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Federal Agency Procurement Guides

Profiles of the top federal contracting agencies. Each guide covers annual obligations, top NAICS codes, primary contract vehicles, opportunity sources, and small business focus.

DoD

U.S. Department of Defense

Provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure the nation's security.

$450B+ (FY2024)7 vehicles6 top NAICS

VA

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Care for those who have served in the nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

$35B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

HHS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services.

$28B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

DHS

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Secure the nation from the many threats we face.

$25B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

GSA

U.S. General Services Administration

Deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people.

$20B+ direct (and >$40B passed through MAS)6 vehicles5 top NAICS

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

Ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges.

$32B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Explore the universe and reach for new heights through aeronautics, science, and human space exploration.

$22B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

DoS

U.S. Department of State

Lead America's foreign policy and protect U.S. citizens abroad.

$15B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

Treasury

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad.

$12B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

Army

U.S. Department of the Army

Deploy, fight, and win the Nation's wars by providing ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance.

$140B+ (FY2024)6 vehicles5 top NAICS

Navy

U.S. Department of the Navy

Maintain, train, and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas.

$135B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

Air Force

U.S. Department of the Air Force

Fly, fight, and win — airpower anytime, anywhere. Includes the U.S. Space Force.

$110B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

DLA

Defense Logistics Agency

Provide effective and efficient global solutions to warfighters and our other valued customers.

$45B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

Provide America's taxpayers top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness.

$5B+ (FY2024)5 vehicles5 top NAICS

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

Provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

$8B+ (FY2024)3 vehicles5 top NAICS

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues.

$7B+ (FY2024 direct contracts)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Protect human health and the environment.

$2.5B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

ED

U.S. Department of Education

Promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

$2B+ (FY2024 direct contracts)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

DOI

U.S. Department of the Interior

Protect and manage the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provide scientific and other information about those resources; and honor the Nation's trust responsibilities or special commitments.

$7B+ (FY2024)3 vehicles5 top NAICS

DARPA

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies for national security.

$4B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles4 top NAICS

CISA

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Lead the national effort to understand, manage, and reduce risk to our cyber and physical infrastructure.

$2.5B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

USCG

United States Coast Guard

Protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests in the Nation's ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region.

$5B+ (FY2024)3 vehicles5 top NAICS

DCMA

Defense Contract Management Agency

Ensure DoD weapon systems and equipment are delivered on time, at projected cost, and meet performance requirements.

$200M+ direct contracts (FY2024)3 vehicles4 top NAICS

NGA

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Deliver world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals, and first responders.

$5B+ (FY2024 estimated)4 vehicles4 top NAICS

Census

United States Census Bureau

Serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy.

$1.5B+ baseline, $5B+ in census years (FY2024)3 vehicles5 top NAICS

NRC

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Protect public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment.

$300M+ direct contracts (FY2024)3 vehicles5 top NAICS

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Regulate the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil; review proposals to build LNG terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines.

$150M+ direct contracts (FY2024)2 vehicles5 top NAICS

NSF

National Science Foundation

Promote the progress of science; advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and secure the national defense.

$1B+ direct contracts (grants are much larger)3 vehicles4 top NAICS

USPS

United States Postal Service

Provide reliable, efficient, trusted, and affordable universal postal services.

$15B+ (FY2024)2 vehicles5 top NAICS

DOJ

U.S. Department of Justice

Enforce the law, defend the interests of the United States, ensure public safety, seek just punishment, and ensure fair administration of justice.

$10B+ (FY2024)4 vehicles5 top NAICS

Federal Agency Contracting FAQs

Which federal agency spends the most on contracts?

The Department of Defense (DoD) is by far the largest federal buyer, with annual contract obligations exceeding $450B — roughly two-thirds of all federal contract spending. After DoD, the largest civilian buyers are HHS ($28B+), VA ($35B+), DHS ($25B+), DOE ($32B+), and NASA ($22B+).

How do I find opportunities at a specific federal agency?

Start with SAM.gov, which is the official source for all federal opportunities. Each agency also has its own forecasts, vendor outreach programs, and agency-specific platforms (e.g., NASA NAIS, VA TAC, DLA DIBBS, GSA eBuy). Many agencies also publish 12-month forecasts of upcoming acquisitions.

What are GWACs and why do they matter?

Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) are multi-agency vehicles that let any federal agency buy from approved primes without running a new solicitation. Major GWACs include GSA MAS, Alliant 2, OASIS+, CIO-SP4, SEWP VI, and Polaris. Holding a GWAC seat significantly improves opportunity access.

Which agencies have the best small business participation?

VA is the leader for SDVOSB/VOSB through its Veterans First Contracting Program. SBA, GSA, and HHS consistently exceed small business goals. DoD, despite being the largest, achieves ~25% small business participation through extensive set-asides across service branches.