Conduct market research

We strongly recommend you conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis before competing for a government contract. The questions you want to answer are:

• Is there a need for my products or services?
• Can my business be competitive against other businesses selling similar products and services?

The following information on our other websites can help you answer these questions:

• Contract opportunities and contract data reports( SAM.gov)
• Set wage data for specific labor categories by locality (SAM.gov)
• Ceiling rates for GSA Schedule labor categories (SAM.gov)
• Forecast of opportunities through our assisted acquisition services (FEDSIM)
• Forecast of federal contract opportunities nationwide (Acquisition Gateway)
• Summary contract award data (GSA eLibrary)
• Detailed contract award data (FPDS.gov)
• Contractor information and price lists (GSAAdvantage)

Acting on your market research findings

If you answered “yes” to both questions, continue on to learn how to compete for a government contract.

If you answered “no” to one of the questions, consider these other ways of selling to the government:

• Submitting an unsolicited proposal (when demand may not yet exist for a new and innovative product or service).
• Finding an opportunity to promote your innovative solution via a challenge or prize competition on Challenge.gov.
• Improving your competitiveness by partnering with another business.