Stop Tracking ContractsIn Spreadsheets
Most small businesses start tracking government contracts in Excel or Google Sheets. It works — until you need to filter by set-aside type across 10,000 awards, or check whether a new contract was posted in your NAICS code this week. GovScout does that in seconds.
The spreadsheet problem
Spreadsheets are great for tracking your own bids and proposals. But they're the wrong tool for competitive research. You can't search across all awarded contracts in real time. You can't filter 8(a) or HUBZone awards with one click. You can't see which agencies are spending the most in your industry without building pivot tables from raw USASpending.gov downloads.
That research is what GovScout automates. Keep your spreadsheet for pipeline tracking — use GovScout for the competitive intelligence that feeds it.
Time comparison
Per research query — NAICS code + set-aside type + agency filter
GovScout vs spreadsheet tracking
| Feature | GovScout | Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Set-aside filtering | One-click: 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB, SBA — front and center | Manual column filtering or separate tabs per set-aside type |
| NAICS code lookup | Autocomplete — type a keyword and pick from matching codes | Copy-paste codes from Census Bureau or maintain your own lookup list |
| Data freshness | USASpending.gov API — updated daily, automatic | Manual updates whenever you remember to check |
| Agency spending view | Top agencies ranked by spending with visual bars, filterable by NAICS and set-aside | Pivot tables or manual aggregation across rows |
| New award alerts | Saved searches with email notifications on new matches (Pro) | No alerts — you check when you remember |
| Search across all awards | Full-text search across all awarded contracts with instant results | Limited to whatever you've manually entered or downloaded |
| Sharing with teammates | Share a link — anyone can search without setup | Email the file, manage versions, hope formulas don't break |
| Data export | CSV export of any search result (Pro) | Already in a spreadsheet — no export needed |
| Cost | Free (10 searches/day) or $49/month unlimited | Free (your time is the cost) |
When spreadsheets still make sense
Use GovScout for...
- Finding who wins contracts in your NAICS codes
- Filtering awards by set-aside type (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB)
- Tracking agency spending trends over time
- Getting alerts when new matching awards post
- Quick competitive research before a bid decision
Keep your spreadsheet for...
- Tracking your own active bids and proposals
- Managing teaming partner relationships
- Custom scoring models for go/no-go decisions
- Internal reporting to leadership
- Anything specific to your BD process
Built for small businesses doing their own research
Enterprise BD teams have Deltek GovWin, Bloomberg Government, and dedicated analysts. Small businesses have spreadsheets and late nights on USASpending.gov. GovScout fills that gap — the competitive research piece that spreadsheets handle poorly, at a price point that makes sense before your first federal win.
Export any search result to CSV when you need it in your spreadsheet. GovScout handles the search and filtering; your spreadsheet handles everything after.
Frequently asked questions
Can GovScout replace my contract tracking spreadsheet?
For competitive research, yes. GovScout searches awarded federal contracts by NAICS code, set-aside type, agency, recipient, and dollar range — all the dimensions you'd manually track in a spreadsheet. Pro users also get saved searches with email alerts on new awards, spending trend charts, and CSV export. You still need your own systems for bid management and proposal tracking, but the competitive intelligence part is covered.
How does GovScout get its data?
All data comes from USASpending.gov, the U.S. government's official source for federal spending data. It covers all awarded federal contracts and is updated daily. We use the public API — no scraping, no proprietary data sources.
Can I export data to a spreadsheet?
Yes. Pro users can export search results to CSV with one click. This lets you keep using spreadsheets for your own analysis while GovScout handles the search, filtering, and data collection. You get the best of both: purpose-built search plus spreadsheet flexibility.
What does the free tier include?
10 searches per day with full access to all filters — NAICS autocomplete, set-aside type, agency, recipient, dollar range. No signup required. The free tier is enough for occasional research. Pro ($49/month) adds unlimited searches, spending trends, CSV export, saved searches, and email alerts.
I only track contracts in one NAICS code. Is GovScout overkill?
Actually, that's where GovScout saves the most time. Set up a saved search for your NAICS code with your preferred set-aside filters, and GovScout emails you when new awards match. No more manually checking USASpending.gov or updating your spreadsheet. The free tier covers 10 searches/day if you prefer manual checks.
Try it — faster than opening a spreadsheet
10 free searches per day. Set-aside filters, NAICS autocomplete, agency spending breakdowns. No registration, no downloads.
Search contracts free