PrimeRFP SCOUT · Industry Intelligence
Research & Development Federal Contracts
Federal research & development spending reached $50.8B across 39,413 contracts over the past 36 months (2023–2026), with an average award value of $1.3M. Data: PrimeRFP SCOUT · federal procurement records.
$50.8B
36-Mo Obligations
39,413
Total Awards
$1.3M
Avg Award Size
+24%
Growth (2023→2025)
Award Trends by Year
| Year | Awards | Obligations | Avg Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 41,000 | $46.7B | $1.1M |
| 2024 | 58,000 | $67.6B | $1.2M |
| 2025 | 51,000 | $61.3B | $1.2M |
PrimeRFP SCOUT · Federal procurement records ≥$100K
Top Agencies in Research & Development
| Rank | Agency | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Department of Defense | $25.4B |
| #2 | Department of Energy | $14.9B |
| #3 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $6.6B |
| #4 | Department of Health and Human Services | $1.5B |
| #5 | General Services Administration | $1.4B |
36-month aggregate, all fully public · PrimeRFP SCOUT
Top Research & Development Contractors
| Rank | Contractor | Awards | Total Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC | 27 | $4.8B |
| #2 | Fluor Marine Propulsion LLC | 37 | $4.1B |
| #3 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | 466 | $3.9B |
| #4 | California Institute of Technology (JPL) | 1,468 | $1.9B |
| #5 | Battelle Memorial Institute | 520 | $1.4B |
36-month aggregate, top 5 shown · PrimeRFP SCOUT
Emerging Competitors (Rank 6–10)
| Rank | Contractor | Awards | Total Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | UChicago Argonne LLC | 36 | $1.1B |
| #7 | Johns Hopkins University APL | 1,195 | $1.1B |
| #8 | The Regents of the University of California | 38 | $1.0B |
| #9 | Northrop Grumman Systems | 341 | $919.4M |
| #10 | Brookhaven Science Associates | 32 | $797.0M |
Market Intelligence — Research & Development
$50.8B obligated across 39,413 awards in 12 months — DoD ($25.4B) and DOE ($14.9B) together account for 80% of all federal R&D obligations.
DOE's $14.9B across just 481 awards reflects national laboratory M&O (Management & Operations) contracts — single awards worth $1B–$5B, not competitively accessible but with robust subcontracting opportunity.
NASA's 5,868 awards at $6.6B offer the most distributed access points — mission support, university research partnerships, and applied technology task orders accessible to mid-tier firms.
Caltech/JPL (1,468 awards), JHU APL (1,195 awards), and Battelle (520 awards) lead by award count — sustained demand for applied R&D performers with specialized technical credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions — Research & Development
How much federal R&D spending is available?
Federal R&D spending (NAICS 541715) reached $50.8B across 39,413 contracts in the trailing 12 months (Apr 2025–Mar 2026). DoD leads at $25.4B (50%), DOE at $14.9B (29%), and NASA at $6.6B (13%). Source: PrimeRFP SCOUT, obligations_only, ≥$100K floor.
What R&D areas are growing fastest?
AI/machine learning, autonomous systems, hypersonics, quantum computing, and biotechnology are the fastest-growing R&D pockets. The sector grew strongly from $46.7B (CY2023) to $67.6B (CY2024), with some moderation to $61.3B in CY2025 as FY2024 appropriations ramped down.
Who wins the most R&D contracts?
FFRDCs, national labs, and specialized primes dominate. Lawrence Livermore ($4.8B), Fluor Marine ($4.1B), and Lockheed ($3.9B) lead in dollar value. Caltech/JPL (1,468 awards) and JHU APL (1,195 awards) lead in award count — reflecting the high-volume applied R&D market accessible to mid-tier performers.
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