Beginner’s Guide to GSA Schedule Contracts: Get the Guide

  • About
      • Providing full-service assistance to help businesses obtain and manage a GSA Schedule Contract Explore to learn more.
      • Our Team
      • Our Founder
      • Community Impact
      • Careers
      • Clients
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Get a GSA Schedule
      • Businesses, non-profits and educational institutions can obtain a GSA Schedule Contract to sell products and services to government customers. We'll help you navigate the GSA Schedule process. Explore to learn more.
      • GSA Schedule Beginner's Guide
      • GSA Schedule FAQ
      • GSA MAS Consolidation
      • Consolidated Schedule
      • GSA Post-Award Checklist
      • VA Schedule Contracts
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Industries
      • Industry Categories
      • Office Management
      • Facilities
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Human Capital
      • Industrial Products & Services
      • -
      • Information Technology
      • Miscellaneous
      • Professional Services
      • Scientific Solutions
      • -
      • Security & Protection
      • Transportation & Logistics
      • Travel
      • List of Legacy GSA Schedules
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Services
      • Discover tailored solutions to meet your contract needs – whether you need assistance assessing your current situation and obtaining the right GSA Schedule, or ensuring your awarded GSA Schedule Contract is up-to-date and compliant. Explore to learn more.
      • Obtain a GSA Schedule
      • Manage Your GSA Contract
      • GSA Advantage
      • GSA Streamlined Offer
      • GSA Contractor Assessment
      • GSA Audit Support
      • -
      • GSA Schedule Training
      • GSA Contract Modifications
      • Federal/State Contracts
      • GSA Contract Extension
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Resources
      • Explore a variety of resources ranging from educational materials and upcoming events to contracting news and exclusive reports. Explore to learn more.
      • Resource Types
      • Key Resources
      • Insights
      • Reports
      • -
      • Events
      • Webinars
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Contact
  • About
      • Providing full-service assistance to help businesses obtain and manage a GSA Schedule Contract Explore to learn more.
      • Our Team
      • Our Founder
      • Community Impact
      • Careers
      • Clients
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Get a GSA Schedule
      • Businesses, non-profits and educational institutions can obtain a GSA Schedule Contract to sell products and services to government customers. We'll help you navigate the GSA Schedule process. Explore to learn more.
      • GSA Schedule Beginner's Guide
      • GSA Schedule FAQ
      • GSA MAS Consolidation
      • Consolidated Schedule
      • GSA Post-Award Checklist
      • VA Schedule Contracts
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Industries
      • Industry Categories
      • Office Management
      • Facilities
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Human Capital
      • Industrial Products & Services
      • -
      • Information Technology
      • Miscellaneous
      • Professional Services
      • Scientific Solutions
      • -
      • Security & Protection
      • Transportation & Logistics
      • Travel
      • List of Legacy GSA Schedules
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Services
      • Discover tailored solutions to meet your contract needs – whether you need assistance assessing your current situation and obtaining the right GSA Schedule, or ensuring your awarded GSA Schedule Contract is up-to-date and compliant. Explore to learn more.
      • Obtain a GSA Schedule
      • Manage Your GSA Contract
      • GSA Advantage
      • GSA Streamlined Offer
      • GSA Contractor Assessment
      • GSA Audit Support
      • -
      • GSA Schedule Training
      • GSA Contract Modifications
      • Federal/State Contracts
      • GSA Contract Extension
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Resources
      • Explore a variety of resources ranging from educational materials and upcoming events to contracting news and exclusive reports. Explore to learn more.
      • Resource Types
      • Key Resources
      • Insights
      • Reports
      • -
      • Events
      • Webinars
      • Download the Beginner’s Guide
  • Contact
9/23/2021

NAICS Codes in Government Contracting

Insights Key Resources

According to the Census Bureau, the U.S. developed the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in collaboration with Mexico and Canada. The purpose of the system was to make it easier to analyze and compare economies by creating common industry definitions. Over the years, state, local, and federal agencies have adopted the system for a range of purposes.

Breaking Down the NAICS Code Structure

The official NAICS code structure consists of a two to six digit hierarchy of classifications with five levels of details. The 2-digit code indicates the economic sector, the three digit code includes the economic subsector, the four digit code includes the industry group, and the five digit code adds the industry. Since the classification systems applies to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the sixth digit allows for country-specific detail.Understanding NAICS Codes & NAICS Code Structure

Understanding NAICS Codes in Government Contracting

The full, 6-digit NAICS code plays a key role in government contracting. NAICS code applications span from registering to do business with the federal government, to determining your business size and conducting market research. With such a wide breadth of uses, it can be difficult to get far without understanding and knowing your NAICS codes.

  • Government Market Research
  • Business Size-Determination
  • System for Award Management Registration
  • GSA Schedule Contracts

Government Market Research

The federal government utilizes NAICS codes to classify government contract opportunities and awards. Whether your company is just getting started in the government market, is evaluating the addition of new offerings, or is looking to reassess the market, NAICS codes provide a great starting point for government market research.

