurement outlooks. Set up SamSearch alerts on specific agencies, NAICS codes, or dollar thresholds to be notified of new and updated forecasts automatically.

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Forward Pipeline

Government Contract Forecasts

SamSearch indexes 13,000 upcoming federal contract forecasts: advance planning notices from agencies with estimated solicitation dates, award timelines, and projected contract values. Get ahead of the competition by building your pipeline months before solicitations drop.

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Total Forecasts

13K

Future opportunities indexed

Distinct Agencies

Buyers publishing forecasts

What is a forecast? Federal agencies publish contract forecasts as early planning notices: they are not yet open for bids. Forecasts tell you what an agency intends to buy, when it plans to solicit, and how much it expects to spend. Tracking forecasts gives contractors a head start of weeks or months before a solicitation is officially posted.

Latest Forecasts

The most recently published upcoming contract forecasts across federal agencies.

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Forecasts, frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about government contract forecasts and how to use them to win more business.

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