PrimeRFP SCOUT · Industry Intelligence
Research & Development Federal Contracts
Federal research & development spending reached $118.5B across 13,497 contracts over the past 36 months (2023–2026), with an average award value of $8.8M. Data: PrimeRFP SCOUT · federal procurement records.
$118.5B
36-Mo Obligations
13,497
Total Awards
$8.8M
Avg Award Size
+187%
Growth (2023→2025)
Award Trends by Year
| Year | Awards | Obligations | Avg Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,315 | $6.6B | $2.8M |
| 2024 | 3,885 | $13.0B | $3.3M |
| 2025 | 6,651 | $82.8B | $12.4M |
PrimeRFP SCOUT · Federal procurement records ≥$25K
Top Agencies in Research & Development
| Rank | Agency | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Department of Defense | $79.9B |
| #2 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $20.5B |
| #3 | Department of Health and Human Services | $7.1B |
| #4 | Department of Energy | $2.2B |
| #5 | General Services Administration | $1.9B |
36-month aggregate, all fully public · PrimeRFP SCOUT
Top Research & Development Contractors
| Rank | Contractor | Awards | Total Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | MIT | 21 | $11.6B |
| #2 | SAIC | 49 | $10.6B |
| #3 | Lockheed Martin | 34 | $9.6B |
| #4 | Booz Allen Hamilton | 104 | $4.4B |
| #5 | Caltech | 91 | $4.3B |
36-month aggregate, top 5 shown · PrimeRFP SCOUT
Emerging Competitors (Rank 6–10)
| Rank | Contractor | Awards | Total Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | JHU Applied Physics Lab | 188 | $3.4B |
| #7 | MITRE Corp | 140 | $3.0B |
| #8 | Alion Science | 37 | $2.8B |
| #9 | KBR Wyle Services | 33 | $2.5B |
| #10 | Leidos Inc | 264 | $2.4B |
Market Intelligence — Research & Development
R&D spending reached $118.5B over 36 months — the second-largest sector, reflecting federal investment in advanced technology, AI, hypersonics, and quantum.
Award volume grew 187% (2023–2025: 2,315 to 6,651 contracts), with 2025 alone accounting for 70% of total spend — unprecedented acceleration in R&D intensity.
University partnerships dominate the winner list (MIT $11.6B, Caltech $4.3B, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford) — FFRDCs and traditional contractors compete for applied R&D.
MITRE Corp leads by award count (140), signaling sustained demand for advisory, systems engineering, and technology strategy services across DoD and federal labs.
Frequently Asked Questions — Research & Development
How much federal R&D spending is available?
Federal R&D spending totaled $118.5B over 36 months (2023–2026), with 13,497 contracts and an average award of $8.8M. DoD leads at $79.9B (67%), followed by NASA ($20.5B) and HHS ($7.1B). Source: PrimeRFP SCOUT.
What R&D areas are growing fastest?
AI/machine learning, autonomous systems, hypersonics, quantum computing, and biotechnology are the fastest-growing R&D pockets — award volume accelerated 187% in 3 years.
Who wins the most R&D contracts?
FFRDCs and universities dominate (MIT, Caltech, JHU APL), but traditional contractors like SAIC ($10.6B), Lockheed ($9.6B), and Booz Allen ($4.4B) are major players. Smaller firms compete for applied R&D and specialized technology task orders.
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