GovCon APIMarket Pulse: federal contract markets
Three reads on the same 512 ranked NAICS markets: where the dollars are, where no incumbent dominates, and where 8(a) set-asides run deepest.
Federal prime-contract obligations (FPDS), trailing 12 months, refreshed daily. Figures as of 2026-10-07.
Largest federal contract markets
The NAICS codes with the most federal contract money on the books. Where the biggest, most-established buying programs are, and how concentrated each one is.
The federal NAICS markets with the most contract money obligated over the trailing 12 months, ranked by net obligations. This is where the dollars are: the largest, most-established buying programs in the government. The top-5 share column shows how much of each market the five largest vendors already hold, so you can see at a glance which of the big markets are wide open and which are effectively owned by a handful of incumbents.
The largest federal contract market over the trailing 12 months is Commercial And Institutional Building Construction at $51.3B, led by FISHER SAND & GRAVEL CO. The ten largest markets here account for $376.0B of federal obligations between them. Concentration varies sharply: the five largest firms hold 94% of Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences but just 20% of Other Computer Related Services.
| # | NAICS market | Obligated | Firms | Top-5 share | Led by | Top buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 236220 Commercial And Institutional Building Construction | $51.3B | 3,242 | 50% | FISHER SAND & GRAVEL CO (26%) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| 2 | 524114 Direct Health And Medical Insurance Carriers | $44.2B | 124 | 94% | OPTUM PUBLIC SECTOR SOLUTIONS, INC. (45%) | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 3 | 336411 Aircraft Manufacturing | $43.9B | 695 | 68% | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION (27%) | Department of the Navy |
| 4 | 541330 Engineering Services | $41.0B | 3,594 | 26% | ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION (17%) | Department of the Navy |
| 5 | 541715 Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (Except Nanotechnology And Biotechnology) | $38.8B | 5,693 | 27% | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC (11%) | Department of the Air Force |
| 6 | 336414 Guided Missile And Space Vehicle Manufacturing | $37.5B | 88 | 76% | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION (37%) | Department of the Army |
| 7 | 561210 Facilities Support Services | $37.3B | 1,774 | 55% | TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC (15%) | Department of Energy |
| 8 | 541512 Computer Systems Design Services | $29.9B | 1,808 | 34% | ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC (10%) | Federal Acquisition Service |
| 9 | 336611 Ship Building And Repairing | $29.3B | 1,074 | 57% | ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION (15%) | Department of the Navy |
| 10 | 541519 Other Computer Related Services | $22.9B | 2,964 | 20% | THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC (5%) | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 11 | 336413 Other Aircraft Parts And Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing | $14.9B | 2,134 | 31% | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION (7%) | Department of the Air Force |
| 12 | 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, And Nautical System And Instrument Manufacturing | $14.4B | 1,313 | 40% | RAYTHEON COMPANY (22%) | Department of the Navy |
| 13 | 325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing | $12.2B | 332 | 94% | MCKESSON CORPORATION (91%) | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 14 | 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services | $11.2B | 1,876 | 28% | PALANTIR USG INC (12%) | Department of the Army |
| 15 | 237990 Other Heavy And Civil Engineering Construction | $10.8B | 877 | 47% | THALLE CONSTRUCTION CO INC (18%) | Department of the Army |
| 16 | 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, And Technical Services | $10.8B | 2,750 | 42% | BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC (22%) | Department of Energy |
