R&DNAICS 541715

Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimental development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, such as agriculture, electronics, chemistry, biology, botany, biotechnology, and computers and software.

$46.3B
FYFY2026 Contract Spending
23.9%
of Total Spending
5+
Major Buying Agencies

Typical Services Contracted

Applied research
Experimental development
Technology demonstration
Prototype development
Testing and evaluation
Scientific analysis
Technology transfer
Laboratory services

Key Federal Agencies

Major federal agencies that purchase r&d services under this NAICS code.

Key Contract Vehicles

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

SBIR/STTR programsOTA (Other Transaction Authority)BAA (Broad Agency Announcements)CIO-SP4 (R&D)DOE National Lab partnershipsNASA research contracts

Market Trends & Opportunities

Current trends shaping federal procurement in this industry.

AI/ML research applications
Quantum computing research
Biotechnology and genomics
Clean energy technology
Autonomous systems
Hypersonic technology
Space technology

Competitive Landscape

Typical Competitors

  • National laboratories
  • University research institutions
  • FFRDCs (Federally Funded R&D Centers)
  • Large defense contractors
  • Small R&D companies

Entry Barriers

  • Technical expertise and credentials
  • Laboratory facilities and equipment
  • Security clearances
  • Past performance in R&D
  • Key personnel qualifications

Key Success Factors

  • Strong technical team (PhDs, scientists)
  • SBIR/STTR track record
  • Published research and patents
  • Laboratory capabilities
  • University and lab partnerships

Recommended Certifications

  • ISO 17025 (Testing laboratories)
  • Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • Security clearances (classified research)
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval
  • ITAR compliance (defense)

NAICS Classification

Code:541715
Parent:5417 - Scientific Research and Development Services
Category:R&D

Related NAICS Codes

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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.