How to win federal janitorial and custodial contracts
To win federal janitorial and custodial contracts, register in SAM.gov, find notices under the janitorial and custodial NAICS codes in the states you work in, and bid first on small business set-asides, which made up 82% of the 840 janitorial and custodial solicitations posted in the last 12 months. Today there are 37 open notices, and the busiest buyer over the past year was the Department of the Army.
The market today
Right now there are 37 open federal janitorial and custodial notices, 34 of them open for bids. 10 close within the next 7 days. 32 are set aside for small or certified businesses, so fewer companies can compete. Over the last 12 months agencies posted 840 janitorial and custodial solicitations and published 90 awards with a median value of $185K. The busiest buyer was the Department of the Army, with 197 solicitations.
| Open notices today | 37 |
| Closing within 7 days | 10 |
| Set aside for small or certified businesses | 32 |
| Solicitations posted in the last 12 months | 840 |
| Published awards in the last 12 months | 90 (median $185K) |
From public SAM.gov data, updated October 20, 2026. See every open janitorial and custodial notice.
Who buys janitorial and custodial work
Custodial work is bought for federal office buildings, courthouses, military installations, VA medical centers and clinics, visitor centers and border stations. The General Services Administration, the military services and the Department of Veterans Affairs post most of it.
The busiest buyers in the last 12 months:
- Department of the Army: 197 solicitations
- Forest Service: 194 solicitations
- Department of Veterans Affairs: 99 solicitations
- Department of the Air Force: 74 solicitations
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: 43 solicitations
The states with the most open janitorial and custodial work today: Massachusetts (3), California (2), Texas (2), New Jersey (2), Missouri (2), District of Columbia (1).
Rules to know before you bid
- The Service Contract Act applies to most service contracts over $2,500: the solicitation includes a wage determination with minimum hourly wages and fringe benefits for each job category, and you must pay at least those rates.
- Expect a Performance Work Statement (PWS) with cleaning frequencies by area, and a request for a quality control plan.
- Employees working in federal buildings usually need background checks and building access credentials before they start.
- Many awards are lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA): your price wins only if your staffing plan meets every requirement.
NAICS codes for janitorial and custodial
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 janitorial and custodial:
- 561720 Janitorial Services
- 561740 Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
- 561790 Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings
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.
- Visit the building if a site visit is offered, measure square footage by area type, and price labor from the wage determination plus supervision, supplies and equipment.
Questions
How many federal janitorial and custodial contracts are open right now?
On October 20, 2026 there were 37 open janitorial and custodial notices on SAM.gov, 10 of them closing within a week.
Which agencies buy the most janitorial and custodial?
Counting solicitations from the last 12 months: Department of the Army (197); Forest Service (194); Department of Veterans Affairs (99).
Can a small business win federal janitorial and custodial contracts?
Yes. 82% of the janitorial and custodial 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 janitorial and custodial contracts worth?
The median published award in the last 12 months was $185K, across 90 award notices. Values vary widely and some contracts are awarded without a public notice.
What NAICS codes are used for janitorial and custodial?
The main ones are 561720 (Janitorial Services), 561740 (Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services), 561790 (Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings).
Related guides
- Small business set-asides, explained
- Sources sought, presolicitation, solicitation: SAM.gov notice types 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.