| 17 | 541611 Administrative Management And General Management Consulting Services | $9.3B | 2,490 | 20% | DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP (8%) | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services |
| 18 | 541710 Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences | $9.1B | 46 | 94% | LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC (41%) | Department of Energy |
| 19 | 336412 Aircraft Engine And Engine Parts Manufacturing | $9.0B | 592 | 91% | RTX CORPORATION (60%) | Department of the Navy |
| 20 | 621111 Offices Of Physicians (Except Mental Health Specialists) | $8.2B | 647 | 94% | QTC MEDICAL SERVICES INC (28%) | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 21 | 324110 Petroleum Refineries | $7.9B | 502 | 36% | MOTOR OIL (HELLAS) CORINTH REFINERIES S.A. (9%) | Defense Logistics Agency |
| 22 | 561612 Security Guards And Patrol Services | $7.4B | 608 | 36% | AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. (10%) | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement |
| 23 | 488190 Other Support Activities For Air Transportation | $6.7B | 730 | 60% | AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. (17%) | Department of the Air Force |
| 24 | 541712 Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology) | $6.2B | 361 | 46% | MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (15%) | Department of the Air Force |
| 25 | 336992 Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, And Tank Component Manufacturing | $5.4B | 310 | 81% | GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS INC. (27%) | Department of the Army |
| 26 | 332993 Ammunition (Except Small Arms) Manufacturing | $5.3B | 140 | 66% | THE BOEING COMPANY (24%) | Department of the Air Force |
| 27 | 562910 Remediation Services | $5.3B | 840 | 58% | SAVANNAH RIVER MISSION COMPLETION, LLC (20%) | Department of Energy |
| 28 | 511210 Software Publishers | $5.2B | 553 | 82% | CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP (29%) | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| 29 | 541614 Process, Physical Distribution, And Logistics Consulting Services | $4.4B | 342 | 79% | AMI METALS, INC (45%) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| 30 | 481212 Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation | $3.9B | 119 | 63% | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. (41%) | Department of the Air Force |
Least concentrated federal markets
Real money spread across many firms, where the top five hold only a small share. Markets with no dominant incumbent, ranked least-concentrated first.
Federal NAICS markets ranked by how little of the money the five largest vendors hold, least concentrated first. In these markets no single incumbent dominates: the work is spread across many firms, and the top five hold only a small share of the dollars. The $/firm column shows the money divided by the number of competing firms, a rough sense of how much is on the table per player.
Read this as structure, not as a scorecard. A low top-5 share means the dollars are fragmented, which can mean a new entrant is able to take a slice. It does not by itself mean the market is easy to enter: barriers like clearances, past-performance requirements, and vehicle access are not visible in obligation data.
In the least concentrated market here, Support Activities For Forestry, the five largest vendors hold just 9% of $1.2B, spread across 2,391 firms; even the largest, AERO SPRAY INC, holds only 2%. Markets like these reward a broad competitive field over an entrenched incumbent.
| # | NAICS market | Obligated | Firms | $/firm | Top-5 share | Largest of them |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 115310 Support Activities For Forestry | $1.2B | 2,391 | $516K | 9% | AERO SPRAY INC (2%) |
| 2 | 623110 Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $242.6M | 464 | $523K | 12% | RIDGECREST COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE, LLC (3%) |
| 3 | 561730 Landscaping Services | $492.6M | 1,407 | $350K | 12% | CUSTOM LAWN SERVICE, INC. (3%) |
| 4 | 238220 Plumbing, Heating, And Air-Conditioning Contractors | $958.1M | 1,900 | $504K | 12% | CHENEGA ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS, LLC (4%) |
