For businesses, consultants and researchers working in the U.S. government-contracting market, SAM.gov contains an enormous amount of valuable public information.
The difficulty is not necessarily finding the data. The challenge is turning a large government bulk extract into something practical enough to use for contractor research, NAICS analysis, supplier discovery or market intelligence.
That is why we developed the Bitrixa SAM.gov Public Contractor & NAICS Database Compiler v1.0.
The Windows software processes the official SAM.gov Entity Registration Public V2 Monthly bulk extract locally and converts selected records into structured Excel and CSV databases.
It can be used to create targeted datasets based on NAICS, state, small-business status, business classifications, SBA classifications, PSC, CAGE availability, UEI and other supported Public V2 fields — without requiring the user to build a custom SAM.gov API integration.
Why SAM.gov Data Can Be Difficult to Work With
SAM.gov is central to the U.S. federal procurement ecosystem.
Businesses registering to participate in federal awards provide structured information about their organisations, industries, locations and classifications.
For a researcher, this creates opportunities to answer questions such as:
- Which federal contractors operate within a particular NAICS industry?
- Which contractors are located in California, Texas or another state?
- Which registrations are classified as small businesses?
- Which businesses identify as Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned?
- Which organisations fall within Women-Owned or Minority-Owned classifications?
- Which contractors have a CAGE code?
- Which entities share the same Unique Entity Identifier?
- Which businesses operate in a particular industry and geographic market?
The challenge comes when you need to analyse these questions across hundreds of thousands of records.
Raw bulk data is ideal for machines, but it is less convenient for somebody who simply wants a usable Excel workbook or CSV database.
SAM.gov API vs SAM.gov Bulk Data
One option is to develop software around the SAM.gov API.
For developers building applications, automated queries or live integrations, an API can be an appropriate solution.
But not every researcher needs an API-driven application.
A common requirement is much simpler:
Download the official SAM.gov bulk dataset, apply a set of research criteria, and export the matching organisations into Excel or CSV.
Developing an API integration just for that purpose can mean writing requests, handling pagination, parsing responses, maintaining code and building an export process.
The Bitrixa compiler takes a different approach.
It works with the official SAM.gov Entity Registration Public V2 bulk extract downloaded separately by the user and processes it locally on Windows.
For this type of bulk-data research, it can therefore serve as a practical SAM.gov API alternative.
It is important to be precise about that distinction: the compiler does not replace every feature of the official SAM.gov API. It is specifically designed for users who want to process the Public V2 bulk dataset into structured research databases.
What Is the Bitrixa SAM.gov Contractor Database Compiler?
The Bitrixa SAM.gov Public Contractor & NAICS Database Compiler is Windows software that turns the official Public V2 monthly extract into targeted datasets.
Instead of manually working through the source data, users follow a guided workflow and choose the criteria they need.
The compiler then scans the source and exports the matching records.
Depending on the project, the software can be used to build:
- Federal Contractor Databases
- SAM.gov Contractor Databases
- Government Contractor Lists
- NAICS Contractor Databases
- CAGE Databases
- UEI Databases
- Small Business Databases
- GovCon research datasets
- Government supplier databases
- State-specific contractor databases
- Industry-specific databases
- Excel contractor lists
- CSV contractor datasets
The software is supplied in both Standalone Windows EXE and Python/BAT editions.
Start With Federal Contractor Mode
For many users, the simplest option is Federal Contractor Mode.
This preset is designed for research into organisations associated with federal contracting.
It focuses on active registrations with:
Z2 – All Awards
and requires CAGE availability while applying the compiler’s standard public-data safeguards.
From there, users can narrow the database further.
For example, you might compile:
Active federal contractors in Texas under NAICS 541512.
Or:
Small businesses in California involved in commercial construction.
Or:
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned organisations within a selected industry.
The exact results depend on the information contained in the selected SAM.gov Public V2 snapshot.
Search Federal Contractors by NAICS
One of the most useful features is NAICS filtering.
NAICS — the North American Industry Classification System — assigns six-digit industry classifications to businesses.
For example:
541512 – Computer Systems Design Services
236220 – Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
238220 – Plumbing, Heating and Air-Conditioning Contractors
The compiler accepts a single NAICS code or multiple codes.
Users can also leave the NAICS filter blank when they want to process all industries.
Any Declared NAICS or Primary NAICS
The software provides two matching approaches.
Any Declared NAICS searches all declared NAICS classifications associated with the registration.
Primary NAICS Only restricts the results to entities for which the selected classification is identified as the primary NAICS.
This distinction can be important.
