SAM.gov (Current) vs FBO / Beta.SAM (Retired)
Understand the transition from FBO and Beta.SAM to the current SAM.gov. Learn what changed, where to find opportunities now, and how the consolidated system works.
Free (government-funded)
The current consolidated System for Award Management that combines the former FBO.gov (FedBizOpps), CFDA, WDOL, EPLS, and original SAM.gov into one integrated platform. This is the current and only official federal procurement portal.
Visit website →Retired - Not Available
The former Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) system that was retired and consolidated into SAM.gov. Beta.SAM was the transition platform used during migration. Both are now fully retired with all functionality moved to SAM.gov.
Visit website →| Feature | SAM.gov | FBO/Beta.SAM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Status | Active | Retired |
| Federal Opportunities | Migrated to SAM.gov | |
| Entity Registration | Migrated to SAM.gov | |
| Contract Awards | Migrated to SAM.gov | |
| Wage Determinations | Migrated to SAM.gov | |
| Exclusions Data | Migrated to SAM.gov | |
| Cost | Free | N/A |
| Support Available | ||
| Active Development | ||
| API Access | N/A |
Pros
- +Single platform for all federal procurement needs
- +Unified registration and opportunity search
- +Integrated entity, exclusions, and wage data
- +Modern interface compared to legacy systems
- +Consistent user experience across functions
- +Active development and improvements
- +Mobile-responsive design
- +Enhanced search capabilities
Cons
- -Learning curve for users familiar with old systems
- -Some features still being refined
- -Occasional performance issues
- -Complex due to consolidating multiple systems
- -Historical data transition challenges
- -Bookmark and saved search changes
- -New navigation patterns to learn
Pros
- +No longer available - these are historical systems
- +Data migrated to current SAM.gov
- +Familiar interface for longtime contractors (historical)
- +Simpler single-purpose design (historical)
Cons
- -Completely retired and non-functional
- -All URLs redirect to SAM.gov
- -No access to historical features
- -Saved searches and bookmarks no longer work
- -Must transition to SAM.gov
- -Historical documentation may be outdated
SAM.gov is the clear and only choice as FBO and Beta.SAM have been completely retired. All federal procurement functionality has been consolidated into SAM.gov. If you used FBO.gov or Beta.SAM in the past, you must now use SAM.gov for all registration, opportunity search, and federal contracting needs. The transition is complete.
Choose SAM.gov (Current) if you:
- Need to find federal contract opportunities
- Must register as a federal contractor
- Want current, active system access
- Need API access for integration
- Want ongoing support and updates
Choose FBO / Beta.SAM (Retired) if you:
- Historical reference only
- Understanding how the old systems worked
- Reading legacy documentation
- Training materials that reference old systems
- No current use - must migrate to SAM.gov
What happened to FBO.gov?
FBO.gov (Federal Business Opportunities) was retired and fully integrated into SAM.gov on November 12, 2019. All contract opportunities that were posted to FBO are now posted to SAM.gov. FBO.gov URLs now redirect to SAM.gov. The consolidation was part of a broader effort to create a single, unified federal procurement portal.
What was Beta.SAM?
Beta.SAM was a transition platform used during the migration from the legacy systems (FBO, CFDA, WDOL, etc.) to the current SAM.gov. It allowed users to preview and test the new interface before the final migration. Beta.SAM is no longer available - all functionality has moved to the production SAM.gov site.
Do I need to re-register if I had an FBO account?
No, contractor registrations were migrated to SAM.gov. However, you should verify your account is active and information is current. Login credentials may have changed - you likely need to create a Login.gov account to access SAM.gov. Check your entity registration status to ensure it is current.
Where did my saved searches from FBO go?
Unfortunately, saved searches and bookmarks from the old FBO system did not migrate to SAM.gov. You need to recreate any saved searches in the new SAM.gov interface. The search structure and filters differ, so you may need to adjust your search strategies.
Is historical opportunity data from FBO available?
Yes, historical opportunity data was migrated to SAM.gov. You can search for archived opportunities that were originally posted to FBO. The data is available but may require adjusted search parameters. For very old data, you may need to contact the Federal Service Desk for assistance.
Why did the government consolidate these systems?
The consolidation aimed to simplify federal procurement by creating one portal instead of multiple disconnected systems. Previously, contractors had to navigate FBO for opportunities, legacy SAM for registration, CFDA for grants, and WDOL for wage data. SAM.gov combines all these functions, reducing confusion and improving efficiency.
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