What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 517111?

The SBA size standard for NAICS 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.

Is NAICS 517111 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?

Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Major carriers dominate large vehicles. SDVOSB and 8(a) firms participate as resellers and value-added providers.

Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 517111?

For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 517111 were Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.

What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 517111 contracts?

Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.239-1 (Privacy or Security Safeguards); DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information); FAR 52.227-19 (Commercial Computer Software License); FAR 52.212-4 (Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services); FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.

Information & Telecommunications

NAICS 517111 — Wired Telecommunications Carriers

Wired telecommunications service providers. Federal use includes Networx and EIS contract vehicles, military base telecom, and federal-agency wired services.

2017 NAICS mapping: 517311 — 2017 NAICS used 517311. The 2022 revision renumbered the code to 517111.

Quick facts

SBA size standard: 1,500 employees; Average employee headcount · 13 C.F.R. § 121.201
FY2024 federal obligations: $2B–$5B; See live USAspending.gov data →

Top federal customers

Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 517111 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.

1.Department of Defense
2.General Services Administration
3.Department of Veterans Affairs
4.Department of Homeland Security
5.Department of Justice

Set-aside fit

Whether NAICS 517111 commonly carries set-aside designations on federal awards. Eligibility for any specific solicitation is set by the contracting officer; this table reflects the FY2024 award pattern, not a guarantee of set-aside status.

SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)
8(a) Business Development Program
HUBZone Small Business
WOSB / EDWOSB
VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business)

Major carriers dominate large vehicles. SDVOSB and 8(a) firms participate as resellers and value-added providers.

Frequent prime contractors

Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 517111 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.

AT&T Government Solutions
Verizon Federal
Lumen Federal
Comcast Business
Cox Communications
CenturyLink (Lumen)
Granite Telecommunications
Windstream Federal
Hawaiian Telcom
Frontier Communications

See live award data on USAspending.gov →

Common FAR / DFARS clauses

Frequently flowed-down clauses on contracts in this NAICS. The clause text on acquisition.gov is authoritative; this list captures the practical pattern, not an exhaustive flowdown.

FAR 52.239-1Privacy or Security Safeguards
Standard telecom-services privacy and security flowdown.
DFARS 252.204-7012Safeguarding Covered Defense Information
NIST 800-171 mandatory for DoD telecom contracts.
FAR 52.227-19Commercial Computer Software License
Network management software flows under commercial-license rules.
FAR 52.212-4Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services
Most telecom services awarded as FAR Part 12 commercial items.
FAR 52.219-14Limitations on Subcontracting
Services-based limitation on set-aside resellers.

Indirect rate considerations

Mostly commercial-item pricing under FAR Part 12. FAR Part 31 indirect rates apply on cost-reimbursable engineering and managed-services tasks. Resellers structure around materials-handling on equipment pass-through.

See FieldLedger's Indirect Rate Engine for pool definition and rate tracking, or read the FieldLedger methodology for the underlying FAR Part 31 framework.

How FieldLedger fits NAICS 517111

Indirect Rate Engine for the cost-reimbursable engineering portion of telecom contracts. Multi-CLIN invoicing for service-line billing. QuickBooks sync for GL alignment.

DCAA compliance →Indirect Rate Engine →DCAA readiness check →

Frequently asked

What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 517111?: The SBA size standard for NAICS 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.
Is NAICS 517111 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?: Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Major carriers dominate large vehicles. SDVOSB and 8(a) firms participate as resellers and value-added providers.
Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 517111?: For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 517111 were Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 517111 contracts?: Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.239-1 (Privacy or Security Safeguards); DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information); FAR 52.227-19 (Commercial Computer Software License); FAR 52.212-4 (Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services); FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.
What indirect-rate structure works for a federal contractor in NAICS 517111?: Mostly commercial-item pricing under FAR Part 12. FAR Part 31 indirect rates apply on cost-reimbursable engineering and managed-services tasks. Resellers structure around materials-handling on equipment pass-through.
How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 517111?: Indirect Rate Engine for the cost-reimbursable engineering portion of telecom contracts. Multi-CLIN invoicing for service-line billing. QuickBooks sync for GL alignment.

Sources

U.S. Census NAICS manual — census.gov/naics
SBA size-standards table — 13 C.F.R. § 121.201 (eCFR)
Federal obligations + prime awardees — USAspending.gov NAICS 517111
FAR / DFARS clause text — acquisition.gov

Snapshot date: 2026-05-08 (FY2024 reporting period). Federal-obligation bands and prime-contractor lists reflect the data as of the snapshot — refresh against USAspending.gov for current figures.