Top 20 Small-Business Federal Contractors of FY2024 — and What You Can Learn from Them
Federal contracting is a tough game, but FY2024’s top-performing small-business primes proved there’s plenty of room to win big—if you know where to play and how to position yourself. Together, the 20 vendors in this ranking captured roughly $20B of the $183.3B awarded to small-business primes last year. That’s more than 10% of all small-biz contract dollars—locked down by just 20 companies.
Here’s the plain-language breakdown of who they are, what they did right, and how you can apply their strategies to grow your own government contracting business.
The big winners include names like Atlantic Diving Supply ($4.8B in obligations, mainly with DLA), Noble Supply & Logistics ($1.21B), and IT resellers like FCN, Inc. and Minburn Technology Group, each clearing close to a billion. While the industries vary—hardware distribution, IT value-added resellers (VARs), facilities support, defense systems—the patterns are clear:
Heavy use of government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) like NASA SEWP V, CIO-CS, and GSA Schedules.
Strong relationships with specific agencies (especially VA, DLA, and service branches).Leveraging socio-economic certifications (SDVOSB, 8(a), WOSB, ANC/Tribal) to unlock set-asides and sole-source awards.
Dominating niche markets—from firefighting equipment to enterprise software renewals.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses
Even though these are the “big fish” in the small-business pond, their paths to success are built on strategies that any qualified contractor can use:
Agency Focus Pays Off – Companies like Four Points Technology and Veteran Technology Partners thrived by zeroing in on VA IT spend, winning large and repeat orders. You don’t need dozens of agencies—just one or two anchor clients where you become indispensable.
GWACs Are Your Highway – Most IT VARs on this list live off SEWP V and similar vehicles. If you’re in IT products or services, not holding a GWAC spot is like trying to sell to the government without a driver’s license.
Certifications Unlock Doors – From ANC-owned ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics leveraging 8(a) sole-source rules to SDVOSBs like Minburn and Thundercat Technology sweeping VA buys, certifications remain a competitive edge. That’s where 8a certification assistance, women business certification, and disabled veteran small business certification can make a direct revenue impact.
Niche Beats Broad – W.S. Darley & Co. isn’t trying to sell every product under the sun—it dominates firefighting and emergency equipment. Find your own high-demand, low-competition lane.
Actionable Takeaways for Contractors
If you’re serious about breaking into the top tier—or just want to capture a bigger slice of government procurement—start here:
Map Your Best NAICS Codes – Many winners here operate in high-spend NAICS like 541519 (IT VAR) and 561210 (Facilities Support). Use tools to find the best NAICS codes for small business in your industry and update your SAM.gov profile.
Get on the Right Contract Vehicles – Whether that’s NASA SEWP, GSA MAS, or agency-specific BPAs, you need access to the marketplaces where the dollars flow.
Build Cert Advantage – Secure the right federal contracting certifications (SBA 8a certification, WOSB, SDVOSB) and learn the government contracting certification process inside and out.
Align with Your Top Agency’s Buying Patterns – Research their recurring buys and budget priorities. Match your marketing to their mission needs.
Use Proposal Experts – Government Contract Proposal Writing support can help you bid more competitively and free your team to focus on delivery.
The Big Picture
The FY2024 top small-business contractors didn’t stumble into billion-dollar portfolios—they earned them through deliberate positioning, relentless bidding, and leveraging every advantage the system offers. And here’s the kicker: many of their wins weren’t even small-business set-asides. They competed in full and open competitions and still won, because small doesn’t mean second-best.
If you want to emulate these results, the blueprint is clear—pick a lane, get the right certifications, lock in a seat on major vehicles, and cultivate one or two agency relationships into multi-year revenue streams. That’s how small businesses go big in federal contracting.
If you are looking to get into GSA instead, take a look at our post on GSA’s Procurement Power Grab: What Small Contractors Need to Know Now. You’ll find practical steps to position your business in the most lucrative markets.
If you aren't a Squared Compass partner, what are you waiting for? From getting your business set up with specific government set aside programs at both the State and Federal level, to being empowered by a Fractional Capture team to win government contracts, to receiving tailored government contract opportunities Squared Compass delivers immense value which helps propel our partners to success. Schedule a chat with our team today.