A broad supplier search may benefit from Any Declared NAICS, while competitor analysis within a specific core industry may benefit from Primary NAICS filtering.
Build State-Specific Contractor Databases
Geographic filters can be combined with industry criteria.
Users can filter by supported physical location fields such as state and country.
This allows databases such as:
- California Federal Contractors
- Texas Government Contractors
- Florida Small Businesses
- New York NAICS Contractors
- U.S. contractors within selected industries
Combining geography and NAICS is particularly useful for regional GovCon market research.
Research Small Businesses
SAM.gov NAICS information can contain small-business indicators.
The compiler supports values such as:
Y – Small
N – Not Small
E – Exception
BLANK – No indicator
This gives users another way to narrow large datasets.
For example:
Small businesses in Virginia within a specific NAICS industry.
or:
Small contractors operating across several selected states.
Business Ownership and Classification Research
The Public V2 source also contains supported Business Type classifications.
Examples include classifications associated with:
- For-Profit Organisations
- Limited Liability Companies
- Veteran-Owned Businesses
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses
- Women-Owned Businesses
- Minority-Owned Businesses
- Women-Owned Small Businesses
- Manufacturers
These can be combined with other filters.
A researcher could therefore create a much more specific contractor dataset than a simple nationwide list.
For example:
Women-Owned businesses + selected NAICS + Texas.
or:
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses + selected industry + California.
SBA Classification Filtering
The compiler can also work with supported SBA classifications contained in the Public V2 source.
Examples may include classifications relating to:
- 8(a)
- HUBZone
- Women-Owned Small Business
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business
- 8(a) Joint Venture
This can be particularly useful for market research around federal set-aside environments and supplier analysis.
As with all classifications, the output depends on the information actually contained in the SAM.gov source file being processed.
PSC Filtering
NAICS describes the industry in which an organisation operates.
PSC — Product or Service Code — provides another way to analyse federal procurement-related categories.
The compiler supports PSC filtering where applicable.
A user researching a particular product or service category can therefore combine PSC with other criteria such as:
- NAICS
- State
- Small-business indicator
- Business classification
- CAGE availability
Create a CAGE Database
CAGE — Commercial and Government Entity — information is commonly used throughout U.S. federal procurement.
Because Federal Contractor Mode requires CAGE availability, the resulting dataset can also be useful for CAGE-related contractor research.
Rather than maintaining a separate manually assembled CAGE list, users can compile a dataset directly from the supported information within their Public V2 source snapshot.
Create a Unique UEI Database
The Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI, is an important identifier within SAM.gov.
One organisation can have registration-related variations that may be useful in some types of research but unwanted in others.
The compiler therefore offers two approaches.
Registration Mode
Registration Mode preserves relevant registration and CAGE variations.
Unique UEI Mode
Unique UEI Mode reduces the results to one row per Unique Entity Identifier.
This is useful when the objective is an organisation-level database rather than a registration-level dataset.
For market research, competitor analysis or supplier discovery, that can make the resulting file easier to work with.
Filter for Organisations With Websites
Some Public V2 records contain an Entity URL.
The compiler allows users to require this field to be present.
This can be useful when subsequent research involves visiting company websites.
However, the software does not turn SAM.gov into an enriched commercial contact database.
Not every organisation has an Entity URL, and the Public V2 source should not be expected to provide a general business email address or telephone number for every entity.
The compiler is fundamentally a public contractor research and data-compilation tool, not an email-enrichment service.
Curated Output or Full Public V2 Data
Different users need different levels of detail.
The compiler therefore provides two output profiles.
Curated Research Fields
The Curated profile focuses on a more manageable selection of useful research fields.
It is suitable for users who want a cleaner contractor database that can be opened and analysed more easily.
Full Public V2 Fields
The Full profile retains the complete supported Public V2 structure together with relevant derived compiler fields.
This is intended for analysts and researchers who need maximum source detail.
Full output can become extremely large when filters are broad.
Export SAM.gov Data to Excel or CSV
Users can choose:
- Excel XLSX
- CSV
- Excel and CSV together
Excel is convenient for people who want to inspect, sort and filter the database manually.
CSV is often preferable for very large datasets or when the results will be imported into:
- Database software
- Python
- R
- Power BI
- CRM preparation workflows
- Other analytical systems
Successfully Tested With 553,645 Excel Data Rows
Large-file handling was an important part of the development process.
During final production testing, Bitrixa SAM.gov Public Contractor & NAICS Database Compiler v1.0 successfully generated an Excel workbook containing 553,645 data rows.
