The September Sprint: Capturing Year End Federal Contracting Dollars
As any federal contractor will tell you, this is the busiest stretch of the federal buying cycle as agencies work to obligate remaining budgets. Year-to-date federal spending stands at $516.8 billion, and this figure will only grow as additional defense dollars are reported and all accounts are fully obligated. Could we reach $700 Billion? Very likely, especially with over 9,878 opportunities currently available on SAM.gov as of 8/31/2025—not including those posted on e-buy or other contracting vehicles.
A Look at Current Opportunities
Of the 9,878 active listings on SAM.gov:
-
3,316 fall into early-stage notices (special notices, pre-solicitations, sources sought).
-
The remaining 66% are solicitations, combined notices, and modifications—where the real contracting action is happening.
| Type of Notice | Count of Agency |
| Special Notices | 502 |
| Pre-Solicitations | 2085 |
| Sources Sought Notices | 729 |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitations | 3790 |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Modifications | 634 |
| Solicitation Modifications | 2138 |
| Grand Total | 9878 |
It’s important to note that this is a high-level overview. Results become much more relevant as you refine searches by keyword, NAICS, or place of performance—a best practice for anyone serious about finding winnable work.
Top Agencies by Open Opportunities
In terms of agencies that have open opportunities, the Defense Logistics Agency(DLA) leads, followed by the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Civilian agencies such as the VA, Interior, and State show significant activity.
| Agency | Number of Open Opp in Sam.gov |
| DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY | 3153 |
| DEPT OF THE NAVY | 1900 |
| DEPT OF THE ARMY | 1104 |
| DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | 710 |
| VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF | 577 |
| INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE | 451 |
| STATE, DEPARTMENT OF | 317 |
| AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF | 277 |
| HOMELAND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF | 266 |
| HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF | 206 |
Dept of State is on the list too, with most of the notices for work at the various US embassies around the world.
The Set-Aside Picture
3960, or 40% of the total open opportunities are set-aside, with 33% of the total opportunities being set aside as "Total Small Business Set-Aside". SDVOSB set-asides are second at 363 opportunities, followed by WOSB. This aligns with the US SBA's small business contracting goals for federal agencies which varies by agency, however SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, and SDB are set at 5% across the board.
| Type of Set-Aside | Number of Open Opp in Sam.gov |
| Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) | 3319 |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside | 363 |
| Women-Owned Small Business | 70 |
| Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and | 52 |
| HUBZone Set Aside | 42 |
| 8a Competed | 37 |
| 8(a) Sole Source | 22 |
| Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and Indian Health Ser | 11 |
| SDVOSB Sole Source | 9 |
| Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and Indian Health Services) | 7 |
| Veteran Set Aside | 7 |
| Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and Indian Health Services) | 4 |
| Local Area Set-Aside (FAR 26.2) | 4 |
| Partial Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) | 4 |
| Buy Indian Set-Aside (specific to Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services) | 3 |
| Women-Owned Small Business Sole Source | 3 |
| HUBZone Sole Source | 1 |
| SBA Certified Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB) Program Set-Aside (FAR 19.15) | 1 |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14) | 1 |
1,094 opportunities have "No Set-Aside Used," and more than 4,000 opportunities do not indicate any status. Many opportunities released in sam.gov may not have a set-aside used to gather an understanding of the interested vendors and solutions that they bring to the table.
What the NAICS Data Shows
Top NAICS codes mainly comprise of manufacturing codes, with construction in the mix for the top 10 NAICS. Given that DLA has more than 3,000 opportunities, it makes sense to see the NAICS codes we see.
| NAICS Code | NAICS Description | No. of Opportunities |
| 336413 | Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing | 643 |
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | 298 |
| 332722 | Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivel and Washer Manufacturing | 208 |
| 332510 | Hardware Manufacturing | 202 |
| 332919 | Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing | 178 |
| 334516 | Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing | 175 |
| 334419 | Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 155 |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors | 153 |
| 339991 | Gasket, Packing, and Sealing Device Manufacturing | 145 |
| 333998 | All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing | 141 |
Expiring Contracts & Future Opportunities
More than $223 billion in contracts are set to expire in September alone. Many will be recompeted or extended—creating opportunities for businesses with past performance, relationships, or teaming strategies in place.
So what is a company supposed to do?
Is everything lost, given that we have 28 days left? This is definitely not the month to focus on creating new relationships or long-term opportunities, but rather to focus on what is there.
- Target with precision: Track opportunities based on what you do best and respond to them. Use keywords, NAICS, place of performance, and set-asides as filters
- Leverage your schedule/vehicle: Monitor your opportunities regularly and ensure you are ready to respond quickly
- Engage with your existing network: Reach out to your network, both within the government and industry, especially with those you have a prime/sub or teaming relationship with
- Track expiring contracts: Look at the contracts that are expiring and could be recompeted. Do you know the agency? Do you have past performance? Do you have a schedule? Is it something that maybe you could sub on?
Bottom Line
Yes, September is hectic. Yes, it’s competitive. But with nearly $200 billion still in play before year-end, this is also the month when preparation meets opportunity. The key is to stay focused, responsive, and ready to act. With the right strategy, this last month of FY25 can be a strong finish—and a launchpad for the year ahead.