Finding the right teaming partner is often the difference between watching a contract go to someone else and bidding on it yourself. Small contractors team up to cover a missing capability, meet a past performance requirement, or reach a contract size they could not handle alone. The hard part is finding a partner who fits. This guide compares six platforms and programs that small and mid-sized contractors use to find teaming partners and subcontractors: what each one costs, who it suits, and how it connects you with other firms.
Quick answer: Most small contractors combine a free government directory (SBA Small Business Search and SUBNet) with at least one partner-matching platform (OryonIQ Orbit, Govmates or G2X) and in-person matchmaking through their local APEX Accelerator. The government tools are free but leave the outreach to you. The platforms help with matching and introductions. Use more than one.
Contractors find teaming partners in four main ways: searching government directories such as SBA Small Business Search, browsing subcontracting notices that primes post on SBA SUBNet, using a matching platform that suggests firms with related NAICS codes and contract history, and meeting primes face to face at matchmaking events run by APEX Accelerators and agencies.
Each route answers a different question. A directory tells you who exists and what they are certified for. A subcontracting listing tells you which prime needs help right now. A matching platform narrows the field to firms that fit your work. A matchmaking event gets you a short meeting with a decision-maker. If you are new to teaming, start with the basics of teaming agreements and joint ventures, then decide whether you want to lead as prime or join someone else's team.
The FAR treats both setups as a "contractor team arrangement." In FAR 9.601, that means either two or more companies forming a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime, or a potential prime agreeing to have other companies act as its subcontractors. Every platform below helps with one or both.
The six options split into two groups. OryonIQ Orbit, Govmates and G2X are private platforms that help you discover and contact partners. SBA SUBNet, SBA Small Business Search and APEX Accelerator matchmaking events are government or government-funded resources and free to use. Here is a side-by-side view of cost, audience and matching method.
Prices checked October 2026; confirm on each vendor's site.
OryonIQ Orbit
Govmates
G2X Teaming Hub (formerly G2Xchange)
SBA SUBNet
SBA Small Business Search (formerly DSBS)
APEX Accelerators matchmaking events
Below is how each platform works in practice, based on each provider's own website as of October 2026. The private platforms help you find and approach partners. The government resources make you visible and show you where primes need help. Most contractors get the best results by using one of each.
Orbit is the teaming partner feature inside OryonIQ, a GovCon platform built for small and mid-sized contractors. Orbit suggests teaming partners and shows why each match fits, with signals such as aligned NAICS codes, contract overlap and geographic relevance. Knowing why a match was suggested makes it easier to decide who is worth contacting and what to say in your first message.
When you find a good fit, you send a connection request. Once the other side accepts, you can talk in Orbit's built-in chat, so the early conversation stays in one place. The OryonIQ team can also suggest connections. Matching relies on a few profile fields, so complete your company, position, state and primary NAICS code before you start. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to find GovCon teaming partners with OryonIQ Orbit.
OryonIQ also has a supplier list of primes and specialist suppliers that you can filter by industry, city and state, and an events calendar covering industry days, matchmaking sessions and conferences. A free plan is available with no credit card required.
Govmates calls itself a free teaming partner platform and a technology scouting platform. Its focus is linking non-traditional defense contractors, academic institutions, large systems integrators and government stakeholders. Govmates says it uses an algorithm to make matches and takes no interest or equity stake in its member companies.
What stands out is the human element. Govmates describes concierge-style matchmaking that takes a relationship from first introduction to an NDA, along with networking and training events for members. Its membership page says joining is free. It is a strong fit for technology firms new to defense work that want help getting in front of primes and programs.
G2Xchange now operates as G2X, and the old g2xchange.com address redirects there. G2X is a broader GovCon growth platform for opportunity search, pipeline management, AI bid tools and a GovCon Directory of company profiles. Teaming happens through the Teaming Hub, where members publish active teaming requests to the G2X audience and respond to requests from others.
According to the G2X pricing page, Community Edition is free with no time limit. Posting and responding in the Teaming Hub is listed under the Starter plan at $25 per user per month, and higher tiers allow more active teaming requests. Starter also lets you claim your organization profile. G2X suits teams that want teaming posts and market research in the same tool.
SUBNet (the Subcontracting Network) is SBA's database where large prime contractors post subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. It is still active. In October 2026 the www.sba.gov address redirected to SBA's legacy site, and the listing showed opportunities with closing dates later in the month.
Each listing shows the opportunity, description, closing date, performance start date, place of performance, NAICS code and a point of contact. You can filter by state or keyword. SBA asks you to contact the posted point of contact directly, not SBA, and removes posts that only promote a business. Primes that want to post email subcontracting@sba.gov. SUBNet is free, but you have to check it regularly and do your own outreach.
The Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) has been replaced by SBA Small Business Search (SBS), and the old dsbs.sba.gov address redirects to it. SBA's prime and subcontracting guide says prime contractors use SBS to find small businesses. That makes your SBS profile part of how primes find you.
SBS takes its core data from SAM.gov and lists businesses that SAM shows as small for at least one of their NAICS codes. SBA recommends that your profile include socioeconomic representations and certifications, a capabilities narrative, keywords, NAICS codes and performance history. Claim your business in SBS and keep the narrative current. You can also use SBS yourself to look for small firms with the certifications or NAICS codes your team needs.
APEX Accelerators, formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), help businesses sell to federal, state and local governments. They operate under the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs and are partly funded through cooperative agreements with DoD. Counseling is offered at no cost. You can find your local center through the APEX Accelerators directory.
Many centers run matchmaking events where businesses request short meetings with participating agencies and prime contractors. Some are regional and virtual, such as the multi-state Midwest Virtual Matchmaker. Others are in-person vendor fairs. Centers often help you prepare with capability statement reviews and practice pitches. Event fees and formats vary, so check with the host. Add these events to your calendar alongside agency industry days.
Before you sign, check that the partner is eligible for the set-aside, that the work split meets the limitations on subcontracting, that you will not depend on a large partner too much, and that the agreement says clearly what happens if you win or lose. A good match on a platform is only the start of due diligence.
If you want a long-term relationship with a larger firm rather than a one-off team, look at the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, which lets approved mentor and protégé pairs form joint ventures for set-aside work. And if your partner is also a competitor on other bids, read our guide to competimates before you share too much.
Combine a few sources. Keep your SBA Small Business Search profile complete so primes can find you, check SBA SUBNet for subcontracting notices, use a matching platform such as OryonIQ Orbit, Govmates or G2X to find firms with related NAICS codes and contract history, and attend APEX Accelerator matchmaking events.
Yes. SBA Small Business Search (formerly DSBS) is a free directory of small business profiles built from SAM.gov data, and SBA SUBNet is a free list of subcontracting opportunities posted by primes. Govmates membership is free, and OryonIQ and G2X both offer free plans.
SBA Small Business Search (SBS) at search.certifications.sba.gov replaced DSBS, and the old DSBS address redirects to it. SBS pulls core data from SAM.gov. Claim your business profile and add a capabilities narrative, keywords, NAICS codes and performance history.
APEX Accelerator counseling is offered at no cost, and the centers are partly funded by the Department of Defense. Matchmaking events are run by individual centers or regional groups, so registration fees and formats vary. Check the event page or ask your local APEX Accelerator.
A teaming agreement should cover each party's role and workshare, exclusivity, confidentiality, how proposal costs are handled, whether the prime must issue a subcontract after award, how long the agreement lasts and how either party can exit. On set-aside work, make sure the split meets the limitations on subcontracting.
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