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Government Contracts, Grants & Surplus

How to register on SAM.gov, find real federal contract and grant opportunities, and buy discounted surplus equipment from GSA Auctions and GovDeals.

Seller stamping and preparing small parcels at a desk in a home office
A home-based operation like this one can qualify for federal grant programs just as easily as a business with its own warehouse: eligibility rarely depends on the size of the office.

Grants.gov: Federal Grants Guide

Most federal grants listed on Grants.gov target nonprofits, universities, and state/local governments: not typical for-profit small businesses. The real for-profit-eligible path is the SBIR/STTR program (Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer), which funds R&D-stage small businesses across 11 federal agencies. Before applying to anything on Grants.gov, you need a SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI): that step comes first, not after. Once registered, create a Grants.gov Workspace account to search open funding opportunities by eligibility category and submit applications directly.

Grants.gov ↗
The official U.S. government portal for finding and applying to federal grant opportunities.
Search open grants →
SBIR.gov ↗
The official SBIR/STTR program site: the main federal grant path that actually funds for-profit small businesses.
Check SBIR/STTR eligibility →
Where for-profit small businesses actually qualify for federal money Overview of three federal funding paths: most Grants.gov listings target nonprofits, universities, and government agencies rather than for-profit businesses; SBIR/STTR is the main federal grant program that funds R&D-stage small businesses; SAM.gov federal contracts, including small business set-asides, are the more common path for for-profit businesses generally. 🏛️ Grants.gov Mostly nonprofits, universities, agencies 🔬 SBIR/STTR Federal grant path for R&D-stage small business 📋 SAM.gov Contracts More common path for for-profit small business
Contracts, not grants, are the primary federal funding route for most for-profit small businesses.

SAM.gov: Federal Contracting Hub

SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is where every business must register to be eligible for federal contracts: and it's free to register directly on the site (be wary of third-party sites charging a fee for this). Registration issues your Unique Entity ID (UEI), which replaced the old DUNS number. Once registered, use SAM.gov's contract opportunity search to find open solicitations, and check whether you qualify for small business set-asides: including 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) categories, which reserve a real percentage of federal contracting dollars specifically for qualifying businesses.

Three steps from SAM.gov registration to a federal contract bid Flow diagram of three steps: register for free on SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity ID, search open contract opportunities and check eligibility for small business set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB, then submit a bid or proposal on a matching solicitation. 1 Register on SAM.gov, get UEI 2 Search contracts, check set-aside eligibility 3 Submit a bid or proposal
Set-asides (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) reserve a real percentage of federal contracting dollars for qualifying small businesses.
SAM.gov ↗
Register for your free Unique Entity ID (UEI) and search live federal contract opportunities.
Register or search contracts →
SBA Certifications (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) ↗
Official SBA certification programs that reserve federal contracting dollars for qualifying small businesses.
Check set-aside eligibility →
Hands wrapping an item in paper before placing it in a shipping box
Buying equipment at a government surplus auction is only half the job: getting it packaged, moved, and put to work is the other half.

Government Surplus & Auctions

Federal, state, and local governments regularly auction off surplus vehicles, machinery, and equipment: often well below market value. The process is the same everywhere: register on the platform, inspect the listing (photos and condition reports, sometimes in-person previews) before bidding, and factor in pickup/transport logistics since most surplus sales are sold as-is, where-is with no warranty.

GSA Auctions ↗
The General Services Administration’s official surplus auction site: vehicles, machinery, electronics, and real estate from federal agencies.
Browse federal surplus →
GovDeals ↗
Online marketplace for surplus assets from state and local governments, school districts, and public agencies nationwide.
Browse local/state surplus →
U.S. Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF) ↗
Official listings for forfeited property auctions administered by the U.S. Treasury.
View forfeiture auctions →

Won a Government Contract or Bidding on Surplus Equipment?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a small business get a federal grant?
Most federal grants target nonprofits, universities, and government agencies: not typical for-profit small businesses. The main exception is the SBIR/STTR program, which specifically funds R&D-stage small businesses. Contracts (via SAM.gov) are the more common path for for-profit businesses, not grants.
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes. Registering directly on SAM.gov to get your Unique Entity ID (UEI) is free. Third-party sites that charge a fee for "SAM registration" are not required: you can register directly.
What condition is surplus equipment sold in?
Government surplus auctions (GSA Auctions, GovDeals, TEOAF) are almost always sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty. Always review the listing’s condition report and inspect in person when possible before bidding.