NAICS Codes and Government Contracting: A Complete Guide

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes are the foundation of government contracting. Every solicitation on SAM.gov is tagged with one or more NAICS codes, and your business's NAICS codes determine which opportunities you can compete for.

What Is a NAICS Code?

A NAICS code is a 6-digit number that identifies your industry. For example:

• 541511 — Custom computer programming services
• 541330 — Engineering services
• 621111 — Offices of physicians

Finding Your NAICS Codes

1. Go to the Census Bureau's NAICS lookup tool

2. Search for your primary business activity

3. Choose the code that most closely matches what you do

Most businesses have 2–5 relevant NAICS codes. Register all of them in SAM.gov.

Size Standards

The SBA sets size standards for each NAICS code, which determines whether you qualify as a "small business" for set-aside purposes. Size standards are expressed as either annual revenue or number of employees, depending on the industry.

Check your size standard at sba.gov/size-standards before pursuing any set-aside contract.

Set-Aside Codes

When combined with certifications (8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB, etc.), the right NAICS codes unlock set-aside contracts that reduce or eliminate competition.

GovRFP uses your registered NAICS codes to automatically filter SAM.gov for opportunities that match your business.