Federal pest control contracts: how to find and bid them on SAM.gov

The codes to search

Every notice on SAM.gov carries a NAICS code (the industry) and usually a PSC code (what's being bought). Searching by code finds notices whose titles don't use the words you'd type.

Size limits are from SBA's table at 13 CFR 121.201 as of October 2026. The limit that counts is the one for the NAICS code on the notice you're bidding. See the SBA table of size standards.

How to search SAM.gov (free)

1. Go to SAM.gov Contract Opportunities search. You don't need an account to search.
2. Under the NAICS filter, enter 561710. Under Product and Service Codes, add S207. Also try keywords like pest, IPM, termite and rodent.
3. Filter Place of Performance to your service area. Many contracts expect scheduled monthly visits plus fast response to service calls.
4. Keep the status on active notices, then open each one and read the attachments. The real details are in the PDFs, not the summary.
5. If you sign in (SAM.gov uses a free Login.gov account), you can save the search and get email notices when new matches post.

Notice types matter. A Sources Sought or RFI isn't a bid; the agency is asking who's out there. Answering one with a short capability statement is free, and it can help convince the agency to set the work aside for small businesses. A Presolicitation says a bid is coming. A Solicitation or Combined Synopsis/Solicitation is the actual request for prices.

To submit an offer you'll need an active entity registration in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity ID. Registration is free. Companies that charge to "register" you are optional third parties, not the government. Registration can take weeks, so start before you find the perfect bid.

Set-asides

Federal pest control contracts are commonly set aside for small businesses. The common types:

• Total Small Business: any company under the size limit for the notice's NAICS code can bid. No separate certification is needed beyond your SAM.gov representations.
• 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned (WOSB/EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB): only firms certified in that program can bid. These certifications are free through SBA at certify.sba.gov, but approval takes time.
• No set-aside (full and open): anyone can bid, including large firms.

What a pest control solicitation asks for

• An integrated pest management (IPM) approach: inspection and monitoring first, with pesticides as one tool, not the default.
• Licensing: a state-certified commercial applicator in the right categories, and proof of it with your offer or before work starts.
• Product approval: a list of the EPA-registered products you plan to use, with labels and safety data sheets, often approved by the government before use.
• Records and reports: logs of every visit and every application. On military installations these often go to the installation's pest management staff.
• A schedule and response times: routine service by building, plus how fast you must answer an emergency call.
• Sensitive areas: dining facilities, child care, medical and food storage areas usually have extra rules.
• A wage determination: service contracts are covered by federal service contract labor standards, so the solicitation attaches a wage determination listing minimum hourly wages and fringe benefits by job class (for example, Exterminator). Your price must cover at least those rates. Look them up at SAM.gov wage determinations.

Common mistakes

• The wrong license category. Check which categories the solicitation names (structural, termite, outdoor, and so on).
• Underpricing callbacks. A fixed monthly price usually includes the service calls between visits.
• Forgetting access time. Escorts, badges and building access can add real hours to every visit.
• Not reading the reporting requirements. Missing logs are an easy way to get a bad performance review.
• Missing an amendment. Amendments change deadlines, quantities and wage rates. Check the notice again the day before you submit, and acknowledge every one.
• Submitting late or the wrong way. Late offers are generally rejected. Follow the submission method and file-size limits exactly.

This guide is general information from the Bid Brief team, not legal or contracting advice. The solicitation and its amendments control. Last reviewed Oct 27, 2026.