The NAICS Codes Dominating FY 2025: How Small Businesses Can Win More Federal Contracts
If you’re running a government contracting business, or trying to break into the federal space, understanding which NAICS codes are getting the most attention from federal buyers isn’t trivia. It’s strategy. The FY 2025 data (through 09/30/2025) shows clear patterns about where small-business dollars are actually landing, and if you want to grow, you need to align with those signals.
Here’s what the latest analysis shows, why it matters, and how to act on it.
The Big Picture: What’s Hot in FY 2025
Based on full-year FPDS/USAspending data analyzed in the FY 2025 NAICS report, the small-business landscape continues to be dominated by three sectors: IT services, construction/engineering, and professional services, with environmental remediation breaking into the top 10 for the first time.
Here are the top five NAICS codes by small-business obligations:
541519 – Other Computer Related Services
236220 – Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
541330 – Engineering Services
541715 – R&D in Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences
541512 – Computer Systems Design Services
Rounding out the top 10: 541611, 541511, 561210, 339999 and the newcomer 562910.
These categories account for the bulk of small-business prime contracting dollars across the federal government. Agencies exceeded the 23 percent small-business goal again, and most of that increase flowed directly into the top NAICS codes.
Why This Matters for Contractors
If you’re a small business bid on federal work, your success rate is tied directly to how well you align your contractor NAICS code with where agencies are actively spending. Whether you’re deep in the SBA 8a certification process, pursuing women business certification or disabled veteran government contracts, or expanding into new federal contracting opportunities, NAICS alignment is a foundational strategy move.
A few high-impact insights:
IT firms should ensure they are aligned with 541519, 541512, or 541511, since these continue to dominate small-business IT spend across DoD, VA, DHS, and GSA vehicles.
Construction and engineering companies benefit heavily from 236220 and 541330 because agencies like VA, DoD, and GSA consistently reserve construction and design work for small business categories such as SDVOSB, HUBZone, and 8a.
Innovators and R&D firms should focus on 541715, which has risen due to SBIR Grant Assistance and federal R&D programs.
Management consulting firms still have opportunity under 541611, but the category has grown more competitive and isn’t increasing as fast as IT or construction.
Environmental remediation companies should capitalize now: 562910 surged into the top 10 thanks to infrastructure and climate funding.
Actionable Tips to Position Your Business
Here’s how to use the FY25 NAICS trends to improve your pipeline:
1. Audit your NAICS codes.
Small firms often underperform because they’re using outdated or overly narrow NAICS codes. Ensure your SAM and DSBS profiles list all relevant codes, especially the best NAICS codes for small business based on adjacency to your services.
2. Leverage certifications strategically.
8a certification assistance, women owned small business certification, HUBZone, and disabled veteran small business certification are directly tied to billions in set-asides inside the top NAICS codes. If you’re eligible, certification is a revenue multiplier.
3. Strengthen Government Contract Proposal Writing around top NAICS agencies.
For example:
236220: VA, Army Corps, NAVFAC
541519: DoD, DHS, IRS, GSA
541715: DoD labs, NIH, NASA
Tailor each proposal to agency priorities under that NAICS.
4. Use subcontracting to access high-value vehicles.
You do NOT need to prime immediately. Subcontract under GWACs and IDIQs like:
GSA MAS
SEWP V
8a STARS III
Agency-specific IDIQs using 541512, 541519, or 541330
This is often the fastest way to build past performance.
5. Monitor new environmental opportunities.
NAICS 562910’s rise is tied to federal environmental cleanup, climate resilience, hazardous waste, and infrastructure restoration. If you’re in that world, now is the best opportunity window in a decade.
Final Thoughts: Think Ahead, Not Backward
The FY 2025 NAICS landscape confirms that IT modernization, infrastructure, environmental projects, and R&D remain the federal government’s most significant investment areas. Align your NAICS codes, certifications, teaming strategy, and pipeline development to these realities, not last year’s priorities.
If you want to grow in FY 2026, this is your roadmap.
👉 For a deeper dive into where small-business dollars are coming from, and which agencies are driving the trends, read this next: Top 10 Agencies in FY2025 Small-Business Contracting and What It Means for You. This follow-up post shows you which agencies are fueling the NAICS trends above and where your next contract is most likely to come from.
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