Subcontracting opportunities: NAICS 488320, Marine Cargo Handling
6 prime contractors held small business subcontracting plans on 49 federal marine cargo handling contracts (NAICS 488320) in FY2022–FY2024, worth $215M 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
- 6
- Plan contracts
- 49
- Agencies
- 2
- Total value
- $215M
A free account shows the primes that subcontract 488320 work in your state and the small businesses they hire.
Primes with subcontracting plans in 488320
Most plan contracts first.
| Prime contractor | Plan contracts | Value | Main agencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper/Ports America, LLCHouston, TX | 22 | $61.6M | Ustranscom |
| Marine Terminals CorporationSan Pedro, CA | 11 | $34.3M | Ustranscom |
| Jones Stevedoring CompanySeattle, WA | 8 | $31.2M | Ustranscom |
| Versability Resources, Inc.Hampton, VA | 4 | $83M | Department of the Navy |
| Portus Services LLCJacksonville, FL | 3 | $4.3M | Ustranscom |
| Ports America Inc.Jersey City, NJ · part of Oaktree Capital Management L.P. | 1 | $903K | Ustranscom |
Which agencies
| Agency | Plan contracts | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Ustranscom | 45 | $132M |
| Department of the Navy | 4 | $83M |
Where the work is
Texas (22), California (11), Washington (8), Virginia (3), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (1), New Jersey (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 488320'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 488320: 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 488320 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.