Agency Procurement Guide
Contracts with the Department of Defense
The Department of Defense is the largest single buyer of goods and services in the world, obligating over $450B annually across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Fourth Estate agencies (DLA, DCMA, DARPA, etc.). Contract opportunities span everything from cleared software development to base operations to aircraft sustainment.
Procurement overview
- Annual contract obligations
- ~$456B
- Mission
- National defense and military operations
- Procurement office
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment
Contract vehicles used most
- SeaPort-NxG
- OASIS+
- GSA MAS
- JWCC
- CIO-SP4
How businesses win bids with the DoD
Winning DoD work generally requires a CAGE code, SAM.gov registration, and increasingly CMMC Level 2 self-assessment or certification. Past-performance on similar IDIQs, cleared staffing, and a defensible cost structure are the dominant differentiators on best-value evaluations.
Most active NAICS codes
- NAICS 541330 — Engineering Services
- NAICS 336411 — Aircraft Manufacturing
- NAICS 541512 — Computer Systems Design Services
Industries that sell most to DoD
States with the most DoD contracting activity
FAQs
- How much does the Department of Defense spend on contracts annually?
- The Department of Defense obligates approximately $456 billion in contracts each fiscal year.
- What contract vehicles does the Department of Defense use most?
- Common contract vehicles include SeaPort-NxG, OASIS+, GSA MAS, JWCC, CIO-SP4.
- What NAICS codes are most used by the Department of Defense?
- The most-used NAICS codes are 541330 (Engineering Services); 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing); 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services).
- How do small businesses win work with the Department of Defense?
- Winning DoD work generally requires a CAGE code, SAM.gov registration, and increasingly CMMC Level 2 self-assessment or certification. Past-performance on similar IDIQs, cleared staffing, and a defensible cost structure are the dominant differentiators on best-value evaluations.
- Where is the Department of Defense's procurement office?
- Primary procurement oversight sits with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment.