PrimeRFP SCOUT · NAICS Intelligence
NAICS 5417 — Scientific Research & Development Services
NAICS 541715 — R&D in Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences
NAICS 541715 is the primary code for applied research and development in defense systems, space, energy, biomedical sciences, and national security. It encompasses FFRDCs, national labs, university research, and applied R&D firms. One of the largest-spend NAICS codes in the federal market by total obligated value.
$50.8B
Total Obligated
39,413
Total Awards
$1.29M
Avg Award Value
Apr 2025 – Mar 2026
Data Period
Year-Over-Year Award Trend
| Year | Awards | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 41,000 | $46.7B |
| 2024 | 58,000 | $67.6B |
| 2025 | 51,000 | $61.3B |
2026 data through March 2026 only. Source: PrimeRFP SCOUT · ≥$100K floor
Top Agencies by Obligation — NAICS 541715
| Agency | Awards | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|
DoDDepartment of Defense | 25,737 | $25.4B |
DOEDepartment of Energy | 481 | $14.9B |
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration | 5,868 | $6.6B |
HHSDepartment of Health and Human Services | 2,608 | $1.5B |
GSAGeneral Services Administration | 1,074 | $1.4B |
Top Awardees — NAICS 541715
Trailing 12 months · ≥$100K floor · Source: PrimeRFP SCOUT
| Rank | Awardee | Awards | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|
| #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 |
| #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 | $919M |
| #10 | Brookhaven Science Associates | 32 | $797M |
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→$50.8B obligated across 39,413 awards — driven by DoD weapons R&D ($25.4B) and DOE national laboratory operating contracts ($14.9B).
→DOE's $14.9B across just 481 awards reflects the M&O (Management & Operations) contract structure — single awards worth $1B–$5B with 5–10 year periods of performance; not competitively accessible.
→Non-FFRDC applied R&D (Lockheed $3.9B, Fluor Marine $4.1B, Caltech/JPL $1.9B) represents the open-competition opportunity — actively recompeted and accessible to qualified challengers.
→NASA's 5,868 awards at $6.6B include JPL, mission support, and a high volume of smaller research task orders — more distributed than DOE and more accessible to mid-tier and university R&D performers.
Frequently Asked Questions — NAICS 541715
What does NAICS 541715 cover?
NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) covers federal contracts for applied R&D in defense systems, aerospace, nuclear energy, biomedical research, oceanography, and national security technologies. It includes both FFRDC/national lab operating contracts and commercial applied R&D firms.
How much does the federal government spend on NAICS 541715?
Federal agencies obligated approximately $50.8B under NAICS 541715 in the trailing 12 months (Apr 2025–Mar 2026) across 39,413 awards. DoD ($25.4B) and DOE ($14.9B) are the dominant buyers. Source: PrimeRFP SCOUT, obligations_only, ≥$100K floor.
Can small businesses compete for NAICS 541715 contracts?
Yes. While the top awards are dominated by national labs and large primes, DoD and NASA actively award smaller R&D contracts to mid-tier firms, universities, and SBIRs. HHS (NIH) awards 2,608 contracts — most accessible to research firms. NASA SEWP and DoD SBIR/STTR programs are the primary entry points for smaller R&D performers.
What is the average contract value under NAICS 541715?
The average award obligation is $1.29M, but this masks wide variance — DOE national lab operating contracts are worth $1B–$5B each, while DoD task orders and NASA research awards average much less. For mid-tier firms targeting DoD and NASA applied R&D, typical task order values range from $500K to $50M.
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