IT ServicesNAICS 541511

Custom Computer Programming Services

Establishments primarily engaged in writing, modifying, testing, and supporting software to meet the needs of a particular customer.

$4.1B
FY2026 spending
5.5%
Of total spending
5+
Buying agencies
FY2026 NAICS 541511 prime awards from USASpending.gov·Prime contracts only, sub-contract spending excluded

Typical Services Contracted

Custom application development
Software modernization
Mobile application development
Web application development
Legacy system migration
API development and integration
Database development
Software testing and QA

Key Federal Agencies

Major federal agencies that purchase it services services under this NAICS code.

Key Contract Vehicles

Government-wide and agency-specific acquisition vehicles commonly used for this NAICS code.

GSA Schedule (IT)Alliant 2/3CIO-SP4STARS III (8(a))SEWP VAgency BPAs

Market Trends & Opportunities

Current trends shaping federal procurement in this industry.

Agile and DevSecOps
Cloud-native development
Microservices architecture
Low-code platforms
AI/ML integration
Containerization (Kubernetes)
API-first design

Competitive Landscape

Typical Competitors

  • Large systems integrators
  • Software development shops
  • Offshore/nearshore providers
  • Small business developers
  • Specialized product companies

Entry Barriers

  • Technical expertise
  • Past performance
  • Security clearances
  • Contract vehicle access
  • Agile/DevSecOps credentials

Key Success Factors

  • Agile methodology expertise
  • Modern technology stack
  • Security-first development
  • Quality track record
  • Talented development team

Recommended Certifications

  • CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration)
  • ISO 27001
  • SOC 2 Type II
  • FedRAMP (for SaaS/cloud)
  • Agile certifications (SAFe, Scrum)
  • DevSecOps credentials

NAICS Classification

Code:541511
Parent:5415 - Computer Systems Design and Related Services
Category:IT Services

Related NAICS Codes

Computer Systems Design541512
Other Computer Services541519
Data Processing & Hosting518210
Software Publishers511210
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Contract spending data sourced from USASpending.gov, the official source for federal spending data. NAICS codes from the U.S. Census Bureau.