NAICS 541720: Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities is NAICS code 541720. A business is small under it with $28 million or less in average annual receipts. 16 federal contracts are open on SAM.gov under this code right now.
- SBA size standard
- $28 million or less in average annual receipts
- Open contracts now
- 16
- Federal spending, FY2025
- $732.3 million
- Share won by small businesses
- 10%
- Small businesses registered
- 2,840
Open federal contracts for research and development in the social sciences and humanities
- FY27 Y79 R32, Y97 Round 24 Recompete
Due in 3 daysOct 7, 2026
- Psychiatry Research Residency& Service
Due in 3 daysOct 7, 2026
- MN-MORRIS WMD-ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Due in 3 daysOct 7, 2026
- MN-MORRIS WMD-ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Due in 3 daysOct 7, 2026
- A Study on Vessel Design Challenge
Due in 98 daysJan 10, 2027
- Research and Studies for the Office of Net Assessment
Due in 618 daysJun 13, 2028
What NAICS 541720 covers
The Census Bureau's NAICS index lists these kinds of work under 541720:
- Archeological research and development services
- Behavioral research and development services
- Business research and development services
- Cognitive research and development services
- Demographic research and development services
- Economic research and development services
- Historic and cultural preservation research and development services
- Humanities research and development services
- Language research and development services
- Learning disabilities research and development services
- Psychology research and development services
- Social science research and development services
- Sociological research and development services
- Sociology research and development services
Read the full definition, including what's excluded, on census.gov.
SBA size standard for 541720
To count as a small business for a contract assigned NAICS 541720, your business must have $28 million or less in average annual receipts. Receipts are averaged over your last five completed fiscal years.
From SBA's table of size standards, effective Mar 17, 2023. Confirm it with SBA's size standards tool before you certify your size.
Who buys research and development in the social sciences and humanities
Agencies that awarded the most under NAICS 541720 over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | $984.1 million |
| Department of Education | $601.4 million |
| Missile Defense Agency | $211.8 million |
| Department of the Air Force | $188.1 million |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | $119.9 million |
| Federal Acquisition Service | $95.5 million |
| Washington Headquarters Services | $91 million |
| Department of the Army | $64.9 million |
Open notices right now come from Dept of Defense (8), Department of Education (3), Department of the Interior (2), Department of Labor (1), Department of Transportation (1) and Department of Veterans Affairs (1).
Set-asides on open 541720 contracts
- No set-aside (full and open): 11
- Total small business set-aside: 5
Not sure which set-asides you qualify for? Try the free SBA certification screener, or read set-aside contracts, explained.
Your competition
2,840 businesses with active SAM.gov registrations are rated small under NAICS 541720, most of them in Virginia (412), Maryland (244), Florida (235), California (215) and Texas (195). Look any of them up with the free CAGE code and UEI lookup.
Federal spending under 541720 by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $1.3 billion |
| FY2025 | $732.3 million |
| FY2026 | $781.6 million |
| FY2027 (so far) | $-156,604 |
Source: USAspending.gov, all contract awards with this NAICS code. Fiscal years start October 1.
Related NAICS codes
- 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology
- 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Frequently asked questions
What is NAICS code 541720?
541720 is the 2022 NAICS code for Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. The Census Bureau's index lists work such as archeological research and development services, behavioral research and development services, business research and development services under it. Federal contracting uses the 2022 codes.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541720?
$28 million or less in average annual receipts. A business at or under that is small for contracts assigned this code. The current SBA table took effect Mar 17, 2023.
Are there government contracts for research and development in the social sciences and humanities?
Yes. 16 federal contract opportunities under NAICS 541720 are open on SAM.gov right now. Agencies obligated about $732.3 million under this code in fiscal year 2025, according to USAspending.gov.
How do I add NAICS code 541720 to my SAM.gov registration?
Update your entity registration on SAM.gov and add the code on the Goods and Services page, in the Assertions section. You can list several NAICS codes and mark one as your primary. Changes are free.
Keep going
- Search other NAICS codes by keyword or company
- How to choose NAICS codes for government contracts
- NAICS codes with the most open federal contracts
FedReady is an independent company, not affiliated with SBA, SAM.gov, the Census Bureau or any government agency. Open-contract counts come from SAM.gov and update daily; spending figures come from USAspending.gov.