Government construction work is posted publicly. The hard part isn't access, it's the noise: thousands of notices a week across dozens of websites, most of them not for you. Here's where to look and how to filter.
Federal jobs: SAM.gov
Federal contract opportunities over $25,000 are posted on SAM.gov (Contract Opportunities). To narrow it down:
- Filter by your trade's NAICS code: 238160 roofing, 238220 HVAC and plumbing, 238210 electrical, 236220 commercial building, 237 codes for roads and utilities.
- Filter by place of performance (state, or ZIP code and radius).
- Filter by set-aside, if you qualify for small business or a certification.
- Notice type: "Solicitation" and "Combined Synopsis/Solicitation" are open for bids now. "Presolicitation" means a job is coming. "Sources Sought" is the government asking who's out there; answering it can help get a job set aside for small businesses.
- Save the search so SAM.gov emails you new matches.
Or skip the setup: our open jobs board lists every open federal construction job in plain English, filterable by trade, state and who can bid, updated each morning.
State and local jobs
- State procurement portals: every state has one, usually run by the state's general services or administration department.
- State departments of transportation: roads, bridges and site work are let on a published schedule, and many publish full bid results (useful for seeing who wins and at what price).
- Counties, cities and school districts: each posts its own bids, often through a shared bid platform. Search "[city] bid opportunities" or "[county] purchasing".
- Public universities and housing authorities also buy a lot of construction.
Subcontracting
Large federal prime contractors must plan to use small businesses. The SBA's SubNet lists subcontracting opportunities, and big primes keep supplier registration pages. Subcontracting is a lower-risk way to build federal past performance.
Is this one worth bidding?
- Can you legally bid? Check the set-aside and your size under the job's NAICS code.
- Is it close enough that travel doesn't eat your margin?
- Is it your size? Under $150,000 avoids bonding to start.
- Is there time? Fewer than 7 days left is usually too late to do it well.
- Can you do every line item, or line up subcontractors for the parts you can't?
Pick five good fits a month and bid them properly. That beats rushing twenty.