Use buyer language
Search the words agencies use in solicitations, not only the words you use on your website.
Free GovCon Tool
NAICS Code Lookup for Government Contracts
Describe what your company sells and get a practical NAICS research starter list, SAM.gov keyword ideas, and a Marcus prompt. Always verify final NAICS and size-standard decisions with official SBA and Census sources.
Draft Output
Fill in the inputs and click Build NAICS Plan. Your NAICS research plan will appear here.
This tool gives research starting points, not legal or official certification advice.
Verify size standards
NAICS codes affect small business size standards. Confirm the official rule before relying on a code.
Test multiple codes
Most companies need a short list of likely codes, then evidence from real opportunities.
Why NAICS matters
NAICS affects how opportunities are categorized, how set-asides are evaluated, and which size standard may apply. A weak code choice can hide good notices or put you in the wrong competitive lane.
How to verify
Use this page as a research starter, then verify descriptions with official NAICS resources and confirm small business size standards with SBA before making a certification or bid decision.
What to do next
Turn the shortlist into a SAM.gov search plan, test it against live results, and use the bid/no-bid scorecard before pursuing a notice.
Do not force one code
Many businesses need a short list of candidate codes. Test each code against real notices and keep the ones that consistently return work you can actually perform.
Match the scope
The right code follows the principal purpose of the contract. A software support project, cybersecurity assessment, staffing requirement, and construction job may use very different codes.
Keep notes
Record why each code is on your list, which agencies use it, and whether your company is small under the applicable size standard before relying on it in a pursuit.
Compare real notices
Open several SAM.gov notices that look close to your work and compare the NAICS, title, scope, and evaluation language. Real buyer usage is better evidence than guessing from a code title.
Separate prime and sub lanes
A code that is too broad for you as a prime may still reveal subcontracting targets. Track which codes are realistic for prime bids and which are better for teaming.
Update your profile
Once you verify the short list, add it to your GovScout Business Profile so Marcus can use it when evaluating opportunities, saved searches, and pursuit fit.
GovScout field note: do not pick NAICS from the title alone
The best NAICS choice usually comes from the principal purpose of the work, not the most familiar label. Compare the scope, deliverables, buyer office, and size standard before relying on a code for a pursuit decision.
| Signal | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Scope language | What the contractor must actually deliver | Prevents forcing a familiar code onto the wrong work |
| Buyer office | Program office, facility, contracting office, and agency pattern | Shows how that buyer normally categorizes the work |
| Size standard | SBA size threshold for the candidate code | Determines whether small-business eligibility is realistic |
| Search results | Whether SAM.gov returns notices your company can perform | Turns code selection into evidence instead of guessing |