| 5 | 562991 Septic Tank And Related Services | $75.7M | 623 | $121K | 16% | MAJOR CONTRACTING SERVICES, INC. (4%) |
| 6 | 561720 Janitorial Services | $1.5B | 1,586 | $917K | 17% | FEDCAP REHABILITATION SERVICES, INC (5%) |
| 7 | 541519 Other Computer Related Services | $22.9B | 2,964 | $7.7M | 20% | THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC (5%) |
| 8 | 541310 Architectural Services | $525.5M | 555 | $947K | 20% | NORTH ARROW, INC. (5%) |
| 9 | 562111 Solid Waste Collection | $260.1M | 855 | $304K | 20% | HAMILTON ALLIANCE INC (6%) |
| 10 | 621910 Ambulance Services | $351.9M | 322 | $1.1M | 20% | EXCELSIOR AMBULANCE SERVICE INC (9%) |
| 11 | 541611 Administrative Management And General Management Consulting Services | $9.3B | 2,490 | $3.7M | 20% | DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP (8%) |
| 12 | 326220 Rubber And Plastics Hoses And Belting Manufacturing | $25.9M | 450 | $58K | 21% | SPIRATEX CO, THE (6%) |
| 13 | 333613 Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $138.3M | 839 | $165K | 21% | BAE SYSTEMS LAND AND ARMAMENTS L.P. (7%) |
| 14 | 334514 Totalizing Fluid Meter And Counting Device Manufacturing | $30.2M | 354 | $85K | 22% | GMS INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, INC. (7%) |
| 15 | 332919 Other Metal Valve And Pipe Fitting Manufacturing | $140.7M | 781 | $180K | 22% | TREADWELL CORPORATION (DELAWARE) (6%) |
| 16 | 811310 Commercial And Industrial Machinery And Equipment (Except Automotive And Electronic) Repair And Maintenance | $513.3M | 2,263 | $227K | 23% | VITAL LINK, INC. (6%) |
| 17 | 541620 Environmental Consulting Services | $1.0B | 967 | $1.1M | 24% | VERNADERO GROUP INC (6%) |
| 18 | 332510 Hardware Manufacturing | $351.4M | 1,926 | $182K | 24% | OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC (8%) |
| 19 | 624221 Temporary Shelters | $76.8M | 148 | $519K | 24% | PATRIOT FIRST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC. (8%) |
| 20 | 332996 Fabricated Pipe And Pipe Fitting Manufacturing | $76.6M | 764 | $100K | 25% | JA MOODY LLC (11%) |
| 21 | 336390 Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $135.6M | 623 | $218K | 26% | TECMOTIV (USA), INC. (8%) |
| 22 | 561110 Office Administrative Services | $424.2M | 407 | $1.0M | 26% | AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC (6%) |
| 23 | 326122 Plastics Pipe And Pipe Fitting Manufacturing | $23.0M | 375 | $61K | 26% | CONTAINMENT CORPORATION (8%) |
| 24 | 541330 Engineering Services | $41.0B | 3,594 | $11.4M | 26% | ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION (17%) |
| 25 | 237310 Highway, Street, And Bridge Construction | $2.2B | 879 | $2.5M | 27% | KIEWIT INFRASTRUCTURE SOUTH CO (13%) |
| 26 | 541715 Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (Except Nanotechnology And Biotechnology) | $38.8B | 5,693 | $6.8M | 27% | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC (11%) |
| 27 | 541713 Research And Development In Nanotechnology | $265.2M | 289 | $918K | 27% | THE EMMES COMPANY, LLC (10%) |
| 28 | 221122 Electric Power Distribution | $891.4M | 345 | $2.6M | 27% | CONSTELLATION NEWENERGY, INC. (6%) |
| 29 | 561790 Other Services To Buildings And Dwellings | $55.3M | 414 | $134K | 28% | CWS MARKETING GROUP, INC. (16%) |
| 30 | 332913 Plumbing Fixture Fitting And Trim Manufacturing | $10.6M | 158 | $67K | 28% | ECI DEFENSE GROUP, INC. (8%) |
Federal markets that lean hardest on 8(a) set-asides
Which NAICS markets put the biggest share of their dollars through 8(a), ranked by that share. For firms in the SBA 8(a) business-development program.
The federal NAICS markets that put the largest share of their dollars through 8(a) set-asides, over the trailing 12 months. Ranking by share, not by dollars, means a small market where most spending is 8(a) outranks a large one where a little is, so read the dollar column alongside the rank. 8(a) is the SBA business-development program for firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Agencies can award 8(a) contracts sole-source (up to $4.5M for services and $7M for manufacturing) or competitively among 8(a) firms, which is why some markets concentrate a large share of their spending here. Use this to see which industries actually run 8(a) dollars at scale, not merely which ones are eligible.
