> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.meritmatch.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Search SAM.gov: find and import federal opportunities

> Search SAM.gov opportunities from MERIT, review the details, and import the pursuits you want to track.

MERIT includes a built-in SAM.gov search so you can find federal opportunities and add the ones you want to track to your pipeline. Search by keyword, NAICS code, notice type, set-aside, posted date, or response deadline, then review the result before creating the opportunity.

## How to open the search

You can reach the SAM.gov search two ways:

* Use the SAM.gov search field at the top of the pipeline
* Open **SAM.gov Opportunity Search** from inside the app

## Running a search

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter a keyword and NAICS code">
    Type a keyword — a program name, requirement type, agency acronym, or technology area — into the **Keyword** field. Optionally, select a NAICS code using the autocomplete lookup. Then select **Search**.

    Both fields are optional. You can search by keyword alone, NAICS alone, or combine them to narrow results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply advanced filters (optional)">
    Select **More filters** to expand the advanced filter panel. You can filter by opportunity type, set-aside, posted date range, and response deadline range.

    <AccordionGroup>
      <Accordion title="Opportunity type">
        Select one or more SAM.gov notice types to include in your results. Use this when you want to focus on a particular part of the opportunity lifecycle, such as early notices, active solicitations, or award notices.
      </Accordion>

      <Accordion title="Set-aside type">
        Filter results to notices with a specific set-aside category. Leave this as **Any set-aside** if you do not want to narrow the search by set-aside.
      </Accordion>

      <Accordion title="Posted date range">
        Set a from and to date to limit results to opportunities posted within a specific window. The default range is the last six months.
      </Accordion>

      <Accordion title="Response deadline range">
        Set a from and to date to filter by response deadline. Use this to surface opportunities with upcoming deadlines or to exclude ones that have already closed.
      </Accordion>

      <Accordion title="Include no-deadline notices">
        Toggle this on to include notices that have no response deadline listed. When enabled, MERIT includes notices posted in the last 30 days that do not carry a formal deadline (common for Sources Sought and Special Notices).
      </Accordion>
    </AccordionGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your results">
    Each result card shows:

    * **Title** — the opportunity name
    * **Type badge** — the SAM.gov notice type
    * **Agency / parent organization**
    * **NAICS code**
    * **Solicitation number**
    * **Posted date**
    * **Response deadline** — color-coded by urgency
    * **Set-aside badge** — if a set-aside applies

    Each card has two action links: **SAM.gov** (opens the original listing in a new tab) and **Import** (starts the import flow).

    <Note>
      Response deadlines are color-coded so you can spot urgency quickly. A deadline shown in **red strikethrough** is overdue. **Red bold** means 7 days or fewer remain. **Amber** means 8–14 days. Gray means 15 or more days out.
    </Note>

    Use the **Previous** and **Next** buttons at the bottom of the results to page through listings. The total record count is shown above the results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Import an opportunity">
    Select **Import** on any result card. A confirmation modal opens with details pre-filled from SAM.gov.

    Review and adjust the following before confirming:

    * **Title** — editable, pre-filled from SAM.gov
    * **Customer / Agency** — editable, pre-filled from SAM.gov
    * **NAICS** — editable, pre-filled from SAM.gov
    * **Priority** — choose Low, Medium, or High (defaults to Medium)
    * **Status** — MERIT suggests a starting pipeline status, but you can change it
    * **Contract Role** — choose Prime, Sub, or JV Prime (defaults to Prime)

    Select **Create Opportunity** to add it to your pipeline. MERIT confirms the import when the opportunity is created.

    If you want to fill in more fields before saving, select **Advanced** instead. This opens the full opportunity creation form with the imported details already started.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  MERIT suggests a starting status based on the SAM.gov notice type. Review the status before importing, especially if your team tracks certain notices differently.
</Info>