How to win federal painting contracts
To win federal painting contracts, register in SAM.gov, find notices under the painting NAICS codes in the states you work in, and bid first on small business set-asides, which made up 76% of the 98 painting solicitations posted in the last 12 months. Today there are 8 open notices, and the busiest buyer over the past year was the Department of the Army.
The market today
Right now there are 8 open federal painting notices, 7 of them open for bids. 1 close within the next 7 days. 5 are set aside for small or certified businesses, so fewer companies can compete. Over the last 12 months agencies posted 98 painting solicitations and published 8 awards with a median value of $53K. The busiest buyer was the Department of the Army, with 20 solicitations.
| Open notices today | 8 |
| Closing within 7 days | 1 |
| Set aside for small or certified businesses | 5 |
| Solicitations posted in the last 12 months | 98 |
| Published awards in the last 12 months | 8 (median $53K) |
From public SAM.gov data, updated October 20, 2026. See every open painting notice.
Who buys painting work
Painting work comes from military installations (barracks, hangars, family housing), VA medical centers, the Coast Guard and the National Park Service, which also maintains historic structures.
The busiest buyers in the last 12 months:
- Department of the Army: 20 solicitations
- Department of the Air Force: 20 solicitations
- National Park Service: 12 solicitations
- US Coast Guard: 8 solicitations
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: 7 solicitations
The states with the most open painting work today: Florida (1), Idaho (1).
Rules to know before you bid
- Painting under a construction contract carries Davis-Bacon wages for painters.
- On older buildings, lead paint rules for construction work apply to surface preparation and removal.
- Work on historic structures can follow the Secretary of the Interior's standards for treating historic properties.
NAICS codes for painting
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 painting:
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.
- Price access (lifts, scaffolding) and surface preparation separately: they are usually most of the cost.
Questions
How many federal painting contracts are open right now?
On October 20, 2026 there were 8 open painting notices on SAM.gov, 1 of them closing within a week.
Which agencies buy the most painting?
Counting solicitations from the last 12 months: Department of the Army (20); Department of the Air Force (20); National Park Service (12).
Can a small business win federal painting contracts?
Yes. 76% of the painting 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 painting contracts worth?
The median published award in the last 12 months was $53K, across 8 award notices. Values vary widely and some contracts are awarded without a public notice.
What NAICS codes are used for painting?
The main ones are 238320 (Painting and Wall Covering Contractors).
Related guides
- How to bid on federal construction contracts
- How to read a wage determination (Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act)
- Small business set-asides, explained
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.