A sources-sought notice generally seeks market information about available capability. A solicitation asks for a response under a stated acquisition procedure. Read the actual notice to determine the stage and requested response. A broad project description alone does not make it an offer opportunity.
The right output may be a concise capability response, a technical explanation, a quotation or a proposal. Preparing the wrong one can consume time without answering the buyer’s question.
Find the statement of purpose
Look for language describing market research, planning, a request for information, an anticipated acquisition or an actual request for quotes or proposals. Record the response deadline and delivery instructions separately from any future acquisition schedule.
FAR 15.201(e) describes RFIs used to obtain information for planning when the government does not presently intend to award a contract. Responses in that context are not offers. That does not mean every early-stage notice has the same format or asks the same questions.
Match the response to the stage
| If the notice asks for | Prepare | Avoid assuming |
|---|---|---|
| Market capability information | A direct answer about demonstrated capability, capacity and limitations relevant to the request | That responding guarantees a future invitation |
| Feedback on a draft requirement | Specific, supportable comments on feasibility or the proposed approach | That your preferred approach will be adopted |
| A quotation | The requested pricing and supporting information under the stated instructions | That a capability statement substitutes for the quote |
| A proposal | The required proposal content and evidence tied to evaluation criteria | That another revision opportunity will be offered |
For the last two, use the RFQ versus RFP guide.
Decide whether you can answer usefully
Read every requested capability question. Identify which answers you can support today, which depend on a partner, and which concern planned development. If a notice asks about production capability and you have only a prototype, say so clearly.
A useful market-research response can describe a limitation and the work needed to address it. Whether that response is appropriate depends on the actual request. The prototype response guide provides a way to make the distinction explicit.
Keep the response record
Save the notice action, question list, submitted version, date and internal approval. Record assumptions about future timing as assumptions. If a later solicitation appears, review it as a new governing package. Do not treat the earlier sources-sought answers as proof that the final terms are unchanged.
This distinction also matters in a notice board. Counting a sources-sought action and a later solicitation as two independent buying opportunities can inflate the apparent market.
Choose the next investment
The decision is whether answering this request advances a defined business learning or participation objective enough to justify the work. It is not a prediction of award probability.
Use the capability evidence worksheet to make the response supportable. This page is educational. It does not advertise a proposal-writing or opportunity-matching product. Source reviewed September 7, 2026.