NAICS 541330 — Engineering Services
Firms applying engineering principles to design buildings, machinery, processes, and systems. Federal work concentrates in DoD weapon systems, Corps of Engineers civil works, NASA mission engineering, and Department of Energy environmental systems.
Quick facts
- SBA size standard
- $25.5 million
- Average annual receipts · 13 C.F.R. § 121.201
- Higher exception caps apply to military and aerospace equipment engineering ($47M) and contracts for the Department of Energy ($47M). See 13 CFR 121.201 footnotes 5, 6.
Top federal customers
Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 541330 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.
- 1.Department of Defense
- 2.NASA
- 3.Department of Energy
- 4.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- 5.Department of Veterans Affairs
Set-aside fit
Whether NAICS 541330 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)
High-volume set-aside NAICS. Many SDVOSB sole-source awards run through 541330 because of the size-standard headroom and the breadth of agency demand.
Frequent prime contractors
Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 541330 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.
- Leidos
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- CACI International
- SAIC
- Jacobs Solutions
- AECOM
- Parsons Corporation
- KBR
- ManTech International
- Battelle Memorial Institute
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 52.219-14Limitations on Subcontracting
Set-aside primes performing engineering services must self-perform at least 50% of personnel costs (services-based limitation).
- FAR 52.227-14Rights in Data — General
Engineering deliverables almost always trigger data-rights flowdown. Mark restricted data carefully; default position favors the government.
- DFARS 252.204-7012Safeguarding Covered Defense Information
DoD engineering work routinely involves Controlled Unclassified Information. NIST SP 800-171 compliance required when CDI flows down.
- FAR 31.205-18Independent Research and Development (IR&D)
Engineering firms commonly run IR&D programs; allowable as indirect cost subject to FAR 31.205-18 documentation rules.
Indirect rate considerations
Engineering firms typically run a fringe / overhead / G&A three-pool structure with overhead split between site and home office. IR&D and Bid & Proposal costs require their own G&A treatment under FAR 31.205-18 and 31.205-27. Mid-size firms often add a materials handling pool.
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 541330
Indirect Rate Engine, signed timekeeping (DCAA-compliant), and project-level P&L. Engineering services contractors live or die on rate-defense documentation. FieldLedger is the evidence trail behind the rate.
Frequently asked
- What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541330?
- The SBA size standard for NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) is $25.5 million in average annual receipts, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201. Higher exception caps apply to military and aerospace equipment engineering ($47M) and contracts for the Department of Energy ($47M). See 13 CFR 121.201 footnotes 5, 6.
- Is NAICS 541330 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?
- Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. High-volume set-aside NAICS. Many SDVOSB sole-source awards run through 541330 because of the size-standard headroom and the breadth of agency demand.
- Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 541330?
- For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 541330 were Department of Defense, NASA, Department of Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
- What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 541330 contracts?
- Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting); FAR 52.227-14 (Rights in Data — General); DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information); FAR 31.205-18 (Independent Research and Development (IR&D)). 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 541330?
- Engineering firms typically run a fringe / overhead / G&A three-pool structure with overhead split between site and home office. IR&D and Bid & Proposal costs require their own G&A treatment under FAR 31.205-18 and 31.205-27. Mid-size firms often add a materials handling pool.
- How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 541330?
- Indirect Rate Engine, signed timekeeping (DCAA-compliant), and project-level P&L. Engineering services contractors live or die on rate-defense documentation. FieldLedger is the evidence trail behind the rate.
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 541330
- 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.