That large-scale validation tested important parts of the production workflow, including:
- Large SAM.gov data processing
- Full-scale Excel generation
- ZIP64 workbook support
- Disk-space management
- Temporary working-file handling
This does not mean the software is advertised as supporting “unlimited records.”
Practical limits still depend on the selected source, output profile, number of columns, free disk space, machine specifications and Excel’s own limitations.
But the successful 553,645-row test gives us a concrete real-world validation rather than relying only on small sample files.
Why Large Excel Files Need Extra Disk Space
A large .xlsx file is not written as a simple flat file.
Excel workbooks contain multiple XML components that must be assembled and compressed.
For a very large dataset, the temporary working data can require substantially more disk space than the final Excel file.
This created an important engineering consideration during development.
The final v1.0 compiler therefore incorporates disk-space protection for large Excel operations.
Before managed Excel generation begins, the software evaluates available storage against expected working requirements.
If the job does not appear safe, the compiler can stop before beginning the workbook-generation stage.
Protecting the Windows C: Drive
Another important improvement concerns temporary files.
Many Windows applications use the system temporary folder, which often resides on the C: drive.
For huge Excel workbooks, this can create problems when the system drive has limited free space.
The Bitrixa compiler directs its managed Excel temporary workspace to the output drive instead.
This means that if the software is being run from a large D: or E: drive, the heavy Excel working files can remain there rather than unnecessarily consuming the system drive.
For very large Full-profile jobs, we recommend running the compiler from a local drive with substantial free storage.
Beginner-Friendly Command-Line Workflow
The software uses a Windows Command Prompt / text-based interface rather than a complicated graphical dashboard.
This keeps the workflow lightweight while still making it accessible to non-technical users.
The guided setup explains each step and provides examples.
Users are taken through:
- Research mode
- NAICS criteria
- Geographic filters
- Small-business criteria
- Business Type, SBA and PSC filters
- Website and CAGE requirements
- Registration/UEI mode and output profile
- Excel/CSV format
Before compilation begins, the selections are displayed for confirmation.
So while the underlying task involves a large government dataset, users do not have to write Python code or construct their own filter commands.
No Python Required With the Standalone Edition
The Complete Bundle includes a Standalone Windows EXE edition.
Users choosing this version do not need to install Python.
For technical users who prefer to work with Python, a separate Python/BAT edition is also included.
Both are supplied as part of the Complete Bundle.
No SAM.gov API Key Required
Because the compiler works with the official bulk extract rather than making standard API calls, no SAM.gov API key is required for its normal Public V2 workflow.
The process is straightforward:
- Download the compatible SAM.gov Entity Registration Public V2 monthly ZIP from the official source.
- Place the ZIP inside the compiler’s SAM Data folder.
- Start the guided compiler.
- Select the required research criteria.
- Choose Excel, CSV or both.
- Allow the compiler to process the dataset.
- Open the generated database from the Output folder.
The source ZIP normally does not need to be manually extracted.
The SAM.gov Dataset Is Not Included
The Bitrixa product contains the software, not a copy of the SAM.gov bulk dataset.
Customers obtain the source separately from the official SAM.gov source.
This means the customer can work with the monthly snapshot they choose, while the compiler remains an independent local data-processing product.
Public-Data Safeguards
Commercial use of government datasets requires careful handling of the distinctions within those datasets.
The compiler therefore includes several safeguards.
D&B EVS Records
Records identified with:
ENTITY EVS SOURCE = D&B
are hard-excluded.
That exclusion cannot be disabled through the standard workflow.
NPDY
Normal Federal Contractor and prospecting-oriented workflows exclude NPDY records.
Controlled handling may be available within Advanced Research for users who understand the classification.
Sensitive Data
The product is intended for supported public SAM.gov Public V2 data.
It is not designed to treat FOUO, Sensitive, CUI or similar restricted material as ordinary public research data.
Who Might Find the Compiler Useful?
Potential users include:
- Government contractors
- GovCon consultants
- Federal market researchers
- Business-development professionals
- Procurement researchers
- Supplier researchers
- Data analysts
- Small-business consultants
- Researchers studying federal contracting markets
- Businesses analysing competitors
- Organisations researching potential teaming partners
- Companies building internal supplier intelligence
The software is particularly relevant when the research requirement involves combining several SAM.gov criteria at once.
A Practical Example
Suppose a company wants to research organisations in the Computer Systems Design industry.
It could select:
Federal Contractor Mode
NAICS: 541512
NAICS Match: Any Declared NAICS
State: CA
Country: USA
Entity Mode: Unique UEI
Output: Curated Excel + CSV
The compiler scans the source and writes only the matching organisations to the output database.
