A sources sought (often capitalized as Sources Sought) notice is used by
agencies of the government of the United States to solicit interest in a project under consideration by that agency. They are not
requests for proposals or invitations to bid; sources sought come earlier in the procurement process.
[Bierlein, J. F. (2017)]
Responding to Sources Sought Notice or RFIs
Coley Government Contract Services
Such notices are useful to the agency as market research, by determining the availability of contractors to perform the project. They are useful to the contractors as their responses may influence the terms by which the agency defines the requirements of the project.
[Schadl, Chuck (2017)]
Sources Sought Notices—An Opportunity
Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. The notices are published online by the
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. gover ...
of the federal government.
In the United Kingdom, the
Department for International Trade
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and ...
relays some US Sources Sought notices to UK industry as part of its drive to promote UK exports ("Exporting is Great").
[Department for International Trade]
USA - SOURCES SOUGHT
accessed 23 June 2019
References
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Procurement