Federal Business Opportunities(FBO)
The predecessor to SAM.gov; the legacy system where federal solicitations were posted (replaced by beta.SAM.gov).
Overview
Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) was the government's primary portal for posting solicitations, amendments, and award notices. It was replaced by beta.SAM.gov (now integrated into SAM.gov), but the term "FBO" is still used colloquially when referring to federal opportunity posting.
Why It Matters in GovCon
Contractors who have been in the industry for years often still say "FBO" when they mean the current SAM.gov opportunity search. Understanding the transition helps when discussing systems and training staff on where to find solicitations.
Key Details
- Transition: FBO was retired; SAM.gov and beta.SAM.gov now host opportunity listings.
- Function: Posted pre-solicitation notices, solicitations, amendments, and award information.
- Search: SAM.gov provides improved search, filtering, and saved searches.
- Legacy References: Older documents and training materials may reference FBO.
How GovCon Data Can Help
GovCon Data aggregates and enriches federal opportunities from SAM.gov with AI-powered search, set-aside filters, and opportunity matching — replacing manual FBO-style searching with smarter pipeline building.
Related Terms
- SAM.gov
- beta.SAM.gov
- Solicitation
- Contract Opportunities
More Acquisition Terms
A payment method where the government transfers funds electronically to contractor bank accounts.
A 1994 law that simplified federal procurement by raising thresholds, reducing paperwork, and promoting commercial item acquisition.
A formal review gate in the acquisition process where senior leadership decides whether a program may proceed to the next phase, requires changes, or should be terminated.
Written narrative responses that describe a candidate or contractor capability in specific areas, historically used in federal hiring and some proposal evaluations.
Goods and services used to maintain, repair, and operate facilities and equipment — a major category of government procurement.
A non-binding agreement between parties that outlines intentions, roles, and expectations for collaboration or coordination.
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