DoD Contracts for Small Business in 2026-2027: Where the Money Is and How to Get In

The Department of Defense obligated about $492 billion on contracts in fiscal 2025, and about $103 billion of that went to small businesses. Most small-business work is found on SAM.gov or through a prime. Start with an APEX Accelerator, a SPRS score and one DoD component that buys what you sell.

What DoD contract thresholds matter?

These are federal-wide numbers, so they apply to civilian agencies too (except TINA, which differs). See the full 2026-2027 thresholds table.

Which DoD offices buy from small businesses?

The surprise for most people is the Defense Logistics Agency. DLA spent about $24 billion with small businesses in FY2025, nearly as much as the Army. It buys parts, fuel, food, clothing, and supplies, often in small, frequent orders. If you make or distribute a physical product, start there.

What does DoD buy from small businesses?

Engineering, research and development, and building construction lead. Notice how much is manufacturing and wholesale. DoD is not only a services market.

What is changing in 2026-2027?

• CMMC Phase 2 is suspended. DoD paused it on July 13, 2026, before its November 10 start, and the review that followed has not produced new rules yet. Revised requirements are expected sometime this fall. But self-assessments, SPRS scores, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST SP 800-171 still apply. Read our CMMC 2026-2027 guide.
• SBIR and STTR are back. The programs lapsed after September 30, 2025 and were reauthorized April 13, 2026 through September 30, 2031. Starting in FY2027 agencies may cap how many proposals one company can submit, so pick your topics carefully.
• FY2027 starts on a continuing resolution. Funding runs through December 11, 2026 and new defense starts are generally blocked until full-year bills pass. Expect a slow first quarter and a crowded spring.
• The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program is permanent. Congress made it permanent in the FY2023 NDAA, so a prime can invest in you without the program expiring under you.

Where does DoD post work before it is on SAM.gov?

• DoD Office of Small Business Programs forecast links (Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense agencies each post their own)
• Air Force forecast search
• Daily DoD contract announcements, every award of $7.5 million or more, posted each business day at 5 p.m. Read them to learn who's winning and who might need subs.

How do you win your first DoD contract?

1. Visit your APEX Accelerator. DoD funds 92 of them, and they're free. Their clients won $64.9 billion in contracts in their last reported year.
2. Post a SPRS score before you need it. Even with CMMC Phase 2 paused, many DoD contracts require a current NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment score in SPRS. No score, no award.
3. Look at DLA if you sell products. Small, repeat purchases add up and build the past performance bigger contracts ask for.
4. Read the daily contract announcements for a month. You'll learn which primes win your kind of work. Those are the primes to call about subcontracting.
5. Find the small business professional at the base near you. Every major installation has one. Their job is connecting you to buyers.
6. Answer sources sought notices. That's how a contracting officer learns two small businesses can do the work, which is what triggers a set-aside.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does DoD spend with small businesses?

About $103 billion in contract obligations in fiscal 2025, based on USAspending.gov data. DoD's FY2025 small business prime goal was 23.17%, and it earned an A on SBA's scorecard.

Do I need CMMC certification for DoD contracts in 2026?

CMMC Phase 2 third-party assessments were suspended July 13, 2026. Phase 1 self-assessments, SPRS score posting, and DFARS 252.204-7012 still apply when your contract involves controlled unclassified information.

Is SBIR open in 2026?

Yes. Congress reauthorized SBIR and STTR on April 13, 2026, through September 30, 2031, after a lapse that began October 1, 2025.

Where does DoD announce contract awards?

DoD posts every contract award of $7.5 million or more on its daily contract announcements page each business day at 5 p.m. Eastern.

How do I find DoD contracts as a small business?

Search SAM.gov for your NAICS code, read the DoD component acquisition forecasts, and watch the daily contract announcements to see which primes win. Then answer sources sought notices and call the small business office at the installation nearest you.

What is the biggest DoD buyer of small business work?

In FY2025 the Army led at about $26.4 billion to small businesses, followed closely by the Defense Logistics Agency at about $24.2 billion and the Navy at about $22.1 billion.

Do I need a SPRS score to win a DoD contract?

Often, yes. Contracts involving controlled unclassified information require a current NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment score posted in SPRS. Keep it accurate, because self-reported scores are the main compliance evidence while CMMC third-party assessments are paused.