NSF

National Science Foundation

Updated July 2026 — forecast trends cross-checked against agency and SAM.gov sources.

Funds scientific research and education. Buyer of research services, IT infrastructure, and educational programs.

FY2026 Budget

$10B+ (research funding, science education, infrastructure)

OSDBU Contact

Office of Small Business Programs - smallbiz@nsf.gov

2026 Trend

Quantum computing research, climate science, artificial intelligence, STEM education programs

Top NAICS Codes for NSF

These industry classifications represent the largest procurement focus areas.

541711

541320

541611

611210

334512

Typical Procurement Areas & Recompetes

1

Scientific research services and laboratories

2

STEM education programs and curriculum development

3

Research infrastructure and computing systems

4

Data management and analytics services

Procurement Focus & Strategy

  • Research and development contracts favor innovation
  • Academic partnerships and small research teams valued
  • Peer-reviewed research often required
  • Publication and intellectual property sharing expected

Forecast Strategy for Contractors

NSF is excellent for research-focused contractors and academic teams. Lower contract volumes but intellectual satisfaction high. Good for specialized R&D. IP ownership more collaborative than typical government contracts.

How to Use This Forecast

  1. Monitor updates. NSF updates their forecast quarterly. Check back every 3 months for new opportunities.
  2. Match your NAICS. Focus on recompetes and opportunities in your primary NAICS codes (listed above).
  3. Research past winners. Use WinBidIQ's USAspending data to find who won the last contract. Model your proposal after them.
  4. Contact early. Reach out to Office of Small Business Programs - smallbiz@nsf.gov (their small business contact) 6-12 months before RFP release to ask questions and register.
  5. Prepare the proposal early. Start writing 60-90 days before RFP release. When RFP drops, you're 80% done.

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National Science Foundation (NSF) has a FY2026 budget of $10B+ (research funding, science education, infrastructure). The procurement trend for 2026 is: Quantum computing research, climate science, artificial intelligence, STEM education programs. Key NAICS codes active at this agency include 541711, 541320, 541611.

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