Federal Contracting Guide · Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
541715R&D in Physical/Engineering/Life Sciences
What NAICS 541715 covers, the SBA size standard, typical federal customers, related codes, and the tools you need to actually bid under this code.
What NAICS 541715 covers
R&D except nanotech and biotech. Heavily used for DoD, NASA, and DOE research contracts.
Major federal procurement category. Expect hundreds of millions to billions in annual federal obligations.
Size standard & small business eligibility
The SBA size standard is employee-count-based. To qualify as a small business under this NAICS code, your average headcount (including part-time and temporary workers) across the 24 months preceding a bid must stay under the threshold below.
Threshold: Employees: 1,000 (1,500 aircraft/missiles).
If you're under this threshold, you qualify as a small business for federal procurement under this NAICS — which unlocks set-aside opportunities (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and others). Not sure which set-asides you qualify for?
Check your set-aside eligibility
10 questions, takes under 3 minutes. Returns the exact SBA programs you qualify for — 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, EDWOSB.
Run the eligibility check →Open federal contracts under NAICS 541715 6 active
Live solicitations posted on SAM.gov, soonest deadline first. Refreshed May 31, 2026.
- Acquisition Support Services
- SUPERCONDUCTING DETECTOR MULTIPLEXING TEST SUPPORT
- RADIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT (PDS)
- Wearable Gunshot and Drone Detection
- AJ11--Research & Development Support Services
- Notice of Intent to issue a Sole Source Award to generate and optimize high-affinity nucleic acid aptamers capable of semi-quantitative detection of TFV-DP and/or TFV for use in both plate-based assays and POC platforms.
Get every new NAICS 541715 contract by email
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Get the daily wire → Open SAM.gov searchRelated work this NAICS covers
Use these terms in your capability statement and past-performance writeups to signal fit to contracting officers who filter by NAICS.
Next step: your capability statement
Once your NAICS code is registered in SAM.gov, your capability statement is the single most-requested document from federal contracting officers and large primes. It's how buyers decide whether to put you on a short list or send you a sources-sought notice.
Build a capability statement (NAICS 541715 pre-filled)
Free interactive builder. Enter your company info, past performance, and certifications — export a clean one-page PDF formatted the way contracting officers actually want to read it.
Start your capability statement →Related NAICS codes
Firms that win work under NAICS 541715 often also register under these codes.
Reference guides
Evergreen explainers for small federal contractors. Free, no signup.
- Sources Sought Notices: A Small-Business Guide to Pre-Solicitation — the highest-leverage activity for a small contractor.
- SAM.gov Alternatives: Tools Small Federal Contractors Use to Find Opportunities Faster — honest GovWin / HigherGov / GovTribe / CW Pro comparison.
- Decoding Federal Set-Aside Programs: 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB
- Navigating NAICS Codes: Strategic Insights for Federal Contractors
- → All Contract Wire articles
Not sure NAICS 541715 is the right fit?
Many new federal contractors register under the wrong NAICS the first time — which means their set-aside eligibility, size standard, and match to opportunities are all miscalibrated. Our finder matches your capability description to the top federal-relevant codes in 60 seconds.
Find your best-fit NAICS codes
Paste your capability description. Returns the top 5 matching NAICS codes with size standards and federal spend level for each.
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