Subcontracting opportunities: NAICS 481212, Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
8 prime contractors held small business subcontracting plans on 106 federal nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation contracts (NAICS 481212) in FY2022–FY2024, worth $6.5B including options. Only primes that aren't small businesses need these plans, and each one sets goals for work the prime gives to small businesses, so these are the companies looking for small subcontractors in this industry.
- Primes with plans
- 8
- Plan contracts
- 106
- Agencies
- 3
- Total value
- $6.5B
A free account shows the primes that subcontract 481212 work in your state and the small businesses they hire.
Primes with subcontracting plans in 481212
Most plan contracts first. “Recent subcontracts” counts the subcontracts each prime reported among the 30 most recent reports in this code.
| Prime contractor | Plan contracts | Value | Main agencies | Recent subcontracts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Exploration Technologies Corp.Hawthorne, CA | 56 | $2.8B | Department of the Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration | — |
| United Launch Services, LLCCentennial, CO · part of United Launch Alliance L.L.C. | 42 | $2.7B | Department of the Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 21$2.5M |
| Blue Origin Florida, LLCMerritt Island, FL | 3 | $307M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of the Air Force | — |
| Spaceflight, Inc.Seattle, WA | 1 | $300M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | — |
| Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationChandler, AZ · part of Northrop Grumman Corporation | 1 | $300M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2$82.1K |
| Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., theCambridge, MA | 1 | $76M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | — |
| Blue Origin, LLCKent, WA | 1 | $6.1M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | — |
| Lynden Air Cargo LLCAnchorage, AK · part of Lynden Incorporated | 1 | $3M | Ustranscom | — |
Recent subcontracts to small businesses
Of the 30 most recent subcontracts primes reported under NAICS 481212 since Nov 7, 2023, 5 went to small businesses, worth $329K.
| Date | Small business | Prime | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2024 | PB Crane Inc.CA | Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationDepartment of the Air Force | $59.3K |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Rothe Ares JV, LLCTX | United Launch Services, LLCDepartment of the Air Force | $103K |
| Mar 5, 2024 | Rothe Ares JV, LLCTX | United Launch Services, LLCDefense Contract Management Agency | $104K |
| Nov 27, 2023 | B S T Systems, Inc.CT | United Launch Services, LLCDefense Contract Management Agency | $31.5K |
| Nov 27, 2023 | B S T Systems, Inc.CT | United Launch Services, LLCDefense Contract Management Agency | $31.5K |
Small businesses winning these subcontracts
- Rothe Ares JV, LLC, TX: 2 subcontracts, $207K
- B S T Systems, Inc., CT: 2 subcontracts, $63K
- PB Crane Inc., CA: 1 subcontract, $59.3K
Which agencies
| Agency | Plan contracts | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | 96 | $4.9B |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 9 | $1.6B |
| Ustranscom | 1 | $3M |
Where the work is
California (59), Colorado (40), Washington (2), Florida (2), Massachusetts (1), Alaska (1), Arizona (1).
How to win subcontracts with these primes
- Register in the prime's supplier portal. Most large primes have one, usually under “supplier diversity” or “small business programs” on their website. Buyers search it when they need a subcontractor, so list your NAICS codes, certifications and past work.
- Contact the small business liaison officer. Every prime with a plan names someone to run it. Find them through the supplier portal, or for defense primes in DoD's prime contractor directory. Send a one-page capability statement that names the contracts and agencies you can support.
- Watch SBA's SubNet. Primes post subcontracting solicitations and sources sought notices on SubNet.
- Be easy to vet. Keep your SAM.gov registration active and check that you count as small under 481212's size standard. Certifications such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB and SDVOSB count toward the prime's goals, which makes you more valuable to them.
- Get free help. APEX Accelerators introduce small businesses to primes and run matchmaking events. Our guide to becoming a government subcontractor covers the rest.
More on 481212: open contracts and top small-business winners. Primes also post subcontracting opportunities on SBA's SubNet.
Frequently asked questions
What is a small business subcontracting plan?
Under FAR 19.702, a large business that wins a federal contract over $900,000 ($2 million for construction) with subcontracting possibilities must agree to a plan with goals for subcontracting to small businesses, including small disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone and service-disabled veteran-owned firms. The prime reports its progress twice a year in eSRS. Contracts awarded before October 2025 used the older $750,000 and $1.5 million thresholds.
How do I become a subcontractor to these 481212 primes?
Register in the prime's supplier portal (most large primes have one, often called supplier diversity or small business programs), keep your SAM.gov registration active, and send the prime's small business liaison officer a capability statement that names the contracts and agencies you can support. Primes need small subcontractors to meet their plan goals, so being easy to find and easy to vet matters.
Where does this data come from?
Primes and their plan contracts come from SBA's Directory of Federal Government Prime Contractors with Subcontracting Plans for FY2022–FY2024, which is drawn from FPDS. Recent subcontracts come from the subaward reports primes file on USAspending.gov (most subcontracts over $30,000 on prime contracts over $750,000 must be reported). A subcontractor is shown as a small business when it has an active SAM.gov registration as small under at least one NAICS code, or an SBA certification.
Source: SBA's directory of prime contractors with subcontracting plans (FY2022–FY2024, from FPDS) and USAspending.gov subaward reports. Contact names are never shown. Values are base plus all options, not what has been paid.