April 2026 Government Tender Report: 35,000+ Open Opportunities

TL;DR: As of April 1, 2026, there are 35,355 open government tenders across Canada and the US — 3,348 Canadian and 32,007 American. March saw 84,865 new solicitations posted. Professional services, construction, and A&E lead by volume. Browse all open tenders — updated daily.

Each month, we publish a snapshot of the government contracting market using live data from our platform. This report covers what posted in March 2026, what's open now, and where the opportunities are concentrated.

Open tenders: the numbers

March was a high-volume month. With the federal fiscal year ending September 30 for the US (and March 31 for Canada), procurement offices are pushing solicitations to commit budgets. The 84,865 new tenders posted in March represents sustained high activity — agencies are spending, and the pipeline is full heading into Q2.

Top industries by new tenders (March 2026)

Professional services continues to dominate — management consulting, IT advisory, staffing, and program management make up the bulk. This is the broadest category and the easiest entry point for small businesses with specialized expertise.

Construction posted 4,704 new tenders in March, driven by federal infrastructure spending and military construction programs (including the ongoing Tyndall AFB rebuild and base modernization projects).

Architecture & Engineering at 2,774 reflects the upstream design work feeding the construction pipeline. If you're an A&E firm, lead times on these contracts mean design work awarded now will drive construction tenders 6-12 months out.

For manufacturing firms, the 2,254 new tenders span defense components, medical supplies, textiles, and industrial equipment. Buy American requirements under FAR 52.225-1 continue to favor domestic producers.

Top sources by volume

New York City's municipal procurement system generates the highest raw volume of any single source, covering everything from school supplies to infrastructure. SAM.gov remains the primary federal source at 30,862 new postings — this is where DoD, civilian agencies, and cybersecurity contracts appear.

On the Canadian side, SEAO (Quebec's electronic tendering system) leads with 3,376 postings, reflecting Quebec's active infrastructure and services procurement.

Top US states by open tenders

Pennsylvania leads by open tender count, driven by state portal volume and federal installations. California and Virginia round out the top three — both states with massive defense corridors and active procurement portals.

For state-specific strategies, see our guides to Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, and California.

Top Canadian provinces by open tenders

Quebec leads Canadian procurement by volume — the SEAO system captures both provincial and municipal opportunities. Ontario's 1,545 open tenders span Merx postings and provincial agency solicitations. British Columbia rounds out the top three.

Award data: what's been won

The $149,132 median award value is a useful benchmark for small businesses evaluating which opportunities to pursue. Half of all awards fall below this threshold — these are often the contracts most accessible to small businesses bidding for the first time. See our guide to bidding with no experience for entry-level strategies.

Contracts under the simplified acquisition threshold of $350,000 use streamlined procedures — faster evaluations, less paperwork, and more opportunities reserved for small businesses.

What to watch in April 2026

Canadian fiscal year-end (March 31). Federal departments that didn't commit their FY2025-26 budgets will have leftover funds lapsing. Watch for a burst of quick-turnaround solicitations in early April as departments redirect remaining appropriations.

US Q3 spending acceleration. The US federal fiscal year ends September 30, and Q3 (April-June) is historically when agencies begin accelerating procurement to avoid year-end rushes. Expect increasing solicitation volume through June.

CMMC Phase 1 continues. CMMC 2.0 Level 1 and Level 2 self-assessments are now required on new DoD contracts. Certified firms face less competition — this is still an early-mover window.

WOSB set-aside momentum. After hitting 5.2% in FY2025, agencies are under pressure to maintain or exceed the WOSB target. Expect continued growth in women-owned set-asides.

The bottom line

With 35,355 open tenders and nearly 85,000 new postings in March alone, the government contracting pipeline is full. Professional services, construction, and A&E continue to drive the highest volumes. Small businesses should focus on contracts under the $350,000 simplified acquisition threshold and leverage set-aside programs to compete against smaller pools.

Browse all open tenders or sign up for daily alerts matched to your industry.

Further reading

• March 2026 Government Tender Report — Last month's data
• How to Bid on Your First Contract — Step-by-step guide
• Government Set-Aside Contracts — Small business programs
• SAM.gov Beginner's Guide — Federal registration