State Contracting Guide
Government Contracts in Delaware
Delaware's federal contracting is concentrated at Dover AFB and DuPont-legacy chemical R&D facilities. Logistics, mortuary affairs, and specialty chemical work account for most of the state's annual awards.
Federal contracting in Delaware at a glance
- Annual federal obligations
- ~$1.6B
- Capital
- Dover
- Procurement hubs
- Dover • New Castle • Wilmington
Delaware-specific guidance
Dover AFB is the East Coast mortuary affairs and air mobility hub — recurring base operations support (BOS) contracts are a reliable entry point for small services firms.
Step-by-step: winning federal work in Delaware
- Register on SAM.gov and select NAICS codes aligned with the buyers most active in Delaware — see the SAM.gov registration guide.
- Schedule a free consultation with the Delaware APEX Accelerator for capability statement review and local opportunity matching.
- Set saved searches on SAM.gov filtered to place-of-performance = DE for each of your NAICS codes.
- Attend small-business outreach events at Dover-area installations and federal facilities.
- Pursue subcontracting with primes already on regional MATOC pools — particularly USACE and NAVFAC vehicles for construction trades.
Top industries receiving contracts in Delaware
- Logistics & Transportation
DLA, USTRANSCOM, and individual service components obligate billions in transportation, warehousing, and distribution annually.
- Aerospace
Federal aerospace obligations cluster around aircraft production, sustainment, and space systems.
Top federal buyers in Delaware
- Department of Defense (DoD)~$456B annual federal spend
- Department of the Air Force (Air Force)~$220B annual federal spend
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)~$25B annual federal spend
Most active NAICS codes in Delaware
- NAICS 541712 — Research & Development in the Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences (legacy)
FAQs about government contracts in Delaware
- How much does the federal government spend on contracts in Delaware?
- Federal contract obligations in Delaware total approximately $1.6 billion annually, concentrated in logistics and aerospace.
- Who are the largest federal buyers in Delaware?
- The top federal buyers in Delaware are typically tied to installations and federal facilities around Dover and New Castle, including programs run by agencies like DoD, Air Force, DHS.
- What is the Delaware APEX Accelerator?
- Delaware APEX Accelerator is the federally funded APEX Accelerator that provides free counseling for Delaware businesses pursuing federal, state, and local government contracts — including SAM.gov registration, capability statement reviews, and bid-matching.
- Which NAICS codes are most active in Delaware?
- The most active NAICS codes in Delaware include 481112 (), 541712 (Research & Development in the Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences (legacy)), 325199 ().
- Do I need to be located in Delaware to win contracts there?
- No — federal contracts are awarded based on the solicitation's place of performance and evaluation criteria, not contractor location. However, in-state presence often reduces travel costs, supports HUBZone eligibility in qualifying areas, and matters for state-funded opportunities.