Federal contract market · NAICS 541715
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715): Federal Contract Market
Data through 2026-09-28 · FY2026 to date
- Obligations, FY2026 to date
- $40.4B
- Contract awards
- 16,353
- Average award size
- $2.5M
- vs. prior full fiscal year
- 12.8% decline
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FY21 | $29B |
| FY22 | $35B |
| FY23 | $42.6B |
| FY24 | $43.2B |
| FY25 | $46.4B |
| FY26 | $40.4B |
Obligations fell 12.8% year over year, from $46.4B in FY2025 to $40.4B in FY2026 to date.
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541715) recorded $40.4B in federal contract obligations for FY2026 to date. The market includes 16,353 awards with an average award size of $2.5M. Obligations fell 12.8% year over year. Obligations rose from $29B in FY21 to $35B in FY22, $42.6B in FY23, $43.2B in FY24, and $46.4B in FY25 before moving to $40.4B in FY26. The Department of Defense obligated $27.4B and is the largest buyer, followed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at $5.6B and the Department of Energy at $3.6B. FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC received $4.3B, and CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY received $2.1B. LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, RAYTHEON COMPANY, and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC each received $1.7B. Other top vendors include LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION at $1.2B, THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION at $1.1B, LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP at $968M, THE MITRE CORPORATION at $887M, and LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP at $816M. Current-year totals are partial (fiscal year to date).
How has federal spending for NAICS 541715 changed over recent years?
Obligations rose from $29B in FY21 to $46.4B in FY25, then moved to $40.4B in FY26 to date. Obligations fell 12.8% year over year between the latest reporting periods. The FY21 through FY26 series shows the peak in FY25 and the subsequent pullback in FY26.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Department of Defense | $27.4B |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $5.6B |
| Department of Energy | $3.6B |
| General Services Administration | $1.6B |
| Department of Health and Human Services | $1.4B |
| Department of Homeland Security | $262M |
| Department of Commerce | $160M |
| Department of Transportation | $121M |
| Department of the Interior | $80.3M |
| Department of Agriculture | $47.5M |
Department of Defense was the top buyer, obligating $27.4B (67.8% of all obligations).
Who are the biggest buyers and contractors in NAICS 541715 right now?
The Department of Defense obligated $27.4B in FY2026 to date, making it the largest buyer. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $5.6B and the Department of Energy obligated $3.6B. FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the largest vendor with $4.3B, and CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY follows with $2.1B, with multiple other vendors listed at $1.7B, $1.2B, $1.1B, $968M, $887M, and $816M.
| Item | Obligations |
|---|---|
| FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4.3B |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $2.1B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.7B |
| RAYTHEON COMPANY | $1.7B |
| THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.7B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.2B |
| THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $968M |
| THE MITRE CORPORATION | $887M |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $816M |
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC led all vendors with $4.3B in obligations, 10.5% of the market.
| Rank | Vendor | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $4.3B |
| 2 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $2.1B |
| 3 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.7B |
| 4 | RAYTHEON COMPANY | $1.7B |
| 5 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.7B |
| 6 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.2B |
| 7 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $1.1B |
| 8 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $968M |
| 9 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $887M |
| 10 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $816M |
| Rank | Recipient | Award Amount | Awarding Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $15B | Department of Defense |
| 2 | FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC | $14.8B | Department of Energy |
| 3 | THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION | $8.6B | Department of Defense |
| 4 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $7.5B | Department of Defense |
| 5 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $5.3B | 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. | $3.2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 9 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 10 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $2.6B | Department of Defense |
| 11 | FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC | $2.5B | Department of Energy |
| 12 | BLUE ORIGIN MANUFACTURING, LLC | $2.2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 13 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 14 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.9B | Department of Defense |
| 15 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $1.8B | Department of Health and Human Services |
| 16 | BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE, LLC | $1.6B | Department of Energy |
| 17 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.6B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 18 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.6B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 19 | RAYTHEON COMPANY | $1.6B | Department of Defense |
| 20 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 21 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.5B | Department of Defense |
| 22 | THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 23 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.3B | Department of Defense |
| 24 | CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | $1.3B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 25 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.2B | Department of Defense |
| Rank | Contract | Incumbent | Award Value | Awarding Agency | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N0003019C0025 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | $4B | Department of Defense | 2026-09-30 |
| 2 | 80MSFC18C0011 | AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. | $2B | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-05-31 |
| 3 | N0001922C0041 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $1.9B | Department of Defense | 2027-03-31 |
| 4 | FA880819C0006 | LINQUEST CORPORATION | $690M | Department of Defense | 2027-02-26 |
| 5 | W31P4Q19C0058 | LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION | $688M | Department of Defense | 2027-09-13 |
| 6 | W56KGU25F0015 | THE MITRE CORPORATION | $671M | Department of Defense | 2026-12-31 |
| 7 | FA862025FB072 | AEVEX AEROSPACE, LLC | $646M | Department of Defense | 2026-12-31 |
| 8 | 47QFCA24C0003 | DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP | $617M | General Services Administration | 2027-07-14 |
| 9 | 47QFCA23F0014 | BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC | $536M | General Services Administration | 2027-02-23 |
| 10 | 47QFCA23F0024 | PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. | $535M | General Services Administration | 2027-04-26 |
| 11 | HQ014719C0005 | NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | $496M | Department of Defense | 2027-09-19 |
| 12 | 80GSFC20C0044 | SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC. | $493M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-03-31 |
| 13 | 75N91025F00016 | LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC | $484M | Department of Health and Human Services | 2027-08-30 |
| 14 | FA807522F0030 | CACI, INC. - FEDERAL | $484M | Department of Defense | 2027-05-04 |
| 15 | 80GSFC21CA007 | AERODYNE-SGT ENGINEERING SERVICES, LLC | $436M | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 2027-09-13 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the federal government spend on NAICS 541715?
The federal government has obligated $40.4B to NAICS 541715 in FY2026 to date. The market includes 16,353 awards and an average award size of $2.5M. Obligations rose from $29B in FY21 to a peak of $46.4B in FY25 before moving to $40.4B in FY26, and obligations fell 12.8% year over year.
Which agencies buy the most NAICS 541715 services?
The Department of Defense is the largest buyer, obligating $27.4B in FY2026 to date. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $5.6B and the Department of Energy obligated $3.6B. Other buyers in the top ten include the General Services Administration at $1.6B and the Department of Health and Human Services at $1.4B.
Who are the largest NAICS 541715 government contractors?
FLUOR MARINE PROPULSION, LLC is the largest contractor with $4.3B in obligations in FY2026 to date. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY is the next largest with $2.1B, followed by LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, RAYTHEON COMPANY, and THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC each at $1.7B, and other top vendors at $1.2B, $1.1B, $968M, $887M, and $816M.
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