Government contracts in Kentucky
Federal contracts with Kentucky as the place of performance: the ones open on SAM.gov right now, the agencies buying, the small businesses winning the work, and how much federal money goes to contracts in Kentucky.
- Open contracts now
- 14
- Contract spending, FY2026
- $9 billion
- Share to small businesses
- 11%
Open contracts in Kentucky, due soonest
- Civilian Armored Vehicle Manufacturers
✦ The U.S. Department of State is doing market research to find companies that armor civilian vehicles for a planned IDIQ contract.
Due in 3 daysOct 13, 2026
- FCKY UEPH Barracks CM@Risk
✦ The Army Corps of Engineers (Louisville District) is doing market research for construction of Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (barracks) at Fort Campbell, KY, using a…
Due in 3 daysOct 13, 2026
- BLUE GRASS ARMY DEPOT: BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT - LOCKS, LOCKING MECHANISMS, AND ASSOCIATED COMMERCIAL HARDWARE
✦ Blue Grass Army Depot (Richmond, KY) wants to set up a pool of about 3-5 Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) with vendors that sell locks, locking mechanisms and related…
Due in 4 daysOct 13, 2026
- Drone Killer Cartridge Training Device
Due in 4 daysOct 14, 2026
- Barkley Emergency Gate, Painting
✦ The Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is doing market research (sources sought, not a solicitation) for blasting and recoating the Barkley Dam Emergency Gate near…
Due in 4 daysOct 14, 2026
- USDA is seeking leased office space in Henderson Kentucky
✦ The USDA (Farm Production and Conservation Business Center) wants to lease about 3,270 to 3,443 usable square feet of office space in Henderson, Kentucky,. The building owner or…
Due in 16 daysOct 25, 2026
What agencies are buying in Kentucky
Open notices you can bid on (no sole-source or approved-source limit), by type of work:
- Construction & renovation: 4 open
- Engineering, architecture & research: 1 open
- Food & food service: 1 open
- Manufactured parts & equipment: 1 open
- Medical & healthcare: 1 open
- Real estate & leasing: 1 open
- Aircraft, ship & vehicle parts: 1 open
The most open work is in Richmond (2), Louisville (2), Henderson (1), Kuttawa (1) and Mammoth Cave (1).
Set-asides on open Kentucky contracts
- No set-aside (full and open): 8
- Total small business set-aside: 3
- Service-disabled veteran-owned set-aside: 2
See which set-asides you may qualify for with the free SBA certification screener.
Federal agencies that spend the most in Kentucky
Contract dollars for work performed in Kentucky over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Defense Health Agency | $20.2 billion |
| Department of the Army | $4.2 billion |
| U.S. Special Operations Command | $2.6 billion |
| Defense Logistics Agency | $1.4 billion |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | $473.4 million |
| United States Mint | $453.5 million |
| Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons | $404.9 million |
| Ustranscom | $363.4 million |
Federal contract spending in Kentucky by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $12.3 billion |
| FY2025 | $10.4 billion |
| FY2026 | $9 billion |
| FY2027 (so far) | $54.8 million |
The federal fiscal year starts October 1, so FY2027 began October 1, 2026.
Industries with the most federal work in Kentucky
| NAICS | Industry | Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 524114 | Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $20.2 billion |
| 561990 | All Other Support Services | $2.3 billion |
| 562211 | Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal | $778.4 million |
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | $569.2 million |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $504.9 million |
| 336412 | Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | $490.5 million |
| 331420 | Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying | $451 million |
| 492110 | Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $442.3 million |
Small businesses in Kentucky
1,912 businesses in Kentucky have active SAM.gov registrations and are small under at least one NAICS code or hold an SBA certification. Among them:
- 14 in the SBA 8(a) program
- 44 HUBZone-certified
- 418 women-owned small businesses
- 224 service-disabled veteran-owned (self-reported)
Small businesses in Kentucky winning federal contracts
Small businesses based in Kentucky with the most federal contract dollars over the last three fiscal years:
- Conco, Inc., Louisville: $230.2 million
- Strategic Communications LLC, Louisville: $223.8 million
- PDS Consultants, Inc, Louisville: $179.1 million
- Semper Tek Inc, Lexington: $141.9 million
- Reliable Contracting Group, LLC, Louisville: $113.9 million
- Valiant Construction LLC, Louisville: $96.2 million
- Howard W. Pence, Inc., Elizabethtown: $95 million
- Aaecon General Contracting LLC, Louisville: $89.4 million
- Boneal, Incorporated, Means: $73.2 million
- Swift & Staley Inc., Paducah: $70.7 million
Who wins the most federal contract dollars in Kentucky
Companies with the most contract dollars for work in Kentucky over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Company | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Humana Government Business Inc | $20.2 billion |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | $2.2 billion |
| Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, a Joint Venture | $775.2 million |
| CFM International Inc | $490.4 million |
| Wieland Rolled Products North America, LLC | $451 million |
| United Parcel Service Co. | $442.4 million |
| Bae Systems Land & Armaments L.P. | $413.9 million |
| Thalle - Bauer LLC | $379 million |
| Fibrotex USA Inc | $229.9 million |
| Conco, Inc. | $229.2 million |
Large primes subcontract part of their work to small businesses. See how to become a government subcontractor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find government contracts in Kentucky?
Federal agencies post their contract opportunities on SAM.gov, the free official site, with the place where the work will be done. 14 open opportunities list Kentucky as the place of performance right now. You can search them here by NAICS code, set-aside and agency, and get new ones by email for free.
How much does the federal government spend on contracts in Kentucky?
Federal agencies obligated about $9 billion on contracts performed in Kentucky in fiscal year 2026, according to USAspending.gov. About 11% of those dollars over the last three fiscal years went to small businesses.
Which agencies have the most open contracts in Kentucky?
By open notices on SAM.gov right now: Dept of Defense, Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice.
How many small businesses in Kentucky are registered for federal contracts?
1,912 businesses in Kentucky have active SAM.gov registrations and are small under at least one NAICS code or hold an SBA certification.
Where can a Kentucky business get free help with government contracting?
APEX Accelerators offer counseling on registering, finding and bidding on government contracts, usually at no cost. There are more than 300 APEX offices nationwide, and the APEX Accelerators website has a locator for the nearest one.