How to Navigate SAM.gov and Stay Updated on New Contract Opportunities

February 20, 2025

If you’re a business, nonprofit, or government agency looking to work with the U.S. government, SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is your go-to resource. This official federal website provides a central hub for contract opportunities, wage determinations, and registration for government contracts and grants. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how SAM.gov works, how to find prevailing wages, and how to stay informed about new projects.

What is SAM.gov?

SAM.gov is the official portal where entities must register to be eligible for federal contracts, grants, and financial assistance. It offers various services, including:

• Entity Registration – Businesses and organizations register to bid on contracts.
• Contract Opportunities – Search for active federal contracting opportunities.
• Assistance Listings – Browse government grant and financial assistance programs.
• Wage Determinations – View prevailing wages for federal contracts.
• Exclusions & Responsibility Determinations – Check entities that are suspended or debarred from federal projects.
• Federal Hierarchy & Reporting – Federal agencies use SAM.gov for contract reporting and compliance.

Finding Prevailing Wages on SAM.gov

If you’re working on a federally funded contract, you need to be aware of prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and the Service Contract Act (SCA). These laws ensure that workers receive fair wages on government projects.

How to Look Up Wage Determinations:

1. Visit the SAM.gov Wage Determinations page.
2. Search by location, contract type, or wage determination number.
3. Download the wage determination documents relevant to your project.

Types of Wage Determinations Available:

• Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) – Applies to construction contracts over $2,000 on federal or D.C. projects.
• Service Contract Act (SCA) – Covers contracts involving service employees.
• Other Acts – Includes labor laws such as the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act.

How to Stay Updated on New Contract Opportunities

New federal contracts and projects are added regularly to SAM.gov. Here’s how you can stay informed:

1. Search for Opportunities Manually

• Go to the Contract Opportunities section on SAM.gov.
• Use filters like location, agency, contract type, and NAICS code to refine searches.
• Save searches to quickly access them in the future.

2. Set Up Email Alerts for New Projects

Create a SAM.gov Account:

1. Log in or register at SAM.gov.
2. Navigate to Contract Opportunities.
3. Apply filters to find relevant contracts.
4. Click Save Search and enable email notifications.
5. Receive alerts when new contracts match your criteria.

3. Follow Specific Federal Agencies

• Each federal agency posts contract opportunities.
• Use the Follow feature on agency pages to get updates.

4. Subscribe to RSS Feeds

• SAM.gov provides RSS feeds for contract opportunities.
• Use an RSS reader to track real-time updates.

How HCM TradeSeal Helps Companies Bidding on Certified Projects

HCM TradeSeal helps contractors and employers comply with prevailing wage requirements set by SAM.gov by simplifying the process of managing and tracking wages on government contracts.

Here’s how we can assist:

• Certified Payroll Reports – Automates the creation of certified payroll reports, often required for government contracts. This helps contractors submit accurate payroll data and meet compliance requirements.
• Auditing and Documentation – Provides tools for auditing employee pay and project wage compliance, ensuring there are no discrepancies that could lead to legal or financial penalties.
• Ease of Integration – Integrates with HR and payroll systems, allowing for seamless management of wages across multiple platforms while ensuring compliance with federal and state wage laws.

Final Thoughts

SAM.gov is a powerful tool for businesses and organizations looking to secure government contracts. By understanding how to use it effectively—whether searching for prevailing wages or setting up alerts for new opportunities—you can stay ahead of the competition and make the most of federal contracting opportunities.

By leveraging HCM TradeSeal, we can assist in generating the correct reporting needed to submit to these new opportunities for your business.

Need help navigating prevailing wages? Contact us.

Andrew Ho is a Sales Engineer at HCM TradeSeal, bringing five years of experience in the Human Capital Management industry. He specializes in demonstrating how HCM TradeSeal helps organizations streamline prevailing wage and union reporting compliance. For more information or to schedule a demo, visit www.hcmtradeseal.com.

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About

Founded in 2020, HCM TradeSeal has become a Human Capital Management’s top choice for Construction industry compliance. Selected as a Top 10 HR Compliance Service Provider by HR Tech Outlook, HCM TradeSeal offers a proven integration with the nations most popular Payroll and ERP providers. What makes us different? We help companies with complex unions and Davis Bacon compliance. We provide full service rate management and validation before payroll is processed, reducing compliance risk. We help companies automate wage calculations and get their certified payroll and union reporting on autopilot while saving payroll teams hours every week. With HCM TradeSeal, you can breathe easier during payroll and reporting.