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
Top NAICS Codes for ED
These industry classifications represent the largest procurement focus areas.
611110
611610
541611
611710
334512
Typical Procurement Areas & Recompetes
Educational content development and delivery
Student loan servicing and management
K-12 and higher ed IT systems
Special education and accessibility services
Procurement Focus & Strategy
- Educational expertise and curriculum development valued
- Accessibility and compliance (ADA) critical
- Scalability important (millions of students/borrowers)
- Data privacy and student information security essential
Forecast Strategy for Contractors
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.
How to Use This Forecast
- Monitor updates. ED 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@ed.gov (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 ED
WinBidIQ monitors ED 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 Education procurement forecast for FY2026?
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Department of Education (ED) has a FY2026 budget of $250B+ (K-12, higher ed, student aid, special ed). The procurement trend for 2026 is: Student loan servicing modernization, online education platforms, special education services, K-12 technology integration. Key NAICS codes active at this agency include 611110, 611610, 541611.
How can small businesses access ED forecast data?
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Department of Education publishes its procurement forecast through SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and agency-specific forecast portals. Contact the OSDBU at Office of Small Business Programs - osbp@ed.gov 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 ED forecast for small businesses?
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Department of Education forecasts set-aside competitions for: Educational content development and delivery; Student loan servicing and management; K-12 and higher ed IT systems. 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 ED contracts?
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The highest-volume NAICS codes at Department of Education are: 611110, 611610, 541611, 611710, 334512. Register these in your SAM.gov profile and set up SAM.gov email alerts filtered by these codes and ED as the awarding agency to receive daily notifications of new solicitations.
How far in advance does ED post contract forecasts?
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Most federal agencies, including Department of Education, post procurement forecasts 6-12 months before RFP release. Follow the OSDBU (Office of Small Business Programs - osbp@ed.gov) 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.