State Contracting Guide
Government Contracts in North Carolina
North Carolina's federal economy is anchored by Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point depot, and Seymour Johnson AFB.
Federal contracting in North Carolina at a glance
- Annual federal obligations
- ~$6.5B
- Capital
- Raleigh
- Procurement hubs
- Fayetteville • Jacksonville • Cherry Point
North Carolina-specific guidance
Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), Camp Lejeune, and Cherry Point MCAS produce one of the largest training-support and equipment-sustainment markets in the country — recurring IDIQs reward firms that pre-position staff locally.
Step-by-step: winning federal work in North Carolina
- Register on SAM.gov and select NAICS codes aligned with the buyers most active in North Carolina — see the SAM.gov registration guide.
- Schedule a free consultation with the North Carolina APEX Accelerator for capability statement review and local opportunity matching.
- Set saved searches on SAM.gov filtered to place-of-performance = NC for each of your NAICS codes.
- Attend small-business outreach events at Fayetteville-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 North Carolina
- Defense Services
Defense services span everything from logistics and base operations support to PEO-level program management.
- Logistics & Transportation
DLA, USTRANSCOM, and individual service components obligate billions in transportation, warehousing, and distribution annually.
- Construction
Federal construction obligations exceed $40B annually across MILCON, USACE civil works, GSA buildings, and VA medical facilities.
Top federal buyers in North Carolina
- Department of the Army (Army)~$175B annual federal spend
- Department of the Navy (Navy)~$175B annual federal spend
- Department of Defense (DoD)~$456B annual federal spend
Most active NAICS codes in North Carolina
- NAICS 541330 — Engineering Services
- NAICS 237310 — Highway, Street & Bridge Construction
- NAICS 488510 — Freight Transportation Arrangement
FAQs about government contracts in North Carolina
- How much does the federal government spend on contracts in North Carolina?
- Federal contract obligations in North Carolina total approximately $6.5 billion annually, concentrated in defense and logistics.
- Who are the largest federal buyers in North Carolina?
- The top federal buyers in North Carolina are typically tied to installations and federal facilities around Fayetteville and Jacksonville, including programs run by agencies like Army, Navy, DoD.
- What is the North Carolina APEX Accelerator?
- North Carolina APEX Accelerator is the federally funded APEX Accelerator that provides free counseling for North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
- The most active NAICS codes in North Carolina include 541330 (Engineering Services), 237310 (Highway, Street & Bridge Construction), 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement).
- Do I need to be located in North Carolina 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.