Recompete

A recompete is the competitive procurement process the federal government is legally required to conduct when an existing contract reaches the end of its base period and all option years, allowing any qualified contractor, including the incumbent, to submit a proposal for the follow-on award.

What is a Recompete?

The Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) requires full and open competition for federal contracts unless specific exceptions apply. Because contracts have maximum durations (typically five years: one base year plus four option years), they cannot simply be renewed indefinitely. When all options are exhausted, the government must run a new competition, the recompete.

Recompete solicitations typically appear on SAM.gov 12 to 18 months before the current contract expires. The new RFP may closely mirror the prior solicitation or may be substantially revised to reflect updated agency requirements, new technologies, or lessons learned during the current contract.

Identifying upcoming recompetes is among the highest-value activities in GovCon market intelligence. USAspending.gov's period_of_performance_current_end_date field, combined with the type_of_set_aside_code and naics_code fields, allows contractors to build a pipeline of contracts expiring within any target window, filtered by agency, NAICS, contract size, and competition type. Sole-source contracts are among the highest-probability recompetes because the current contractor has deep agency entrenchment; a sole-source justification must be renewed or the contract goes to competition.

The recompete cycle governs the rhythm of GovCon capture planning. A contractor that identifies a $30M recompete 18 months out, starts building agency relationships, recruits teammates, and prepares a differentiated proposal is far better positioned than one that discovers the opportunity after the RFP drops. Read more in our guide on tracking government contract recompetes.

Why Recompetes matter for government contractors

Recompetes represent some of the most predictable and winnable opportunities in the federal market because the contract scope is known, the incumbent's pricing is publicly visible via USAspending, and the government's requirements are largely defined. Companies that build systematic recompete tracking into their business development process gain a structural advantage over those that only respond to RFPs as they appear.

Example

A $28M USDA contract for data analytics services expires in September 2026. A competitor identifies it in USAspending in January 2025, 20 months before expiration. It schedules informational meetings with the agency's program office, recruits two of the incumbent's subcontractors as teaming partners, and monitors SAM.gov for the anticipated RFP. When the solicitation drops in March 2026, the competitor submits a fully developed proposal while competitors who discovered the opportunity at RFP release are scrambling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find upcoming recompetes?

Filter USAspending.gov contract awards by period_of_performance_current_end_date 6 to 18 months from today, then sort by total obligation descending. Cross-reference with SAM.gov to determine whether a new solicitation has already been posted. Platforms like Bidovate automate this pipeline by continuously monitoring expiring contracts in your target market.

Can the government extend a contract instead of recompeting?

Yes, through bridge contracts or interim task orders, but these are meant to be temporary. Repeated bridge extensions without recompeting can draw scrutiny from the GAO and Inspectors General. Extended bridges are sometimes a signal that the agency prefers the incumbent but faces internal or legal pressure to compete.

Does the incumbent have to recompete?

Yes. The incumbent must submit a proposal just like any other offeror. There is no automatic contract extension, though incumbents may receive additional credit for relevant past performance demonstrated during the current contract.

What is the average timeline from contract expiration to award?

Federal recompetes typically take 12 to 24 months from the posting of a new solicitation to contract award, depending on procurement complexity, number of offers, and any protests. The gap between the old contract's end and the new contract's start is often bridged by a temporary extension.