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Contracting guide

How to read a contract opportunity page

A 10-minute checklist for reading federal opportunity notices: what the agency buys, who buys it, the deadline, set-aside, NAICS and PSC, and when not to bid.

Published Jul 8, 2026 · Updated Sep 22, 2026

Some screenshots and steps describe an earlier edition of GovGazette. Use Search to explore today's records.

Five questions for the first ten minutes on a notice: what is bought, who is buying, deadline, who can compete, and which codes apply.
If these five answers remain unclear after you read the official notice, treat the notice as unclear.

The first 10 seconds

On a useful opportunity page, including GovGazette detail pages, answer these before you open attachments:

  • What is the agency buying? (title and main point of the description)
  • Who is buying? (department and office)
  • When do I have to respond? (deadline and urgency)
  • Who can compete? (set-aside or full and open)
  • What industry codes apply? (NAICS and PSC)

Deadlines and closed states

Response deadlines set a firm limit. For a notice that closes soon, count the time for the proposal, Q&A cutoff, and team work.

Closed notices can show past demand. GovGazette keeps closed pages online and links them to similar open opportunities.

NAICS, PSC, and set-aside fields

NAICS identifies the industry and often its size standard. PSC classifies the product or service. The set-aside states who may compete. Open the reference library when you do not know a code.

  • NAICS explainers: the NAICS industries reference
  • PSC explainers: the Product & service codes reference
  • Set-aside pages: /contracts/set-asides

Description vs attachments

The public description is a start. Attachments often contain key requirements such as the SOW, PWS, specifications, and wage determinations. If they matter and you have not opened them, your bid/no-bid decision is incomplete. Mark the scope unknown.

Comparison of public description fields with attachments that often control the bid requirements.
Unread attachments mean the decision is incomplete. Do not invent the scope.

Always open the official SAM link

GovGazette makes official opportunity data easier to read. Before you spend time or money on a proposal, open the official SAM.gov notice and check its versions, amendments, and attachments. GovGazette does not replace the source of record.

Practice on a real page

Open a live notice, answer the five questions, then choose pursue, investigate, or hold. Use the same questions for each notice.

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