The same approach could be adapted for construction, engineering, IT, manufacturing, professional services or other NAICS industries.
One-Time Purchase Rather Than Another Subscription
Many modern data products operate through recurring subscriptions.
The Bitrixa compiler follows a different model.
It is provided as a one-time software purchase under the applicable licence.
There is no monthly Bitrixa subscription and no per-record processing fee.
The software processes the customer’s compatible source file locally.
For organisations that perform periodic SAM.gov market research rather than needing a continuously hosted platform, this can provide a straightforward alternative.
SAM.gov API Alternative — But Not a Replacement for Every API Use Case
Because people frequently search for SAM.gov API tools, it is worth repeating the distinction clearly.
If you need:
- Live application integration
- Real-time remote API calls
- API-specific endpoints
- A cloud application built around API responses
then the official SAM.gov API or another API-based implementation may be more appropriate.
If you need:
- Bulk Public V2 processing
- NAICS filtering
- State filtering
- Contractor classification filtering
- CAGE or UEI research
- Excel export
- CSV export
- Local Windows processing
then the Bitrixa compiler is designed specifically for that workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the software use the SAM.gov API?
No. Its standard workflow processes the official SAM.gov Entity Registration Public V2 bulk extract locally.
Is it a SAM.gov API alternative?
For users whose requirement is bulk-data filtering and Excel/CSV export, it can provide an alternative to developing a custom SAM.gov API integration. It does not replace every API capability.
Do I need a SAM.gov API key?
No API key is required for the standard Public V2 bulk-processing workflow.
Does it scrape SAM.gov?
No. It processes the official bulk extract rather than scraping SAM.gov webpages.
Can I create a Federal Contractor Database?
Yes. Federal Contractor Mode is specifically designed as a starting point for targeted contractor research.
Can I search by NAICS?
Yes. One or multiple six-digit NAICS codes can be entered.
Can I search Primary NAICS only?
Yes. Users can choose Primary NAICS Only or Any Declared NAICS.
Can I filter by state?
Yes, using supported physical-location information in the Public V2 source.
Can I create a CAGE database?
The compiler retains supported CAGE information, and Federal Contractor Mode requires CAGE availability.
Can I create a Unique UEI database?
Yes. Unique UEI Mode produces one output row per Unique Entity Identifier.
Can I filter for small businesses?
Yes, using supported small-business indicators associated with the source data.
Can I search Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned organisations?
Yes, where the corresponding supported Business Type classifications are present in the source.
Can I search Women-Owned businesses?
Yes, where the relevant classification exists in the selected Public V2 snapshot.
Does it support SBA classifications?
Yes, supported SBA classifications contained in the source can be used for filtering.
Can I export to Excel?
Yes.
Can I export to CSV?
Yes.
Can it create Excel and CSV together?
Yes.
Does it handle large Excel files?
Yes. The software incorporates ZIP64 support and disk-space management. Version 1.0 successfully completed a final Excel validation containing 553,645 data rows.
Is Python required?
Not when using the Standalone Windows EXE edition.
Is there a monthly subscription?
No. The software is supplied as a one-time purchase under the applicable licence.
Is SAM.gov data included?
No. Customers obtain the applicable Public V2 source file separately from the official source.
Independent Software — Not an Official SAM.gov Product
The Bitrixa SAM.gov Public Contractor & NAICS Database Compiler is independently developed by Bitrixa.
It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, approved by or endorsed by SAM.gov, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) or the United States Government.
The software processes information contained within the source file selected by the user. Bitrixa does not independently guarantee that every underlying SAM.gov record is complete, current or suitable for a particular commercial purpose.
Important information should always be independently verified before being relied upon for procurement, financial, compliance, legal or other consequential decisions.
A More Practical Way to Work With SAM.gov Bulk Data
SAM.gov public data can be extremely useful, but value comes from being able to turn the information into a dataset that answers a specific research question.
The Bitrixa SAM.gov Public Contractor & NAICS Database Compiler v1.0 was built to make that process more accessible.
Instead of developing a custom data-processing pipeline, users can work through a guided Windows interface, choose the contractor characteristics that matter to them and create their own Excel or CSV database locally.
Whether the objective is a SAM.gov contractor database, Federal Contractor Database, NAICS database, CAGE database, UEI database, GovCon database or SAM.gov data export, the same Public V2 source can be transformed into a much more targeted research resource.
Windows EXE + Python/BAT • Excel + CSV • No monthly subscription • No SAM.gov API key required
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