Government construction contracts
Federal construction runs from small repairs and renovations to new buildings, roads, dams and base infrastructure. It's posted on SAM.gov under the NAICS 23 construction codes, from general contractors (236) to heavy and civil work (237) and specialty trades like electrical, HVAC and roofing (238).
Below are the construction contracts open right now, who buys them, and what a small contractor needs to bid.
- Open contracts now
- 783
- Federal spending, FY2026
- $74.4 billion
- Share won by small businesses
- 35%
Open construction contracts, due soonest
- Rygge Munitions Storage rea Expansion
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
- CONSTRUCT US SPACE FORCE INTEGRATION FACILITY, F/10852 WPAFB, OHIO
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
- NAICS 237990 PSC Y1PZ--CONS: 909CM3030 Fort Custer NC - Cemetery Expansion and Site Improvements (VA-26-00046764)
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
- Hungry Horse Cavitation Repair Indefinite Delivery
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
- INDUSTRY DAY: Fort Carson Equipment Concentration Site - Construction Management at Risk using Other Transaction Authority (CM@Risk w/OTA)
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
- Bradbury Dam Outlet Valve Replacement
Due in 2 daysOct 6, 2026
What to know before you bid
Davis-Bacon wage rates
Construction contracts over $2,000 fall under the Davis-Bacon Act: you must pay at least the prevailing wages in the contract's wage determination, published on SAM.gov.
Line up bonding early
Larger federal construction contracts require performance and payment bonds under the Miller Act. Talk to a surety before you bid, because your bonding capacity limits the size of jobs you can take.
Go to the site visit
Construction solicitations often hold a pre-bid site visit and answer questions in amendments. Read every amendment before you price.
NAICS codes for construction contracts
Each notice carries one NAICS code, and its SBA size standard decides who counts as small. These are the codes on open construction notices right now:
| Code | Industry | SBA size standard | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | $45 million receipts | 269 |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $45 million receipts | 201 |
| 237310 | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $45 million receipts | 60 |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $19 million receipts | 52 |
| 237110 | Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction | $45 million receipts | 35 |
| 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $19 million receipts | 28 |
| 238990 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $19 million receipts | 18 |
| 237130 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $45 million receipts | 15 |
| 238160 | Roofing Contractors | $19 million receipts | 14 |
| 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors | $22 million receipts | 14 |
Who buys construction services
Agencies that awarded the most for this work over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Department of the Army | $51.4 billion |
| U.S. Customs and Border Protection | $34.7 billion |
| Department of the Navy | $31 billion |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | $11.7 billion |
| Department of the Air Force | $9.2 billion |
| Public Buildings Service | $6.3 billion |
Open notices right now come from Dept of Defense (450), Department of Veterans Affairs (116), Department of the Interior (77), Department of Transportation (32), Department of Agriculture (25) and General Services Administration (21).
Where the work is
The most open construction contracts by place of performance are in Louisiana, Texas and California. Federal contracts are posted nationwide on SAM.gov; state and local government bids are on each state's own procurement site instead.
- Louisiana: 75 open
- Texas: 28 open
- California: 25 open
- Virginia: 20 open
- Washington: 19 open
- New York: 18 open
- Idaho: 14 open
- Illinois: 13 open
Set-asides on open construction contracts
- No set-aside (full and open): 443
- Total small business set-aside: 221
- Service-disabled veteran-owned set-aside: 84
- 8(a) set-aside: 14
- Indian small business economic enterprise: 5
- Women-owned set-aside: 5
- Service-disabled veteran-owned sole source: 5
- Veteran-owned set-aside (VA): 2
- HUBZone set-aside: 2
- Partial small business set-aside: 1
- EDWOSB set-aside: 1
See which you may qualify for with the free SBA certification screener, or read set-aside contracts, explained.
Frequently asked questions
Are there government contracts for construction businesses?
Yes. 783 federal construction contract opportunities are open on SAM.gov right now. Agencies obligated about $74.4 billion on this kind of work in fiscal year 2026, according to USAspending.gov.
What NAICS codes are used for government construction contracts?
Construction uses the NAICS 23 codes: 236 for building construction (such as 236220, commercial and institutional buildings), 237 for heavy and civil engineering, and 238 for specialty trades. Each solicitation names one code.
How do I bid on government construction contracts?
Register your business on SAM.gov (it's free), choose the NAICS codes for your work, then search open notices and respond by each one's deadline, following its instructions. Free help is available from APEX Accelerators.
Other industries
- Government janitorial and cleaning contracts
- Government landscaping and lawn care contracts
- Government courier and medical courier contracts
- Government trucking and freight contracts
- Government IT services contracts
Keep going
- How to register on SAM.gov, step by step
- How to win your first federal contract
- Free help from APEX Accelerators
- NAICS code lookup for other kinds of work
FedReady is an independent company, not affiliated with SAM.gov or any government agency. Open-contract counts come from SAM.gov and update daily; spending figures come from USAspending.gov.