BidSparq Research · updated August 17, 2026

The Wired Contract Report

Every contractor suspects it: some government bids are written for a vendor who's already been chosen. We analyzed the language of 53,170 open U.S. government solicitations to measure how often the text itself gives it away.

16.5%
of open solicitations show at least one strong wired signal: about 1 in 6
49%
of equipment solicitations: the most-wired category
3,440
open solicitations carry two or more signals at once

The four signals we measured

Share of open solicitations whose text contains each signal. The headline figure counts the three “strong” signals and excludes thin scope of work.

  • Brand-name lock (no “or equal”)14.4%
    7,634 RFPs
  • Intent-to-award / sole-source language4.9%
    2,587 RFPs
  • Competitor-specific language5.6%
    2,964 RFPs
  • Thin / vague scope of work8.4%
    4,444 RFPs

The most-wired categories

Share of open solicitations with a strong wired signal, by procurement category.

  • Equipment48.9%
    6,327 RFPs
  • Software44.6%
    1,159 RFPs
  • Commodities38.2%
    3,947 RFPs
  • IT Services34.2%
    1,014 RFPs
  • Maintenance23.4%
    5,186 RFPs
  • Security12.7%
    338 RFPs
  • Education Services10.3%
    949 RFPs
  • Professional Services7.9%
    6,498 RFPs
  • Staffing7.7%
    271 RFPs
  • Healthcare Services7.6%
    1,322 RFPs
  • Food Services6.4%
    624 RFPs
  • Transportation4.7%
    622 RFPs

The most-wired states

Share with a strong wired signal, by place of solicitation (min. 150 RFPs).

  • VA44.5%
    3,456 RFPs
  • OH40.8%
    1,587 RFPs
  • NM31.2%
    378 RFPs
  • OK23.7%
    532 RFPs
  • DC23.2%
    905 RFPs
  • MD22.9%
    1,715 RFPs
  • WA21.7%
    1,622 RFPs
  • PA21.0%
    2,314 RFPs
  • WV18.3%
    169 RFPs
  • SC17.1%
    768 RFPs
  • AZ16.7%
    413 RFPs
  • IL15.6%
    1,325 RFPs

Read this before you cite us

These are signals, not proof. A brand-name specification is sometimes entirely legitimate: an agency may genuinely need an OEM part for compatibility, which is exactly why equipment shows the highest rate. What the signals tell you is where competition may be limited and a bid is worth a closer look before you spend 80 hours on a proposal. They are a starting point for scrutiny, not an accusation.

Spot a wired contract before you bid

BidSparq scores every active RFP for these signals automatically: so you don't waste a week writing a proposal for a contract that's already been decided. Want to learn the tells yourself? Read our field guide.

Check your RFPs free →How to spot a wired contract

Methodology

BidSparq analyzed the language of 53,170 currently-open U.S. government solicitations (federal, state, and local) using an AI classifier that flags four signals associated with pre-favored, incumbent-friendly procurements: brand-name specifications without an “or equal” clause, intent-to-award / sole-source language, language tailored to a specific competitor, and an unusually thin scope of work. The headline figure counts the three “strong” signals and excludes thin scope (vague ≠ wired). IMPORTANT: these are signals, not proof of wrongdoing — a brand-name spec is sometimes legitimate (e.g. OEM compatibility in equipment), which is exactly why equipment shows the highest rate. The signals surface where competition may be limited and warrant a closer look. Analysis covers the AI-enriched subset of open solicitations in BidSparq; the dataset refreshes as new solicitations are ingested and re-analyzed.

Data as of August 17, 2026. © BidSparq. Cite as “BidSparq Wired Contract Report.”

Key stats from this report

Each answered on its own page with the current figure, source, and sample size.

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