Federal ContractTrends & Statistics
An analysis of 261,000+ active federal contract opportunities across agencies, industries, and set-aside categories.
Summary
What are the key federal contracting trends? Federal contracting trends reflect the volume, distribution, and characteristics of 261,000+ active solicitations on SAM.gov. The Department of Defense leads with one-third of opportunities, professional services dominate by NAICS sector, and nearly 60% of opportunities carry small business set-aside designations.
Key Takeaways
- Over 261,000 active federal contract opportunities are listed on SAM.gov at any given time, spanning all notice types.
- The Department of Defense accounts for roughly one-third of all opportunities by volume, followed by VA and HHS.
- Professional and technical services (NAICS 54) represent the largest sector at 23.8% of opportunities, with IT services at 15.7%.
- Nearly 60% of opportunities carry some form of small business set-aside designation, exceeding the federal 23% spending goal.
- The median response window from posting to deadline is 22 days, though pre-solicitations and sources sought notices may have longer timelines.
Key Statistics
Snapshot of the federal procurement landscape
261K+
Active Opportunities
Across all notice types
~85K
DoD Opportunities
Largest agency by volume
22 days
Median Response Window
Posting to deadline
59.1%
Small Business Set-Asides
Of total opportunities
Top Agencies by Opportunity Volume
Federal agencies ranked by the number of active contract opportunities posted on SAM.gov
| Agency | Active Opportunities | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense (DoD) | ~85,000 | 32.6% |
| Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) | ~28,000 | 10.7% |
| Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) | ~22,000 | 8.4% |
| General Services Administration (GSA) | ~19,500 | 7.5% |
| Department of Homeland Security (DHS) | ~16,000 | 6.1% |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | ~12,500 | 4.8% |
| Department of the Interior (DOI) | ~11,000 | 4.2% |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | ~9,800 | 3.8% |
Trends by NAICS Sector
Distribution of federal opportunities across major industry classifications
| NAICS Sector | Code | Opportunities | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | 54 | ~62,000 | 23.8% |
| Information Technology | 5415 | ~41,000 | 15.7% |
| Construction | 23 | ~34,000 | 13.0% |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | ~28,500 | 10.9% |
| Administrative & Support Services | 56 | ~21,000 | 8.0% |
| Healthcare & Social Assistance | 62 | ~14,500 | 5.6% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 48-49 | ~11,000 | 4.2% |
| Wholesale Trade | 42 | ~9,500 | 3.6% |
Set-Aside Distribution
Breakdown of federal opportunities by small business set-aside designation
| Set-Aside Type | % of Opportunities | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total Small Business Set-Aside | 38.2% | Restricted to small businesses meeting SBA size standards |
| 8(a) Business Development | 8.7% | Socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) | 5.4% | Owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans |
| HUBZone | 3.1% | Located in historically underutilized business zones |
| Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) | 2.8% | Owned and controlled by women |
| Economically Disadvantaged WOSB | 1.9% | WOSB in underrepresented industries |
| No Set-Aside (Full & Open) | 40.9% | Open to all eligible contractors |
Methodology
This report aggregates data from multiple authoritative sources to provide a comprehensive view of federal contract opportunity trends:
- SAM.gov — The official U.S. government system for contract opportunities. All active opportunity counts and set-aside designations are derived from SAM.gov listings.
- USAspending.gov — Federal award and spending data used to validate agency spending patterns and historical trends.
- Platform analytics — Aggregated data from Gov Contract Finder's processing of federal opportunities, including response window calculations and NAICS distribution analysis.
Figures are approximate and reflect aggregated trends rather than exact point-in-time counts. Opportunity volumes fluctuate daily as new solicitations are posted and existing ones close. All data is publicly available through the sources listed above.
Data as of February 2026. This page is updated periodically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this federal contract data come from?
This report aggregates data from SAM.gov (the official U.S. government procurement portal), USAspending.gov (federal award and spending data), and our own platform analytics from processing hundreds of thousands of contract opportunities.
How often is this data updated?
We refresh the underlying data continuously as SAM.gov publishes new opportunities. This summary report is updated periodically to reflect the latest aggregate trends. The current data reflects trends as of February 2026.
What counts as an "active" federal contract opportunity?
An active opportunity is a solicitation, pre-solicitation, or sources sought notice currently listed on SAM.gov with a response deadline that has not yet passed. This includes all notice types: presolicitation, combined synopsis/solicitation, solicitation, sources sought, and special notices.
Why does the Department of Defense have so many more opportunities than other agencies?
The DoD is the largest federal buyer, accounting for roughly half of all federal contract spending. Its procurement volume reflects the scale of defense operations, maintenance, logistics, IT modernization, and research programs across all military branches and defense agencies.
How are small business set-aside percentages calculated?
Set-aside percentages are calculated as the proportion of total active opportunities on SAM.gov that carry a set-aside designation (e.g., Total Small Business, 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB). The federal government targets 23% of prime contract dollars for small businesses, and the actual opportunity count with set-asides often exceeds that threshold.
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