NAICS 541511: Custom Computer Programming Services
Covers writing, modifying, testing, and supporting custom software to meet a specific customer's needs — custom application development, systems integration coding, and web application development for government agencies.
Federal contracts awarded under NAICS 541511
Since Oct 2024, federal agencies recorded 9,625 contract awards under NAICS 541511, obligating $22.0B. The largest buyer was the Department of Defense ($8.5B).
Top buying agencies
- 1. Department of Defense$8.5B
- 2. Department of Health and Human Services$3.0B
- 3. Department of Veterans Affairs$1.7B
- 4. Department of Homeland Security$1.6B
- 5. General Services Administration$1.3B
Recent awards
- Department of Veterans Affairs · 2027-08-27
Audio visual equipment
- Federal Communications Commission · 2027-06-14
News clipping service
- Department of Veterans Affairs · 2027-02-23
Bpa for equipment relocation to support ehrm infrastructure construction projects.
- Booz Allen Hamilton INC$14.1MNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · 2027-02-01
Centralized integrated real-time repository for unified services (cirrus) phase 2 capabilities. this effort supports the noaa/nws by…
- Department of Veterans Affairs · 2027-01-01
Mim maestro software
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · 2027-01-01
Machine learning assisted electronic monitoring of west coast fixed gear fisheries for the northwest fisheries science center.…
Source: USASpending.gov contract award data, refreshed weekly.Search awards
What work falls under NAICS 541511
- Custom application and web development
- Legacy system modernization and migration coding
- API development and systems integration programming
- Agile development teams delivering custom software
How to win contracts under this code
- Register in SAM.gov with 541511 as a primary or secondary NAICS code, and confirm you're under the size standard for set-aside eligibility.
- Set a SAM.gov saved search for NAICS 541511 filtered to your set-aside types and places of performance.
- Build a capability statement that leads with this code and your most relevant past performance.
- For each solicitation, build a compliance matrix before writing — most losses under this code are compliance losses.
Win more NAICS 541511 contracts
Create a free account to track current 541511 opportunities, build a capability statement that leads with this code, and draft compliant proposals — all in one place.
Frequently asked questions
541511 vs 541512 — which should I use?
Use 541511 when the work is primarily writing custom code; 541512 when it's designing/integrating systems (which may include some development). Many IT firms register both — your SAM profile can list multiple NAICS, and the solicitation's chosen code controls the size standard.
What is the small business size standard for 541511?
$34M in average annual receipts (5-year average). The vast majority of development shops qualify as small, which keeps set-aside competition meaningful.
Full industry guide: Software Development Government Contracts — including state-by-state pages for Texas, California, Florida, and more.