Sam Gov Monitor

SAM.gov Federal Contract Opportunity Monitor

You generate a complete capture-management pipeline anchored on SAM.gov as the source of truth. Saved searches beat email alerts (email rolls in 24-72 hours late). Pre-RFP engagement (RFI, Sources Sought) is where the bid is won — by the time the solicitation drops, the requirement is often written around an incumbent.

============================================================ === PRE-FLIGHT ===

Verify:

• NAICS codes: at minimum primary code; ideally a full list (most companies are credible across 3-8 NAICS). Incomplete NAICS limits which opportunities surface.
• PSC codes: Product Service Codes — narrower than NAICS, helps eliminate noise.
• Set-aside status: small business, 8(a), WOSB / EDWOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, none. If certified, restrict searches; if not, expand.
• Geographic preferences: any place-of-performance restrictions?
• Capacity: what's your annual capture bandwidth (number of proposals you can credibly write)? Default 12-20/year for a mid-size GovCon.
• SAM.gov API key: register at api.sam.gov; free tier 1,000 requests/day.

Recovery:

• Without API key, fall back to RSS feed at https://sam.gov/rss/ and HTML scraping (lower fidelity, no full-record retrieval).
• If no PSC codes provided, derive from primary NAICS using NAICS→PSC crosswalk.

============================================================ === PHASE 1: SAM.GOV API CLIENT ===

Generate sam_client.py (or Node equivalent):

class SAMClient:
    BASE = "https://api.sam.gov/opportunities/v2"

    def search(self, *, posted_from, posted_to, naics=None, psc=None,
               keyword=None, set_aside=None, agency=None, limit=1000):
        """Returns list of opportunities. Handles pagination + rate limit."""
        params = {
            "limit": min(limit, 1000),  # API max per page
            "postedFrom": posted_from.strftime("%m/%d/%Y"),
            "postedTo": posted_to.strftime("%m/%d/%Y"),
            "api_key": self.api_key,
        }
        if naics: params["ncode"] = ",".join(naics)
        if psc:   params["ccode"] = ",".join(psc)
        if keyword: params["q"] = keyword
        if set_aside: params["typeOfSetAside"] = set_aside
        if agency: params["organizationCode"] = agency
        # Paginate, respect 429s with exp backoff, dedupe by noticeId
        ...

    def get_details(self, notice_id):
        """Full opportunity record including attachments URL list."""
        ...

Cache responses to local SQLite — re-running same search shouldn't burn quota.

VALIDATION: Client paginates correctly past 1000 results. 429 (rate limit) triggers exp backoff, not crash. Dedupes by noticeId.

============================================================ === PHASE 2: SAVED SEARCHES ===

Generate searches.yaml — one entry per pursuit profile:

searches:
  - name: "IT modernization at HHS"
    naics: [541511, 541512, 541513, 541519, 518210]
    psc: [DA01, DA02, DA10, DA12, DJ01]
    keywords: ["modernization", "legacy", "cloud migration", "FedRAMP"]
    agencies: [HHS, CMS, FDA, NIH]
    set_aside: ["SBA", "8A", "TOTAL_SMALL"]

  - name: "Cyber assessments DoD"
    naics: [541511, 541512, 541513, 541690, 541990]
    psc: [DA10, R425, R408]
    keywords: ["pentest", "red team", "RMF", "ATO", "FedRAMP"]
    agencies: [DOD, USAF, USN, USA, USMC, DISA]

Run searches daily via cron. Surface deltas (new notices, amended notices, awarded notices).

VALIDATION: Search YAML is human-editable. Cron runs without intervention. Deltas dedupe against prior runs.

============================================================ === PHASE 3: PRE-RFP SIGNAL TRACKING ===

The bid is often won before the RFP is published. Track notice types:

Generate pre_rfp_pipeline.csv that surfaces all RFI / Sources Sought / Presolicitation notices in your saved-search domain, with response deadlines.

VALIDATION: RFI / Sources Sought items get auto-flagged as P0 in the digest. Deadlines tracked.

============================================================ === PHASE 4: CAPTURE-MANAGEMENT SCORING ===

Each opportunity scores on Pwin × value × strategic fit:

Composite Pwin = average of first 6, multiplied by strategic-value adjustment.

Pursue threshold: Pwin ≥ 3.5 AND capacity available AND no calendar conflict with higher-Pwin pursuit.

VALIDATION: Each scored opp produces a single pursue/hold/no-pursue decision with rationale.

============================================================ === PHASE 5: INCUMBENT + COMPETITOR INTELLIGENCE ===

For each opportunity, query USAspending.gov + SAM.gov contract-data API for:

• Prior awards with same NAICS + agency + matching scope.
• Top 5 competitors by revenue in that lane.
• Their typical award size + win rate.
• GSA Schedule holders (if applicable).

Output competitor_dossier.md per pursuit.

VALIDATION: Each pursuit has a competitor dossier with ≥ 3 named competitors and their prior award value.

============================================================ === PHASE 6: SMALL BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY CHECK ===

If the opportunity is set-aside, verify your company's eligibility automatically:

• SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) registration current?
• 8(a) program: in program & not within 9-year graduation window?
• WOSB / EDWOSB: SBA-certified (no longer self-cert as of 2020)?
• SDVOSB: VA-verified via SBA after 2023 transition?
• HUBZone: SBA-certified AND principal office in HUBZone AND 35% workforce in HUBZone?
• Size standards: revenue & employee count below NAICS-specific cap?

Generate eligibility_check.md per pursuit — green/yellow/red per dimension.

VALIDATION: Real-time SBA DSBS check or fallback to user-supplied certs.

============================================================ === PHASE 7: PROPOSAL READINESS PACKAGE ===

Once a "pursue" decision is made, generate the proposal-readiness scaffold:

• Color teaming template: Pink team (concept review), Red team (writeable), Gold team (final).
• Proposal compliance matrix: maps each RFP requirement (Section L instructions, Section M evaluation criteria, FAR clauses) to a proposal section + owner.
• Pricing prep template: BOE format (Basis of Estimate), labor categories, indirect rates.
• Past performance template: 3-5 contracts maximum, with CPARS reference if applicable.
• Tech volume outline: aligned to Section M factors.
• Capability statement (one-pager, agency-specific tailoring).

VALIDATION: Compliance matrix has 100% coverage of RFP requirements (no orphan Section L instructions).

============================================================ === SELF-REVIEW ===

Score 1–5:

• Complete: API client + searches + pre-RFP tracker + scoring + intel + eligibility + proposal scaffold?
• Robust: Handles pagination + rate limits? Respects set-aside semantics correctly?
• Clean: Pursue decisions traceable to scoring rubric?
• GovCon-credible: Would a capture manager at a $50M-$500M GovCon recognize the workflow?

Common gap: chasing every RFP. The discipline is no-bid more than bid.

============================================================ === LEARNINGS CAPTURE ===

Append to ~/.claude/skills/sam-gov-monitor/LEARNINGS.md:

— <NAICS focus, agency cluster>

• What worked:
• What was awkward:
• Suggested patch:
• Verdict: [Smooth / Minor friction / Major friction]

============================================================ === STRICT RULES ===

• Never bid every RFP. Win rate × proposal cost is the real metric.
• Never miss the response deadline on RFIs / Sources Sought — those are the cheapest seat at the agency table.
• Never reveal incumbent intelligence sources (USAspending data) in client deliverables. Synthesize, don't cite raw export.
• Never assume set-aside eligibility — verify against SBA real-time data.
• Capacity discipline: if you're at proposal capacity, raise the pursue threshold rather than over-commit.