What Is the Small Business Search (SBS)?

Navigating the world of federal contracting can be challenging, but the U.S. Small Business Administration has made it easier with the launch of the Small Business Search (SBS), a powerful upgrade to the legacy Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS).

What Is the Small Business Search (SBS)?

This free, web-based tool connects small businesses with federal buyers by improving how capabilities, certifications, and past performance are displayed and discovered. If your clients want to compete in the federal marketplace, showing up and standing out on SBS is essential.

Key Uses:

• Market research for contracting officers and federal buyers.
• Locating small businesses eligible for:
  • Set-aside contracts
  • Sole-source awards
  • Other federal procurement programs

How to Get Your Business Listed on SBS

To appear and be discoverable in the SBS system:

1. Register at SAM.gov
   • Complete the Entity Registration, which includes the key business details that will populate your SBS profile.
2. Wait for activation
   • Once SAM registration is approved, the business profile will be ready to claim on SBS within one business day.
3. Claim your SBS profile
   • Visit the SBS portal and log in using your SAM.gov credentials.
   • You’ll need:
     • Bank account information (for verification)
     • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

What Your SBS Profile Includes

Here’s what federal buyers will see when they view your SBS profile:

• Small Business Certifications
  • Automatically pulled from your SAM data.
  • Includes 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, HUBZone, etc.
• Capability Statement Upload
  • You can add a PDF highlighting your expertise, services, and past experience.
• Keyword Tags
  • Add strategic terms to help your business appear in relevant search results.
• Past Performance Section
  • A space to detail prior contract wins, client references, or major projects, things that can be crucial for building credibility.

Why This Matters

This upgrade significantly improves search functionality, visibility, and user experience, making it easier for:

• Small businesses to promote their capabilities.
• Federal buyers to find qualified small business vendors.

If you assist clients with federal contracting, encourage them to update and optimize their SBS profiles, especially with compelling capability statements and well-thought-out keywords.

Pro Tips for Clients

• Review and update your SAM profile before claiming your SBS listing.
• Use targeted industry terms as keyword tags.
• Emphasize certifications and past performance to stand out in searches.

SBS is not just a directory; it is a discovery engine for small businesses looking to win federal contracts. By ensuring your clients are visible, verified, and strategically positioned with clear capability statements and relevant keywords, you help them take full advantage of this streamlined tool. Need help navigating the setup or optimization process? Our team at ND APEX is here to support you. Reach out anytime at ndapex@und.edu.