Developer comparison

Looking for a SAM.gov API alternative?

The SAM.gov Get Opportunities API is the official federal source. It requires an API key from your SAM.gov account, and federal opportunities are its scope. State, county and city portals are separate systems, each with its own site and format. GovContractScout puts federal, state and local opportunities behind one endpoint and one schema.

SAM.gov API
  • Requires an API key, requested from your SAM.gov account
  • Daily request limits depend on your role (federal, non-federal or general), per the GSA documentation
  • Scope is federal opportunities

Source: official documentation

GovContractScout
  • One REST endpoint and one MCP server across federal, 50 states, and local portals
  • One schema for every source, plus NAICS, set-asides, descriptions and documents where published
  • Match scoring and win likelihood from historical awards
  • Free tier 100 calls a month, then $99 or $199 a month

Where SAM.gov API is strong

  • Authoritative federal source, maintained by GSA
  • Free to use with a key
  • Covers the full federal opportunity lifecycle fields

Where it leaves a gap

  • Federal only: no state, county or city opportunities
  • Daily request limits are tied to your role, so heavy use may need planning
  • You still have to build your own matching, dedupe and normalisation layer

Questions developers ask

Is the SAM.gov API free?

Yes. The GSA Get Opportunities API is free to use and needs an API key from your SAM.gov account. Daily request limits depend on your role (federal, non-federal or general). Check the official page for the current numbers.

Does the SAM.gov API include state and local contracts?

No. It covers federal opportunities. State, county and city opportunities live in separate portals, which is why contractors end up checking dozens of sites. GovContractScout aggregates 50 state portals, plus SAM.gov for federal, behind one API.

What is the best SAM.gov API alternative for a product that needs state contracts?

Look for an aggregator with per-state coverage and a stable schema. GovContractScout returns federal, state and local opportunities from one endpoint, with NAICS codes, set-asides and match scoring, so you do not maintain 50 scrapers.

Can I use both?

Yes, and some teams do. SAM.gov is the authoritative federal record. GovContractScout adds the state and local layer and normalises everything into one schema, so you can keep SAM.gov for federal depth and use us for breadth.

Compare the other official API

USAspending API Alternative