Researching NAICS Codes can help you determine:

  • How much the government spends on your category of products or services
  • Which agencies are spending the most on your category of products or services
  • Which companies are currently selling your category of products or services to the government
  • If there are cyclical spending trends associated with your category of products or services
View the NAICS Code Government Spending Report

Business Size Determination

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) uses NAICS codes as a basis for determining business size-status. This is important because your business size-status impacts if you qualify for small business set-asides, small business subcontracting, and various small business government contracting programs.

SBA’s small business size threshold is determined by your average annual receipts or average number of employees, both of which vary depending on your NAICS code. For example, a software developer, cannot exceed $41.5 million in average annual receipts to be considered a small business. Computer programmers cannot exceed $30 million under NAICS code 541511 and management consulting firms under NAICS code 541611 cannot exceed $16.5 million. However, if you manufacture scales and balances under NAICS code 333997 or commercial lighting fixtures under 335122, you cannot exceed 500 average employees. To see the definition of annual receipts and average employees, view the common terms section on SBA’s website here.

To see if your company qualifies as a small business for government contracting, view the table of size standards or use SBA’s Size Standards Tool.

SAM Registration

In order to do business with the federal government, you’re required to register on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Part of the registration process involves entering the NAICS code or codes associated with your products or services. You can list multiple NAICS codes on your SAM registration, however you will have to designate a primary NAICS. While companies should register at https://www.sam.gov, you can find more information on how to register here.

GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contract

The GSA MAS Contract (GSA Schedule) maps all product and services categories, known as Special Item Numbers or SINs, to one or more NAICS codes. When GSA reorganized and consolidated the GSA Schedules program in October of 2019, they restructured all SINs to more closely mirror NAICS codes. For example, the SIN number for IT Software matches the corresponding NAICS code, 511210. However, the SIN for IT Professional Services is 54151S to distinguish the SIN from others that map to the same corresponding NAICS codes, 541511, 541512, 541513, and 541519. You can learn more about the GSA Schedule here.

There are over a thousand NAICS codes, however less than 230 NAICS codes can be offered through the GSA Contract.

Identifying Your NAICS Codes

NAICS Code Lookup

The Census Bureau website is the official government source for information on NAICS codes. Visit the Census Bureau website at https://www.census.gov/naics/ to view an FAQ, download the full list of NAICS codes, or search a NAICS code.

You can use the search feature on the website to lookup keywords related to your products and services to find the most applicable NAICS code(s). One note, the North American Industry Classification System is reviewed every five years to evaluate the need for updates. 2017 is the latest release, and the 2022 update is currently in progress.

As you explore the available NAICS codes, keep in mind, the classification system was created to collect and analyze statistical data on the economy. Since the system is not tailored to government procurement, it may take some time to identify the most appropriate NAICS codes for your business. For instance, you may be surprised to find no results for the keyword “cybersecurity”.  IT services companies, including health IT and cybersecurity providers, are typically associated with the NAICS codes under Industry 54151, Computer Systems Design and Related Services:

  • 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services
  • 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
  • 541513 Computer Facilities Management Services
  • 541519 Other Computer Related Services

Census NAICS Code Lookup

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
Type
  • Key Resources
  • Insights
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Webinars
Topics
  • Agency Spending
  • Cloud
  • COVID-19
  • Cybersecurity
  • Energy
  • GovCon
  • GSA Contract Holders
  • GSA Sales
  • Health IT
  • Intro to GovCon
  • Intro to GSA
  • IT
  • MAS Consolidation
  • Miscellaneous
  • New GSA SINs
  • Office Products
  • Products
  • Professional Services
  • Security
  • Services
  • Small Business
  • Solicitation Refresh
  • State/Local
  • VA Schedule
  • Veteran-Owned

You Might Also Like:

Insights
6/23/2022

A GSA MAS Contract or Channel Partner, Which Path is Right for You?

Insights
6/22/2022

GSA Refresh 13 Schedule-Wide & SIN Specific Changes

Stay Informed

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about latest news in government contracting and GSA Schedule Contracts.

Subscribe
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Federal Schedules has helped businesses of all sizes successfully obtain, manage and grow with GSA and VA Schedule Contracts for more than 35 years. As the leading government contracts consultant, FEDSched provides an unrivaled level of expertise and guidance businesses can trust to navigate the intricacies of the GSA Schedule Contract and stand out in the federal market space.

Federal Schedules GSA Schedule FAQ GSA BGuide download

FEDSched HQ

2325 Dulles Corner Boulevard, Suite 410
Herndon, VA 20171-4675
703-783-0080

Contact Us
Free Consultation

@FEDSched Latest Tweet

#GSA plans to issue updates to the #GSASchedule next week, to include changes to the #Cloud SIN 518210C and the retirement of two other SINs. Get a summary of Refresh 13 updates & see if any impact your #GSASchedule Contract. https://gsa.federalschedules.com/resources/gsa-refresh-13-schedule-wide-sin-specific-changes/?utm_source=socialmedia&utm_medium=twitter

© Copyright 2022 Federal Schedules, Inc

Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Scroll to top