How to win federal water and sewer line contracts
To win federal water and sewer line contracts, register in SAM.gov, find notices under the water and sewer line NAICS codes in the states you work in, and bid first on small business set-asides, which made up 66% of the 357 water and sewer line solicitations posted in the last 12 months. Today there are 33 open notices, and the busiest buyer over the past year was the Forest Service.
The market today
Right now there are 33 open federal water and sewer line notices, 24 of them open for bids. 7 close within the next 7 days. 23 are set aside for small or certified businesses, so fewer companies can compete. Over the last 12 months agencies posted 357 water and sewer line solicitations and published 55 awards with a median value of $182K. The busiest buyer was the Forest Service, with 69 solicitations.
| Open notices today | 33 |
| Closing within 7 days | 7 |
| Set aside for small or certified businesses | 23 |
| Solicitations posted in the last 12 months | 357 |
| Published awards in the last 12 months | 55 (median $182K) |
From public SAM.gov data, updated October 20, 2026. See every open water and sewer line notice.
Who buys water and sewer line work
Water and sewer line work is bought by military installations, VA campuses, the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Indian Health Service, which builds water and sanitation facilities for tribal communities.
The busiest buyers in the last 12 months:
- Forest Service: 69 solicitations
- National Park Service: 48 solicitations
- Department of the Army: 42 solicitations
- Indian Health Service: 40 solicitations
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: 23 solicitations
The states with the most open water and sewer line work today: Washington (2), Wyoming (2), Indiana (1), Pennsylvania (1), North Carolina (1), Virginia (1).
Rules to know before you bid
- Davis-Bacon heavy construction wages apply, and Miller Act bonds are required over $150,000.
- Buy American requirements apply to construction materials such as pipe and fittings.
- Expect testing, disinfection and tie-in requirements, and sometimes state or tribal permits.
NAICS codes for water and sewer line
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 water and sewer line:
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.
- Read the geotechnical information and plan the tie-ins and service shutdowns with the facility early.
Questions
How many federal water and sewer line contracts are open right now?
On October 20, 2026 there were 33 open water and sewer line notices on SAM.gov, 7 of them closing within a week.
Which agencies buy the most water and sewer line?
Counting solicitations from the last 12 months: Forest Service (69); National Park Service (48); Department of the Army (42).
Can a small business win federal water and sewer line contracts?
Yes. 66% of the water and sewer line 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 water and sewer line contracts worth?
The median published award in the last 12 months was $182K, across 55 award notices. Values vary widely and some contracts are awarded without a public notice.
What NAICS codes are used for water and sewer line?
The main ones are 237110 (Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction).
Related guides
- How to bid on federal construction contracts
- Bid bonds, performance bonds and prevailing wages on federal construction jobs
- NAICS codes for construction contractors
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.