Historical Sites routes the most of its dollars through 8(a) set-asides: 62% of $10.1M, or $6.3M. 5 of the 30 ranked markets send at least 30% of their spending through 8(a), the markets where an 8(a) certification carries the most weight.
| # | NAICS market | Obligated | 8(a) dollars | 8(a) share | All set-asides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 712120 Historical Sites | $10.1M | $6.3M | 62% | 63% |
| 2 | 624110 Child And Youth Services | $27.9M | $10.2M | 37% | 37% |
| 3 | 238110 Poured Concrete Foundation And Structure Contractors | $14.0M | $5.4M | 35% | 70% |
| 4 | 238160 Roofing Contractors | $367.4M | $124.7M | 34% | 67% |
| 5 | 519210 Libraries And Archives | $37.4M | $12.5M | 34% | 34% |
| 6 | 561110 Office Administrative Services | $424.2M | $128.7M | 29% | 33% |
| 7 | 238190 Other Foundation, Structure, And Building Exterior Contractors | $26.0M | $7.0M | 26% | 48% |
| 8 | 712110 Museums | $37.3M | $9.0M | 24% | 29% |
| 9 | 624310 Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $162.4M | $36.7M | 23% | 23% |
| 10 | 541430 Graphic Design Services | $20.0M | $4.8M | 23% | 38% |
| 11 | 333415 Air-Conditioning And Warm Air Heating Equipment And Commercial And Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing | $311.8M | $58.9M | 19% | 32% |
| 12 | 332311 Prefabricated Metal Building And Component Manufacturing | $175.7M | $30.5M | 17% | 37% |
| 13 | 621330 Offices Of Mental Health Practitioners (Except Physicians) | $12.5M | $2.2M | 16% | 50% |
| 14 | 532490 Other Commercial And Industrial Machinery And Equipment Rental And Leasing | $147.9M | $22.8M | 15% | 31% |
| 15 | 611420 Computer Training | $141.8M | $20.7M | 15% | 36% |
| 16 | 512110 Motion Picture And Video Production | $38.9M | $5.7M | 14% | 27% |
| 17 | 561710 Exterminating And Pest Control Services | $39.2M | $5.6M | 14% | 45% |
| 18 | 541820 Public Relations Agencies | $244.7M | $34.0M | 14% | 19% |
| 19 | 336330 Motor Vehicle Steering And Suspension Components (Except Spring) Manufacturing | $44.2M | $5.8M | 13% | 26% |
| 20 | 238390 Other Building Finishing Contractors | $67.6M | $8.6M | 13% | 20% |
| 21 | 561920 Convention And Trade Show Organizers | $158.4M | $19.6M | 12% | 18% |
| 22 | 238220 Plumbing, Heating, And Air-Conditioning Contractors | $958.1M | $115.0M | 12% | 55% |
| 23 | 323111 Commercial Printing (Except Screen And Books) | $27.0M | $3.2M | 12% | 18% |
| 24 | 332721 Precision Turned Product Manufacturing | $11.4M | $1.3M | 11% | 38% |
| 25 | 811198 All Other Automotive Repair And Maintenance | $10.8M | $1.2M | 11% | 18% |
| 26 | 621320 Offices Of Optometrists | $15.0M | $1.7M | 11% | 79% |
| 27 | 238320 Painting And Wall Covering Contractors | $48.4M | $5.1M | 10% | 32% |
| 28 | 541513 Computer Facilities Management Services | $2.8B | $288.9M | 10% | 19% |
| 29 | 238330 Flooring Contractors | $23.3M | $2.4M | 10% | 42% |
| 30 | 238150 Glass And Glazing Contractors | $22.3M | $2.3M | 10% | 46% |
See who wins these markets, and reach them
A single market's profile names the top incumbents and buying agencies: GET /api/v1/naics/{code}. Get the verified business-development contacts at any firm from the same data.
How these numbers are computed
Each row aggregates the public FPDS prime-contract record for one NAICS code, over the trailing 12 months. Obligated dollars are net of de-obligations, so the figure is money that actually moved. Firms is the count of distinct winning entities by UEI. Top-5 share is the five largest recipients' portion of awarded dollars, a structural read of the market, not a verdict on whether you can win in it.
Related: most active buyers, today's market update
Built 2026-10-08T06:27:39+00:00 from the public FPDS prime-contract record, via USASpending.