ED

Department of Education

Manages K-12 and higher education programs, student loans, and education policy. Buyer of educational content and IT systems.

FY2026 Budget

$250B+

K-12, higher ed, student aid, special ed

OSDBU Contact

Office of Small Business Programs - osbp@ed.gov

2026 Trend

Student loan servicing modernization, online education platforms, special education services, K-12 technology integration

Market Intelligence

Real-time spending data via USAspending.gov

Annual Spend (FY2025)

Total obligated amount for contract awards in the current fiscal year.

$0

Obligated to date

Budget UtilizationNaN%

Top Contract Awardees

$9.5B
$8.9B
$7.3B
$5.2B
$5.1B

WinBidIQ Insight: Department of Education is showing high competition among the top 5 vendors. Small businesses should focus on subcontracting opportunities with these leaders or targeting niche set-asides where these giants are restricted.

How to Win Contracts from Department of Education

As a major federal contracting entity, Department of Education (ED) commands a FY2026 budget of $250B+. Recent market intelligence indicates a highly active procurement cycle, with obligated spend distributed among 5 primary vendors.With a strategic focus on educational expertise and curriculum development valued and accessibility and compliance (ada) critical, this agency presents targeted opportunities for contractors operating within critical NAICS codes like 611110 and 611610.

For emerging contractors, the most effective entry strategy is to identify recompete opportunities — contracts currently held by incumbents that are expiring within the next 12 to 18 months.ED recompetes often have predictable scopes and defined evaluation criteria, making them significantly easier to bid intelligently than entirely new requirements.

ED offers education-focused opportunities with large budgets. Good for edtech companies and training providers. Student loan modernization = growth area. FERPA/student privacy compliance required.

Procurement Focus & Requirements

  • Educational expertise and curriculum development valued
  • Accessibility and compliance (ADA) critical
  • Scalability important (millions of students/borrowers)
  • Data privacy and student information security essential

Top NAICS Codes — ED

These NAICS codes appear most frequently in Department of Education solicitations. Include these in your SAM.gov registration to appear in agency searches and qualify for relevant set-asides.

611110

611610

541611

611710

334512

Common Recompete Categories at ED

Recompetes — contracts currently held by an incumbent that are coming up for renewal — are the highest-probability opportunity for new entrants. These categories see recurring recompetes at Department of Education:

1

Educational content development and delivery

2

Student loan servicing and management

3

K-12 and higher ed IT systems

4

Special education and accessibility services

Track live recompete opportunities in WinBidIQ

Department of Education Contracting: FAQs

How much does Department of Education spend on contracts annually?+
Department of Education (ED) has a FY2026 budget of $250B+ (K-12, higher ed, student aid, special ed). Contract spending goes toward 5 primary NAICS code categories, with student loan servicing modernization, online education platforms, special education services, k-12 technology integration. Small businesses compete for set-aside contracts across all major spending categories.
What NAICS codes does ED use for small business contracts?+
Department of Education most frequently awards contracts under NAICS codes 611110, 611610, 541611, 611710, 334512. These cover Educational expertise and curriculum development valued, Accessibility and compliance (ADA) critical, Scalability important (millions of students/borrowers). Register in SAM.gov with these codes and ensure your size is within SBA size standards for each code to qualify for set-asides.
How do I contact ED's small business office?+
Department of Education's small business contact is: Office of Small Business Programs - osbp@ed.gov. This office — typically called the OSDBU or OSBP — runs small business outreach events, matchmaking sessions, and subcontracting fairs. Attending these events is one of the most effective ways to get pre-RFP visibility with contracting officers.
What types of contracts does ED award to small businesses?+
Department of Education awards set-aside contracts under multiple socioeconomic programs including small business, 8(a) Business Development, WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business), SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned), and HUBZone. Common contract vehicles include Educational content development and delivery and Student loan servicing and management. Most contracts over $25K are posted on SAM.gov.
What is the best strategy to win a first ED contract?+
Start by identifying recompete opportunities — contracts expiring within 12 months where the incumbent may be vulnerable. Department of Education recompete categories include: Educational content development and delivery; Student loan servicing and management; K-12 and higher ed IT systems. Build past performance through subcontracting first, then bid on small set-asides. Attend OSDBU outreach events to meet program managers before RFPs drop.
What is ED's procurement trend for 2026?+
Student loan servicing modernization, online education platforms, special education services, K-12 technology integration. ED offers education-focused opportunities with large budgets. Good for edtech companies and training providers. Student loan modernization = growth area. FERPA/student privacy compliance required. Monitor SAM.gov and USASpending.gov for emerging solicitations and forecast notices — ideally 6-12 months before RFP release.

Find ED Contracts Matched to Your Company

WinBidIQ monitors SAM.gov daily and scores every Department of Education solicitation by fit to your company profile — NAICS codes, certifications, size, and past performance.

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