How to Find Government Contract Awards in Your Industry

The federal government spends over $700 billion annually on contracts, making it the single largest buyer of goods and services in the world. For businesses looking to enter or expand in government contracting, understanding where that money goes is the first step.

Why Contract Award Data Matters

Contract award data tells you who is buying, what they are buying, and who is winning. Unlike opportunity listings (which show what agencies plan to buy), award data shows actual spending. This historical data is essential for:

• Market sizing: How much does the government spend in your industry each year?
• Competitive analysis: Who are the incumbent contractors? What are they winning?
• Agency targeting: Which agencies buy your type of product or service?
• Teaming decisions: Which companies might make good subcontracting partners?
• Price benchmarking: What are typical contract values for similar work?

Using NAICS Codes to Find Your Industry

Every federal contract is classified by a NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code. These six-digit codes categorize businesses by industry. For example:

• 541511 — Custom Computer Programming Services
• 541330 — Engineering Services
• 236220 — Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
• 561210 — Facilities Support Services

To find contracts in your industry, start by identifying your primary NAICS codes. You can search awards by NAICS code on GovContractData to see all recent awards in your industry.

Filtering by Agency

Not all agencies buy the same things. The Department of Defense accounts for roughly 60% of all federal contract spending, but agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the General Services Administration are also major buyers.

Browse awards by specific agencies on our agency pages to see spending patterns, top contractors, and common NAICS codes for each department.

Geographic Targeting

Many contracts specify a place of performance, which is where the work will be done. This is especially important for service contracts, construction, and facilities support. You can filter awards by state to find contracts being performed in your area.

Browse our state pages to see federal spending in each state.

Set-Aside Programs

The federal government reserves a portion of contracts for small businesses through set-aside programs:

• SBA Small Business — General small business set-asides
• 8(a) — For disadvantaged small businesses
• HUBZone — For businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones
• SDVOSB — Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
• WOSB — Women-Owned Small Businesses

If your business holds any of these certifications, filtering by set-aside type can reveal contracts specifically reserved for businesses like yours.

Getting Started

The best way to research your industry is to combine multiple filters. Start with your NAICS code, then narrow by agency or state. Look at the winning contractors to understand the competitive landscape, and note the typical award sizes to calibrate your expectations.

Search government contracts now to start your research, or explore our API for programmatic access to contract award data.