How OpenBid works
Three steps from "I wonder if the government buys what I do" to a bid you can respond to.
Tell us what you do
Type a sentence about your business, such as "I run a cleaning company in Savannah." You do not need to know any codes. You can also browse by kind of work, by state, or by who the bid is for.
Try a searchRead the bid in plain English
Each bid shows what the agency wants, who is allowed to bid, where the work is, and how many days are left. Bids a newcomer could handle come first.
Browse open bidsRespond on the official notice
Every bid links to its official federal notice, where the full documents and the instructions for responding are. You send your response to the agency, not to OpenBid.
Common questions
Where do the bids come from?
From public federal sources. The list is refreshed twice a day. Closed bids drop off, and when an agency updates a bid you see only the newest version.
How is the plain English written?
An AI reads each notice and writes a one-sentence summary. It also sorts bids so everyday work comes before highly specialized work. It can make mistakes, so the official notice is always the final word.
What does "who can bid" mean?
Some contracts are set aside for certain kinds of small business, such as veteran-owned or woman-owned companies. Others are open to anyone. Each bid says which it is.
Can a nonprofit use this?
Yes. A nonprofit can bid on contracts that are not set aside for small businesses. The For nonprofits page lists bids that fit the work nonprofits do.
Do I need to be registered to bid?
To win federal work, an organization needs a free registration with the federal System for Award Management. You can look at bids here before you register.
Is OpenBid a government website?
No. OpenBid is an independent service that makes public federal listings easier to use. It is not endorsed by any agency.