The Dynamic Search Function in SAM.gov: A Quick Recap

Many SAM.gov users have used the system (and a combination of its prior, related systems) for years.  Others are brand new and are first learning how to use it.  From time-to-time, the folks who manage the system (GSA’s Integrated Award Environment) like to give a quick overview of parts of the system for all users, no matter the experience level.

The System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is an official website of the U.S. government.  There is no cost to use SAM.gov.  You can use the system to:

• Register to do business with the U.S. government
• Update, renew, or check the status of your registration
• Search for registration and exclusion records
• Search for assistance listings (grants, loans, etc.), wage determinations (a key step in the contract award process), contract opportunities (what government contracts are available for me or my organization to compete for), and contract data reports (all kinds of information about contracts that have been awarded).
• View and submit BioPreferred and Service Contract Reports (specific kinds of contract reports)
• Access publicly available award data via data extracts and system accounts

SAM.gov has a search bar in the center of the homepage.  From the homepage, you can search for a wide variety of information.  If you know the information you want to view, such as active contract opportunities, the fastest way to start your search is to: 

1. Locate the search bar on the home page
2. Choose the information type you want from the dropdown menu (what we call “domains.”  For example, are you searching for an active contract opportunity; a grant or loan; or something else)
3. Enter a keyword or number

You can add more keywords and filter your results on the search results page. You can enter keywords with either the Simple Search or Search Editor options. 

You have three options for your keywords using the Simple Search:

 

• Any Words
• All Words, or 
• Exact Phrase. 

The Search Editor is an advanced tool for refining your search results using Boolean terms such as “and,” “or,” “not,” and “and not”. Check out this video to see how the search tools work.

If your keywords return too many search results, use the filters to narrow them down. If you don't see the information you're looking for, make sure you chose the right information type in the Domain menu. Different domains give you different information and different filters for the results you'll see. Be aware that some information, like entity data, may not be visible if the entity has chosen not to appear in public searches.

You must sign in to a SAM.gov account to view some information on SAM.gov, such as entity information. You must also be signed in to save a search and quickly rerun it later. Login.gov, a single sign-on service for U.S. government websites, manages usernames and passwords for SAM.gov. If you have a login.gov account already, you can use it to sign in to SAM.gov.

Learn more about how to search SAM.gov here.