How to find a small-business subcontractor that can actually perform.
Subcontracting plans and set-aside rules make small-business teammates a must. The hard part is not finding one — it is finding one that delivers. A seven-step checklist.
1. Define the scope before you search
Write down the work package you want to subcontract: tasks, volume, place of performance, security requirements and the NAICS code that best describes it. A precise scope filters candidates faster than any database.
2. Search the right databases
Start with SAM.gov entity search, which lets you filter by NAICS code, location and socio-economic status. The SBA’s Small Business Search adds self-reported capabilities and keywords. Agency small-business offices and industry days are good sources for firms with relevant experience.
3. Verify the registration
Confirm the entity has an active SAM.gov registration, and note its Unique Entity ID (UEI) and CAGE code. Check that the NAICS code of your work package appears in its registration and that the firm is small under that code’s size standard.
If you rely on a socio-economic status — SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone or 8(a) — verify it in the SBA’s certification records rather than trusting a logo on a website.
4. Check relevant experience — and who performed it
Ask for references with contact details. Distinguish between work the company performed itself and work performed by partners or affiliates. Both can be relevant, but they should be labeled correctly — evaluators look closely at who actually did the work.
5. Test capacity, not just capability
A small firm can be excellent and still too small for your scope. Ask how they would staff the work, how long it takes to onboard people, and who backs them up. Partner capacity is legitimate when it is documented in writing.
6. Plan the work share
On small-business set-asides the limitations on subcontracting rule applies to the prime. On your subcontracting plan, the dollars you award to small businesses count toward your goals. Agree on work share in writing before the proposal is submitted. See our guide on limitations on subcontracting.
7. Put it in writing
Sign an NDA before you share proposal information, then a teaming agreement that defines scope, work share, pricing approach, exclusivity and what happens if you win — or lose.
General information, not legal advice. Always check the clauses of the specific solicitation.
Quick answers.
Question not listed? Ask us directly — a person answers, not a chatbot.
On SAM.gov, using the public entity search. Registration status, UEI, CAGE code and NAICS codes are shown for active entities.
If you have a small-business subcontracting plan, subcontract dollars awarded to eligible small businesses generally count toward its goals. Check the specific plan and reporting rules that apply to your contract.
