FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
What Was FedBizOpps? How It Became SAM.gov Contract Opportunities
FedBizOpps, also called FBO, was the federal government’s original website for posting contract opportunities. It was retired in November 2019, and its functions moved to SAM.gov Contract Opportunities. If you found an old guide that tells you to search fbo.gov, use SAM.gov instead.
What was FedBizOpps?
FedBizOpps, or Federal Business Opportunities, was a standalone site where agencies posted solicitations and notices above a specified value. Contractors used it to find bids, track awards, and research agency needs. It had its own logins and search tools.
What replaced it?
SAM.gov, the System for Award Management, now hosts Contract Opportunities. GSA runs SAM.gov, and it brought several federal systems together over time. Today it covers:
- Contract Opportunities, the successor to FBO
- Entity registration, which every company must complete to receive federal awards, and which must be renewed annually
- Exclusions data, such as debarments and suspensions
- Assistance listings for grants, which replaced the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
- Wage determination resources, which absorbed the former Wage Determinations OnLine site. Confirm current hosting if you use older links
- Contract data and reporting features, some of which overlap with other federal data systems
Which old terms map to which new ones?
- FBO or FedBizOpps
- SAM.gov Contract Opportunities
- Sources sought or presolicitation notices
- Still used, and posted on SAM.gov
- DUNS number
- Replaced by the Unique Entity ID (UEI) in April 2022
- CCR (Central Contractor Registration)
- Folded into SAM.gov entity registration
- ORCA (online representations and certifications)
- Now part of SAM.gov registration
How do you use it today?
You can search Contract Opportunities without an account. To save searches and receive alerts, create a free SAM.gov account. Entity registration is separate and required for award. See How to Search SAM.gov for Federal Contract Opportunities.
How does this relate to the GSA MAS?
The MAS solicitation, 47QSMD20R0001, is posted on SAM.gov. Many RFQs to MAS contractors go through GSA eBuy and may not appear on SAM.gov. MAS holders should monitor both. See What Is GSA eBuy?.
What tips still apply from the FBO era?
- Watch presolicitation and sources sought notices for early signals
- Track incumbent contract end dates through award data
- Monitor amendments, since deadlines and requirements change
- Keep your registration current, because an expired registration can prevent award
FedBizOpps and SAM.gov FAQs
Finding opportunities, registering, and understanding your entity identifier.
Access, registration, and UEI
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Does fbo.gov still exist?
No. FedBizOpps was retired in November 2019.
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Do I need to pay to see opportunities?
No. SAM.gov Contract Opportunities is free. Commercial tools charge for added features.
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Is the SAM.gov registration the same as searching for opportunities?
No. You can search without registering, but you must register your entity to receive awards.
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What is a UEI?
A Unique Entity ID, the identifier assigned in SAM.gov that replaced the DUNS number.
Use today’s opportunity tools
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