Looking for a SAM.gov alternative?
A simpler way to find federal contracts that fit - alongside SAM.gov
SAM.gov is the official U.S. government system for contract opportunities and entity registration, and you’ll keep using it. Federal Awards is an independent tool built on SAM.gov’s public contract opportunities that starts from your business instead of a search box: every listing scored for fit, with the reasons, plus alerts and AI help on each one.
Free to search - no account needed, and no SAM.gov login.
Where each task belongs
Use each tool for what it’s for. Official actions stay on official systems.
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Register your business to do business with the federal government | SAM.govFederal Awards doesn't register businesses. |
| Read the full official notice, its attachments and amendments | SAM.govEvery Federal Awards listing links to it. |
| Ask questions and submit a response | Official channelsAs each solicitation instructs - never through Federal Awards. |
| Search open contract opportunities | BothFederal Awards uses SAM.gov's public Contract Opportunities data, refreshed three times a day. |
| Get emailed about new opportunities | BothSAM.gov: saved-search notifications with a SAM.gov user account. Federal Awards: Opportunity Alerts ($14.99/month), which send only listings that score as a Good Match or better for your Business Profile. |
| See a 0-100 fit score for your business, with the reasons | Federal AwardsFixed rules, not AI. |
| Search contracts and grants with one profile | Federal AwardsGrants come from Grants.gov. |
| Compare fit across up to 10 businesses | Federal Awards Pro |
| Ask AI about one specific listing | Federal AwardsGrounded in that listing; the first request is free. |
| Review historical awards and agency spending | Federal AwardsMarket Intelligence, from USAspending.gov. |
SAM.gov features are listed only where official documentation confirms them (October 2026); this is not a complete list of what SAM.gov offers.
What Federal Awards adds to your SAM.gov workflow
- A profile, not a query. Describe your business once - what you do, NAICS codes if you have them, where you work, small-business status - and every current contract is scored against it.
- Reasons, not just results. Each score shows what fits, what’s unclear and what rules you out, such as a set-aside you can’t hold or a deadline that has passed.
- Alerts that clear a bar. Opportunity Alerts are checked after each of three daily refreshes and include only new listings that score at least 60 (Good Match) with evidence of fit - best first, at most ten, and nothing when nothing qualifies.
- AI that already knows the listing. Ask about eligibility, requirements or next steps on a specific opportunity without copying the notice into another chat.
- Contracts and grants together. The same profile can cover Grants.gov opportunities too.
- Who won before. Related past awards next to an opportunity when Federal Awards has award history for its industry, and agency spending in Market Intelligence - from USAspending.gov.
When SAM.gov on its own is enough
If you already know the notice or solicitation you’re after, or you follow a few specific agencies and codes, SAM.gov’s own search, saved searches and notifications may be all you need. Federal Awards earns its place when you want to find work you didn’t know to search for, judge fit quickly across many listings, or keep track of several businesses.
Questions
Is Federal Awards a replacement for SAM.gov?
No. It works alongside SAM.gov. You’ll still register, read official notices and respond through official channels. Federal Awards helps you find and evaluate the opportunities worth that effort.
Is it the same data as SAM.gov?
Federal Awards uses SAM.gov’s public Contract Opportunities data, refreshed at 7 AM, 11 AM and 7 PM Washington, DC time. It shows each listing’s key details and links to the official notice for the full text, attachments and amendments.
Do I need a SAM.gov account or registration to use Federal Awards?
No. Searching Federal Awards needs no account at all. A Federal Awards account is only needed for paid features such as Opportunity Alerts.
Does SAM.gov have email notifications?
Yes - SAM.gov users can save a contract opportunity search and turn on notifications for it. Federal Awards alerts differ in what they send: only new listings that score as a Good Match or better for your Business Profile, with the score shown. See Federal Awards alerts.
Is Federal Awards free?
Searching and every match score are free. Opportunity Alerts, the Readiness Report and expanded Federal Awards AI are paid; prices are shown before you buy.