Federal IT Contracts: Where They Are and How to Win Them

There are 236 open federal IT contract opportunities today in programming, systems design, IT services and hosting, 45 posted in the last 7 days, and 65 of them are set aside for small businesses.

The IT trades and their NAICS codes

• Other Computer Related Services (NAICS 541519): 114 open
• Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512): 63 open
• Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511): 31 open
• Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (NAICS 518210): 25 open
• Computer Facilities Management Services (NAICS 541513): 3 open

Who buys IT right now

• Department of Veterans Affairs: 38 open
• Department of the Air Force: 19 open
• Department of the Army: 18 open
• Department of the Navy: 15 open
• Defense Logistics Agency: 12 open
• Defense Information Systems Agency (disa): 10 open

How small IT firms win federal work

• Register your business for federal contracting and list every NAICS code you can deliver.
• Check the SBA size standard for each code: IT services codes are measured by revenue, so a growing firm can still count as small.
• Many IT purchases go through contract vehicles such as the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (its IT category) and governmentwide acquisition contracts. Small firms often start as subcontractors to a vehicle holder.
• Answer sources sought notices: they shape the solicitation that follows and put your firm in front of the buyer.
• Watch the set-asides you qualify for (8(a), HUBZone, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned): fewer firms can bid.

Get every new IT notice for your codes by email each morning from the trade pages, and read how to get government contracts.