Federal contract market · NAICS 541715
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715): Federal Contract Market
Data through 2026-08-19 · FY2026 to date
- Obligations, FY2026 to date
- $31.3B
- Contract awards
- 14,231
- Average award size
- $2.2M
- vs. prior full fiscal year
- 32.3% decline
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FY21 | $29B |
| FY22 | $35B |
| FY23 | $42.6B |
| FY24 | $43.2B |
| FY25 | $46.3B |
| FY26 | $31.3B |
Obligations fell 32.3% year over year, from $46.3B in FY2025 to $31.3B in FY2026 to date.
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715) has $31.3B in federal contract obligations for FY2026 to date. The market has recorded 14,231 awards with an average award size of $2.2M, and obligations fell 32.3% year over year. Fiscal-year history shows a peak run from FY21 through FY25, with FY21 at $29B, FY22 at $35B, FY23 at $42.6B, FY24 at $43.2B, and FY25 at $46.3B before the current FY26 total of $31.3B. The Department of Defense is the largest buyer with $21B in obligations, followed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with $4.3B and the Department of Energy with $3.5B. FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the largest vendor at $4B, followed by CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY at $1.8B and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC at $1.3B. This snapshot covers contract obligations only and reflects fiscal year to date totals that are partial for the current year.
How did obligations change year over year?
Obligations fell 32.3% year over year. Fiscal history shows FY25 obligations of $46.3B and FY26 obligations of $31.3B. The drop follows several prior years of growth from $29B in FY21 to $46.3B in FY25.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Department of Defense | $21B |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $4.3B |
| Department of Energy | $3.5B |
| General Services Administration | $1.1B |
| Department of Health and Human Services | $923M |
| Department of Homeland Security | $160M |
| Department of Commerce | $97.1M |
| Department of Transportation | $74.2M |
| Department of the Interior | $59.5M |
| Department of Agriculture | $41.8M |
Department of Defense was the top buyer, obligating $21B (66.9% of all obligations).
Who are the biggest buyers and vendors right now?
The Department of Defense is the largest buyer with $21B in obligations, followed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with $4.3B and the Department of Energy with $3.5B. FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the top vendor at $4B, with CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY at $1.8B and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC at $1.3B.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4B |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.8B |
| THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.3B |
| THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $979M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $913M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $888M |
| FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $762M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $714M |
| THE MITRE CORPORATION | $689M |
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC led all vendors with $4B in obligations, 12.7% of the market.
| Rank | Vendor | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4B |
| 2 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.8B |
| 3 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.3B |
| 4 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| 5 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $979M |
| 6 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $913M |
| 7 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $888M |
| 8 | FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $762M |
| 9 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $714M |
| 10 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $689M |
| Rank | Recipient | Award Amount | Awarding Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $14.8B | Department of Energy |
| 2 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $14.7B | Department of Defense |
| 3 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $8.7B | Department of Defense |
| 4 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $7.5B | Department of Defense |
| 5 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $5.1B | Department of Defense |
| 6 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $4B | Department of Defense |
| 7 | NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | $3.5B | Department of Defense |
| 8 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | $3.1B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 9 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 10 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $2.5B | Department of Defense |
| 11 | FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $2.5B | Department of Energy |
| 12 | BLUE ORIGIN MANUFACTURING, LLC | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 13 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 14 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.8B | Department of Defense |
| 15 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $1.8B | Department of Health and Human Services |
| 16 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.6B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 17 | BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE, LLC | $1.6B | Department of Energy |
| 18 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.5B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 19 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 20 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 21 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.3B | Department of Defense |
| 22 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 23 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 24 | PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. | $1.2B | Department of Defense |
| 25 | LEIDOS, INC. | $1B | Department of Energy |
| Rank | Contract | Incumbent | Award Value | Awarding Agency | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80MSFC18C0011 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2026-11-30 |
| 2 | N0001922C0041 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.8B | Department of Defense | 2027-03-31 |
| 3 | FA868118C0021 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.3B | Department of Defense | 2026-08-31 |
| 4 | FA880819C0006 | LINQUEST CORPORATION | $678M | Department of Defense | 2027-02-26 |
| 5 | FA862025FB072 | AEVEX AEROSPACE, LLC | $646M | Department of Defense | 2026-09-30 |
| 6 | W56KGU25F0015 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $592M | Department of Defense | 2026-12-31 |
| 7 | HR001124C0304 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $576M | Department of Defense | 2027-04-30 |
| 8 | 47QFCA23F0024 | PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. | $527M | General Services Administration | 2027-04-26 |
| 9 | 47QFCA23F0014 | BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC | $499M | General Services Administration | 2027-02-23 |
| 10 | 47QFCA24C0003 | DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP | $493M | General Services Administration | 2027-07-14 |
| 11 | FA807522F0030 | CACI, INC. - FEDERAL | $479M | Department of Defense | 2027-05-04 |
| 12 | 80GSFC20C0044 | SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC. | $467M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-03-31 |
| 13 | 80NM0018F0652 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $393M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-01-31 |
| 14 | 47QFCA20C0019 | KRATOS S2, INC | $363M | General Services Administration | 2026-12-10 |
| 15 | 75N91025F00016 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $342M | Department of Health and Human Services | 2026-08-30 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the federal government spend on NAICS 541715?
The federal government spends $31.3B on NAICS 541715 in FY2026 to date. The market had 14,231 awards with an average award size of $2.2M, and obligations fell 32.3% year over year compared with prior fiscal-year totals.
Which agencies buy the most NAICS 541715 services?
The Department of Defense buys the most NAICS 541715 services, with $21B in obligations. Other top buyers are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with $4.3B and the Department of Energy with $3.5B.
Who are the largest NAICS 541715 government contractors?
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the largest NAICS 541715 government contractor at $4B. Other large contractors include CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY at $1.8B and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC at $1.3B.
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