How to Register and Find Federal Opportunities
Updated September 11, 2026
Federal contracting starts with two things: an official business registration so agencies can award and pay you, and access to the public opportunity notices agencies publish. Both are free, and both are authoritative, but the process can be dense — so this guide covers the parts that matter to a small business getting started.
What official registration is for
Federal registration does two main things that concern contractors: it holds your business's official record (so agencies can pay you and confirm you are eligible to receive awards), and it unlocks access to the federal contract opportunities you can search and respond to.
Register your entity and get a UEI
Registration is free and gives your business a Unique Entity ID (UEI), which has replaced the old DUNS number. You will confirm your legal business name, address, banking details for payment, and the codes that describe your business. Give yourself time — first-time registration involves validation steps that are not instant.
Searching opportunities
Search the official contract opportunities and filter them down to what fits your business rather than scrolling raw results:
- Filter by NAICS and PSC codes that match your capabilities.
- Set the place of performance to your service area.
- Filter by set-aside type if you qualify for a program.
- Watch the response deadline and the notice type (a Sources Sought is research, not a bid).
- Read the official notice and its attachments before committing time — they hold the real requirements.
The official source stays authoritative
Whatever tool you use to discover opportunities, the official government notice is the source of truth for deadlines, requirements and eligibility. GreatlyBid reads public government opportunity information to help you find and prioritize opportunities, and always links back to the official notice so you can verify the details before you bid.
From search to a shortlist
Even well-filtered, the official opportunity feeds return far more than any small team can review. GreatlyBid takes the same public opportunity information, compares it to your business profile, and hands you a short, ranked list with the reasons each opportunity fits — turning hours of searching into a few minutes of deciding.
Find government contracts that fit your business
See the current opportunities worth your time, with the reasons each one fits — in a couple of minutes.