What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541310?

The SBA size standard for NAICS 541310 (Architectural Services) is $12.5 million in average annual receipts, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.

Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 541310?

For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 541310 were U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.

What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 541310 contracts?

Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.236-23 (Responsibility of the Architect-Engineer Contractor); FAR 36.609-2 (Redesign Responsibility for Design Errors or Deficiencies); FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting); FAR 52.227-17 (Rights in Data — Special Works). 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.

Professional, Scientific, Technical Services

NAICS 541310 — Architectural Services

Architectural design for federal buildings, military construction (MILCON), VA medical facilities, and GSA federal property. Brooks Act qualifications-based selection governs most awards.

Quick facts

SBA size standard: $12.5 million; Average annual receipts · 13 C.F.R. § 121.201
FY2024 federal obligations: $500M–$1B; See live USAspending.gov data →

Top federal customers

Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 541310 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.

1.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2.Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
3.General Services Administration
4.Department of Veterans Affairs
5.Air Force Civil Engineer Center

Set-aside fit

Whether NAICS 541310 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)

Brooks Act selection means price is not the primary evaluation factor. SDVOSB and 8(a) firms compete on qualifications via SF 330 submissions.

Frequent prime contractors

Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 541310 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.

HDR
AECOM
Jacobs Solutions
Stantec
HOK
SmithGroup
Leo A Daly
Page Southerland Page
Gensler
RS&H

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 52.236-23Responsibility of the Architect-Engineer Contractor
Standard A-E clause. Contractor liable for design errors and omissions.
FAR 36.609-2Redesign Responsibility for Design Errors or Deficiencies
A-E firm bears redesign cost when bid prices exceed funding due to design issues.
FAR 52.219-14Limitations on Subcontracting
Services-based limitation on set-aside awards.
FAR 52.227-17Rights in Data — Special Works
A-E deliverables (drawings, specifications) carry special-works data rights.

Indirect rate considerations

Architecture firms run fringe / overhead / G&A. Direct labor includes principal time billed at higher rates. Travel and reproduction costs flow through direct on most A-E task orders. FAR 31.205-18 IR&D rarely material.

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 541310

Signed timekeeping with project-level coding. Indirect Rate Engine for the FAR Part 31 audit. Multi-CLIN invoicing maps to A-E task orders under IDIQ vehicles.

DCAA compliance →Indirect Rate Engine →DCAA readiness check →

Frequently asked

What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541310?: The SBA size standard for NAICS 541310 (Architectural Services) is $12.5 million in average annual receipts, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.
Is NAICS 541310 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?: Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Brooks Act selection means price is not the primary evaluation factor. SDVOSB and 8(a) firms compete on qualifications via SF 330 submissions.
Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 541310?: For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 541310 were U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 541310 contracts?: Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.236-23 (Responsibility of the Architect-Engineer Contractor); FAR 36.609-2 (Redesign Responsibility for Design Errors or Deficiencies); FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting); FAR 52.227-17 (Rights in Data — Special Works). 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 541310?: Architecture firms run fringe / overhead / G&A. Direct labor includes principal time billed at higher rates. Travel and reproduction costs flow through direct on most A-E task orders. FAR 31.205-18 IR&D rarely material.
How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 541310?: Signed timekeeping with project-level coding. Indirect Rate Engine for the FAR Part 31 audit. Multi-CLIN invoicing maps to A-E task orders under IDIQ vehicles.

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 541310
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.