SAM.gov Alerts vs AwardWatchdog
Short answer: SAM.gov saved searches are free, official and complete, and you should keep using them. AwardWatchdog is a free add-on for small businesses that want set-asides, sources sought notices and recompetes explained in plain English in one weekday email.
Side by side
| SAM.gov saved-search alerts | AwardWatchdog digest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Account | Sign in to SAM.gov to save a search | Email only, double opt-in; no login to search the site |
| Coverage | Every contract opportunity notice, including amendments and attachments | Small-business set-asides and early-stage notices (sources sought, RFIs): 1,234 open today |
| Recompetes (contracts ending soon) | Not included (that data lives on USAspending.gov) | 1,939 set-aside recompetes, each scored 0-100 with reasons |
| Summaries | Notice title and link | One-line plain-English summary per bid |
| Filters | Full SAM.gov search filters | NAICS codes (up to 3), states, set-aside types |
| Official record | Yes | No. Always confirm on SAM.gov |
Where SAM.gov is better
- It is the official source, with the full notice, documents, amendments and Q&A.
- It covers every notice, not only small-business set-asides.
- Its search has more filters than our digest.
Where AwardWatchdog helps
- Plain English. Every bid page starts with a one-line summary (who is buying, what, where, who can bid, when it's due), built only from the notice data.
- Earlier signals. 301 sources sought and RFIs sit next to bids, plus a recompete tracker drawn from USAspending.gov.
- One email. Bids, early notices and recompetes for your codes and states, every weekday.
New to SAM.gov? Read our guide: how to find set-aside contracts on SAM.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Are SAM.gov email alerts free?
Yes. SAM.gov lets you save a contract opportunity search and get email notifications about matching notices at no cost. You need to sign in to SAM.gov to save a search.
What does AwardWatchdog add on top of SAM.gov alerts?
One weekday email that combines new set-asides, sources sought notices and upcoming recompetes for your NAICS codes, states and set-aside types, with a one-line plain-English summary for each bid and a 0-100 recompete score. As of Oct 17, 2026 it tracks 1,939 set-aside recompetes, which SAM.gov alerts don't include.
Should I stop using SAM.gov alerts?
No. SAM.gov is the official source and covers every notice, amendment and attachment. AwardWatchdog only covers small-business set-asides and early-stage notices, so many people use both.