The largest government contractors
Federal contracting is heavily concentrated. A small number of firms hold an enormous share of the spend, and for a small business that is useful information rather than discouraging, because every one of them is obliged to subcontract.
2,392
small business set-asides are open right now. Everything above the set-aside threshold that a large prime wins carries a subcontracting plan obligation, and that is a route in that never appears as a solicitation.
Who they are
The top tier is dominated by defence and aerospace: Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman have held the leading positions for years. Below them sit the large services and IT integrators such as Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC and CACI, alongside major health and logistics suppliers.
Where to get the real list
USAspending publishes every federal award with recipient and value, free, and it is the authoritative source. Any published top-500 list is somebody's summary of that same data, usually a year old. If the ranking matters to you, take it from the source.
How to actually use it
Look up who holds the prime contracts in your own NAICS codes at agencies near you. Those firms need subcontractors in exactly your line of work and are required to have small business liaison officers. Approaching a named prime about a named contract is far more effective than approaching agencies cold.
Questions people ask
Who is the largest government contractor?
Lockheed Martin has led federal contract obligations for many years, with RTX, Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman close behind.
Where can I find a list of top government contractors?
USAspending publishes all federal awards free. Published rankings are summaries of that data and usually lag a year.
How concentrated is federal contracting?
Heavily. A few dozen firms account for a very large share of total obligations, particularly in defence.
Can a small business compete with them?
Directly, rarely, on large programmes. Through set-asides and as a subcontractor, routinely.
How do I subcontract to a large prime?
Identify who holds relevant prime contracts in your NAICS codes and contact their small business liaison officer with a tailored capability statement.
Related
Federal subcontracting · Capability statement · Set-aside contracts · Browse open solicitations