How to win federal management consulting contracts
To win federal management consulting contracts, register in SAM.gov, find notices under the management consulting NAICS codes in the states you work in, and bid first on small business set-asides, which made up 51% of the 330 management consulting solicitations posted in the last 12 months. Today there are 38 open notices, and the busiest buyer over the past year was the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The market today
Right now there are 38 open federal management consulting notices, 16 of them open for bids. 8 close within the next 7 days. 14 are set aside for small or certified businesses, so fewer companies can compete. Over the last 12 months agencies posted 330 management consulting solicitations and published 137 awards with a median value of $408K. The busiest buyer was the Department of Veterans Affairs, with 39 solicitations.
| Open notices today | 38 |
| Closing within 7 days | 8 |
| Set aside for small or certified businesses | 14 |
| Solicitations posted in the last 12 months | 330 |
| Published awards in the last 12 months | 137 (median $408K) |
From public SAM.gov data, updated October 20, 2026. See every open management consulting notice.
Who buys management consulting work
Management consulting is bought across the government: program management support, process improvement, strategy, training design and analysis. A large share runs through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule, but many requirements are posted openly on SAM.gov.
The busiest buyers in the last 12 months:
- Department of Veterans Affairs: 39 solicitations
- Department of the Navy: 34 solicitations
- Department of the Army: 21 solicitations
- Department of the Air Force: 16 solicitations
- Defense Health Agency (dha): 15 solicitations
The states with the most open management consulting work today: District of Columbia (9), Maryland (5), Georgia (2), Virginia (2), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1).
Rules to know before you bid
- Proposals are evaluated on technical approach, key personnel and past performance; price is one factor.
- Organizational conflict of interest rules can bar a firm that helped write a requirement from competing for it.
- Labor categories and rates must be clearly defined, often in a price volume separate from the technical volume.
NAICS codes for management consulting
Agencies tag each notice with one NAICS code, and that code sets the size standard for small business set-asides. These are the codes BidFox follows for management consulting:
- 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- 541618 Other Management Consulting Services
- 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
How to win your first one
- Register your business in SAM.gov (free) and list every NAICS code above that you can really perform. How to register.
- Watch the notices in your states every day, including sources sought and presolicitations, which tell you what is coming.
- Start with small set-aside jobs close to home: they have fewer bidders and build the past performance you need later.
- Read the whole solicitation, ask questions before the deadline and acknowledge every amendment.
- Build past performance with smaller task orders and subcontracts, and follow up sources sought notices in your specialty.
Questions
How many federal management consulting contracts are open right now?
On October 20, 2026 there were 38 open management consulting notices on SAM.gov, 8 of them closing within a week.
Which agencies buy the most management consulting?
Counting solicitations from the last 12 months: Department of Veterans Affairs (39); Department of the Navy (34); Department of the Army (21).
Can a small business win federal management consulting contracts?
Yes. 51% of the management consulting solicitations in the last 12 months were set aside for small businesses or for certified firms such as 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB or WOSB.
How much are federal management consulting contracts worth?
The median published award in the last 12 months was $408K, across 137 award notices. Values vary widely and some contracts are awarded without a public notice.
What NAICS codes are used for management consulting?
The main ones are 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), 541618 (Other Management Consulting Services), 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services).
Related guides
- Sources sought, presolicitation, solicitation: SAM.gov notice types explained
- Small business set-asides, explained
- SAM.gov registration: what you need and how long it takes
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and dollar thresholds change, so check the solicitation and the official sources linked above.