Federal contract market · NAICS 541715
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715): Federal Contract Market
Data through 2026-08-24 · FY2026 to date
- Obligations, FY2026 to date
- $32.7B
- Contract awards
- 14,530
- Average award size
- $2.3M
- vs. prior full fiscal year
- 29.5% decline
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FY21 | $29B |
| FY22 | $35B |
| FY23 | $42.6B |
| FY24 | $43.2B |
| FY25 | $46.4B |
| FY26 | $32.7B |
Obligations fell 29.5% year over year, from $46.4B in FY2025 to $32.7B in FY2026 to date.
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715) has attracted $32.7B in federal contract obligations in FY2026 to date. The market shows 14,530 awards with an average award size of $2.3M. Obligations fell 29.5% year over year, and current-year totals are partial because fiscal year to date figures are still accumulating. Fiscal history shows multiyear growth up through FY25 followed by the FY26 decline. The Department of Defense is the dominant buyer in FY2026 to date, while civilian science agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Energy supply large pockets of demand. Prime vendor obligations concentrate in a handful of large contractors, with FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC leading the list. Contractors and capture teams should focus on DoD pathways while monitoring NASA and DOE solicitations for significant opportunities. Small firms should note the high average award size and prepare to partner or subcontract with larger primes when pursuing this NAICS code.
How has federal spending for NAICS 541715 changed recently?
Obligations rose from $29B in FY21 to $46.4B in FY25, then fell to $32.7B in FY26. Obligations fell 29.5% year over year between FY25 and FY26. FY26 totals are partial because the fiscal year to date amount does not represent a full year. The recent pattern shows growth through FY25 followed by a notable decline in FY26.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Department of Defense | $21.9B |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $4.5B |
| Department of Energy | $3.5B |
| General Services Administration | $1.3B |
| Department of Health and Human Services | $960M |
| Department of Homeland Security | $170M |
| Department of Commerce | $98.4M |
| Department of Transportation | $83.3M |
| Department of the Interior | $62.7M |
| Department of Agriculture | $43.1M |
Department of Defense was the top buyer, obligating $21.9B (66.9% of all obligations).
Which agencies and vendors dominate the NAICS 541715 market?
The Department of Defense is the largest buyer with $21.9B in FY2026 to date. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Energy follow with $4.5B and $3.5B respectively. FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the top vendor with $4B in obligations, followed by CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY at $1.8B and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC at $1.4B.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4B |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.8B |
| THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.4B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.2B |
| THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $929M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $895M |
| FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $762M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $714M |
| THE MITRE CORPORATION | $698M |
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC led all vendors with $4B in obligations, 12.2% of the market.
| Rank | Vendor | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4B |
| 2 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.8B |
| 3 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.4B |
| 4 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.2B |
| 5 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| 6 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $929M |
| 7 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $895M |
| 8 | FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $762M |
| 9 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $714M |
| 10 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $698M |
| Rank | Recipient | Award Amount | Awarding Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $14.8B | Department of Energy |
| 2 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $14.7B | Department of Defense |
| 3 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $8.7B | Department of Defense |
| 4 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $7.5B | Department of Defense |
| 5 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $5.3B | Department of Defense |
| 6 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $4B | Department of Defense |
| 7 | NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | $3.5B | Department of Defense |
| 8 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | $3.2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 9 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 10 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $2.5B | Department of Defense |
| 11 | FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $2.5B | Department of Energy |
| 12 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 13 | BLUE ORIGIN MANUFACTURING, LLC | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 14 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.9B | Department of Defense |
| 15 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $1.8B | Department of Health and Human Services |
| 16 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.6B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 17 | BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE, LLC | $1.6B | Department of Energy |
| 18 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.5B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 19 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 20 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 21 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.3B | Department of Defense |
| 22 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 23 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 24 | PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. | $1.2B | Department of Defense |
| 25 | LEIDOS, INC. | $1B | Department of Energy |
| Rank | Contract | Incumbent | Award Value | Awarding Agency | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80MSFC18C0011 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2026-11-30 |
| 2 | N0001922C0041 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.9B | Department of Defense | 2027-03-31 |
| 3 | FA868118C0021 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.3B | Department of Defense | 2026-08-31 |
| 4 | FA880819C0006 | LINQUEST CORPORATION | $701M | Department of Defense | 2027-02-26 |
| 5 | FA862025FB072 | AEVEX AEROSPACE, LLC | $646M | Department of Defense | 2026-09-30 |
| 6 | W56KGU25F0015 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $598M | Department of Defense | 2026-12-31 |
| 7 | 47QFCA23F0024 | PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. | $532M | General Services Administration | 2027-04-26 |
| 8 | 47QFCA23F0014 | BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC | $505M | General Services Administration | 2027-02-23 |
| 9 | 47QFCA24C0003 | DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP | $493M | General Services Administration | 2027-07-14 |
| 10 | FA807522F0030 | CACI, INC. - FEDERAL | $479M | Department of Defense | 2027-05-04 |
| 11 | 80GSFC20C0044 | SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC. | $473M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-03-31 |
| 12 | 80NM0018F0652 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $393M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-01-31 |
| 13 | 75N91025F00016 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $372M | Department of Health and Human Services | 2026-08-30 |
| 14 | 47QFCA20C0019 | KRATOS S2, INC | $363M | General Services Administration | 2026-12-10 |
| 15 | 80NM0018F0561 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $303M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-01-31 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the federal government spend on NAICS 541715?
The federal government has obligated $32.7B on NAICS 541715 in FY2026 to date. Obligations rose from $29B in FY21 through $46.4B in FY25 before falling to $32.7B in FY26, and FY26 totals are partial because fiscal year to date figures are not a full year.
Which agencies buy the most NAICS 541715 services?
The Department of Defense buys the most NAICS 541715 services, with $21.9B in FY2026 to date. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Energy are the next largest buyers at $4.5B and $3.5B respectively, followed by the General Services Administration at $1.3B and the Department of Health and Human Services at $960M.
Who are the largest NAICS 541715 government contractors?
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the largest NAICS 541715 government contractor with $4B in FY2026 to date. Other large contractors include CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY at $1.8B, THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC at $1.4B, and LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION at $1.2B.
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