Government painting contracts
Agencies hire painting contractors for interior and exterior painting, coatings, wall coverings and surface prep at offices, housing, hospitals and bases. This work is posted on SAM.gov under NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors.
Below are the painting contracts open right now, who buys them, and what a small contractor needs to bid.
- Open contracts now
- 9
- Federal spending, FY2025
- $96.9 million
- Share won by small businesses
- 67%
- Small businesses registered
- 6,040
Open painting contracts, due soonest
- Barkley Emergency Gate, Painting
Due in 9 daysOct 14, 2026
- Protective Coatings Requirements Contract
Due in 10 daysOct 15, 2026
- Protective Coating Maintenance IDIQ
✦ The 82d Contracting Squadron at Sheppard AFB, Texas, plans a single firm fixed-price IDIQ contract for protective coating (painting) maintenance, with a 5-year ordering period.
Due in 24 daysOct 29, 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.
Check for lead paint and coating specs
Older federal buildings can have lead paint, and some notices call for specific coatings or surface prep. The statement of work spells it out, so price it in.
Start with smaller jobs
Many painting notices are small, single-building jobs. They're a realistic first federal contract and build the past performance you need for bigger ones.
NAICS codes for painting contracts
Each notice carries one NAICS code, and its SBA size standard decides who counts as small. These are the codes on open painting notices right now:
| Code | Industry | SBA size standard | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 238320 | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | $19 million receipts | 9 |
Who buys painting services
Agencies that awarded the most for this work over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Department of the Army | $70.6 million |
| Department of the Air Force | $66.3 million |
| District of Columbia Courts | $35.4 million |
| Bureau of Reclamation | $19.5 million |
| Department of State | $17.8 million |
| Department of the Navy | $17 million |
Open notices right now come from Dept of Defense (5), Department of State (2) and Department of Veterans Affairs (1).
Where the work is
The most open painting contracts by place of performance are in California, Idaho and Kentucky. Federal contracts are posted nationwide on SAM.gov; state and local government bids are on each state's own procurement site instead.
- California: 1 open
- Idaho: 1 open
- Kentucky: 1 open
- North Dakota: 1 open
- South Carolina: 1 open
Set-asides on open painting contracts
- No set-aside (full and open): 3
- Total small business set-aside: 2
- Service-disabled veteran-owned set-aside: 2
- 8(a) 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 painting businesses?
Yes. 9 federal painting contract opportunities are open on SAM.gov right now. Agencies obligated about $96.9 million on this kind of work in fiscal year 2025, according to USAspending.gov.
What NAICS code is used for government painting contracts?
NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors. Painting that's part of a larger renovation may be posted under a general construction code.
How do I bid on government painting 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
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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.