The largest federal buyer ($250B+ annual spend). Procures everything from IT services to logistics, with significant small business set-asides.
FY2026 Budget
$250B+ (Defense and military construction)
OSDBU Contact
Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) - osbp@mail.mil
2026 Trend
Increasing investment in cybersecurity, IT modernization, and supply chain resilience
Top NAICS Codes for DoD
These industry classifications represent the largest procurement focus areas.
541511
541512
561210
334220
336415
Typical Procurement Areas & Recompetes
IT services and system integration
Cybersecurity and cloud services
Logistics and supply chain management
Engineering and technical support
Procurement Focus & Strategy
- NIST 800-171 compliance required for DoD contracts
- Opportunity for small business set-asides (20% goal)
- Contractor team arrangements common for large procurements
- Previous performance evaluation heavily weighted
Forecast Strategy for Contractors
DoD has the most contract opportunities of any agency. Focus on IT, cybersecurity, logistics, and engineering for contractors. Set-asides common. However, compliance burdens are highest (security, audits, FAR compliance).
How to Use This Forecast
- Monitor updates. DoD updates their forecast quarterly. Check back every 3 months for new opportunities.
- Match your NAICS. Focus on recompetes and opportunities in your primary NAICS codes (listed above).
- Research past winners. Use WinBidIQ's USAspending data to find who won the last contract. Model your proposal after them.
- Contact early. Reach out to Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) - osbp@mail.mil (their small business contact) 6-12 months before RFP release to ask questions and register.
- Prepare the proposal early. Start writing 60-90 days before RFP release. When RFP drops, you're 80% done.
Get Forecast Alerts for DoD
WinBidIQ monitors DoD forecasts and alerts you when new pre-solicitations match your company's NAICS codes and certifications.
Start Free Trial →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Department of Defense procurement forecast for FY2026?
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Department of Defense (DoD) has a FY2026 budget of $250B+ (Defense and military construction). The procurement trend for 2026 is: Increasing investment in cybersecurity, IT modernization, and supply chain resilience. Key NAICS codes active at this agency include 541511, 541512, 561210.
How can small businesses access DoD forecast data?
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Department of Defense publishes its procurement forecast through SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and agency-specific forecast portals. Contact the OSDBU at Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) - osbp@mail.mil to request upcoming acquisition forecasts directly. Many agencies publish annual small business forecasts 6-12 months in advance of RFP release.
What types of contracts does DoD forecast for small businesses?
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Department of Defense forecasts set-aside competitions for: IT services and system integration; Cybersecurity and cloud services; Logistics and supply chain management. These include both new requirements and recompetes of existing contracts. Monitoring recompetes is the most reliable way to find upcoming opportunities at this agency.
What NAICS codes should I focus on for DoD contracts?
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The highest-volume NAICS codes at Department of Defense are: 541511, 541512, 561210, 334220, 336415. Register these in your SAM.gov profile and set up SAM.gov email alerts filtered by these codes and DoD as the awarding agency to receive daily notifications of new solicitations.
How far in advance does DoD post contract forecasts?
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Most federal agencies, including Department of Defense, post procurement forecasts 6-12 months before RFP release. Follow the OSDBU (Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) - osbp@mail.mil) and subscribe to industry day announcements. Engaging with the agency pre-RFP — through RFI responses, capability statement submissions, and industry days — significantly increases your probability of win when the solicitation drops.