ARS contracts: Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, posts its contract opportunities on SAM.gov. Below are the ones open right now, what ARS buys, how much of its money goes to small businesses, and who wins its work.
- Open contracts now
- 1
- Contract spending, FY2026
- $456 million
- Share to small businesses
- 74%
What ARS is buying right now
NAICS codes on ARS's open notices. Each notice's code sets the size standard for who counts as small.
| Code | Industry | Open now |
|---|---|---|
| 541690 | Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services | 1 |
ARS contract spending by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $366.6 million |
| FY2025 | $347 million |
| FY2026 | $456 million |
| FY2027 (so far) | $130,798 |
The federal fiscal year starts October 1, so FY2027 began October 1, 2026.
What ARS spends the most on
Industries with the most ARS contract dollars over the last three fiscal years:
| NAICS | Industry | Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | $160.6 million |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $154.5 million |
| 334516 | Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing | $93 million |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | $66.2 million |
| 561210 | Facilities Support Services | $65.8 million |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | $63.9 million |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | $54 million |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | $37.4 million |
Small business contracts at ARS
About 74% of ARS's contract dollars over the last three fiscal years went to small businesses. The government-wide goal is 23%.
Dollars awarded under each kind of set-aside in the same period:
- Small business: $359.8 million
- 8(a): $33 million
- Service-disabled veteran-owned: $8.9 million
- HUBZone: $4.6 million
- Women-owned: $1.6 million
Set-asides on ARS's open notices right now:
- No set-aside (full and open): 1
See which set-asides you may qualify for with the free SBA certification screener.
Who wins ARS contracts
Companies with the most ARS contract dollars over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Company | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Merrick & Company | $65.8 million |
| Firelake Construction Inc | $52.4 million |
| Mill Creek Firelake JV LLC | $40.6 million |
| Mckenzie Construction & Site Development LLC | $32.3 million |
| Your Recruiting Company, Inc. | $26.2 million |
| Covington Firelake JV, LLC | $24.9 million |
| The Johnson-Mcadams Firm, P.a. | $24.9 million |
| Cas Fse JV Ii LLC | $22.6 million |
| Martinez Services, Inc. | $15.6 million |
| Greenstone Construction, Inc. | $13.4 million |
Large primes subcontract part of their work to small businesses. Look up any small business's registration with the free CAGE code and UEI lookup.
Where ARS's open work is
By place of performance, the most open ARS contracts are in Iowa.
- Iowa: 1 open
Frequently asked questions
How do I find ARS contract opportunities?
The Agricultural Research Service posts its contract opportunities on SAM.gov, the free official site. 1 are open right now. You can search them here by NAICS code, set-aside and state, and set up a free email alert for new ones.
How much does ARS spend on contracts?
The Agricultural Research Service obligated about $456 million on contracts in fiscal year 2026, according to USAspending.gov. About 74% of its contract dollars over the last three fiscal years went to small businesses.
Who are ARS's biggest contractors?
Over the last three fiscal years, the companies with the most ARS contract dollars were Merrick & Company, Firelake Construction Inc and Mill Creek Firelake JV LLC, per USAspending.gov. Smaller firms often work as their subcontractors.
Who do I talk to about small business contracts at ARS?
Federal law requires every agency with buying power to have an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), sometimes called the Office of Small Business Programs. Its staff help small businesses understand what the agency buys and how. Free counseling is also available from APEX Accelerators.
Keep going
- Contracts from other agencies
- How to find government contracts
- How to research an agency on USAspending.gov
- Free help from APEX Accelerators
FedReady is an independent company, not affiliated with the Agricultural Research Service, SAM.gov or any government agency. Open-contract counts come from SAM.gov and update daily; spending figures come from USAspending.gov and cover contracts only.