NAICS 541512 — Computer Systems Design Services
Custom integration and system design for federal IT modernization, mission-system delivery, and cyber engineering. Largest single subcategory of federal IT services spend.
Quick facts
Top federal customers
Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 541512 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.
- 1.Department of Defense
- 2.Department of Veterans Affairs
- 3.Department of Homeland Security
- 4.Health and Human Services
- 5.Treasury
Set-aside fit
Whether NAICS 541512 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)
Highest-volume set-aside NAICS for IT services. Many GSA MAS / GWAC / OASIS-type vehicles are awarded under 541512 for small businesses.
Frequent prime contractors
Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 541512 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.
- Leidos
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- CACI International
- SAIC
- General Dynamics IT
- Peraton
- Accenture Federal
- Maximus
- IBM
- Deloitte Consulting
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.
- DFARS 252.204-7012Safeguarding Covered Defense Information
Standard flowdown on every DoD IT services contract. NIST SP 800-171 implementation is the long pole.
- DFARS 252.239-7000 to 7018Telecommunications and Information Services suite
Applies when the contract delivers telecom or networked information services to DoD.
- FAR 52.227-19Commercial Computer Software License
Default treatment for commercial software delivered to the government. Open-source flowdown trips firms up.
- FAR 52.219-14Limitations on Subcontracting
Services limitation (50% of personnel cost self-performance). Bites IT primes who lean on large-business subs.
Indirect rate considerations
IT services firms typically run fringe / overhead / G&A. Many add a separate site overhead pool for client-site work because on-site labor carries different facility cost burdens than home-office labor. Watch for misallocation between fringe and overhead, a top DCAA finding.
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 541512
DCAA-compliant timekeeping (every IT services hour gets billed to a contract line), Indirect Rate Engine, and project P&L for cost-reimbursable T&M and CPFF tasks. The cybersecurity readiness add-on aligns with NIST 800-171 evidence under DFARS 252.204-7012.
Frequently asked
- What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541512?
- The SBA size standard for NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) is $34 million in average annual receipts, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.
- Is NAICS 541512 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?
- Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Highest-volume set-aside NAICS for IT services. Many GSA MAS / GWAC / OASIS-type vehicles are awarded under 541512 for small businesses.
- Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 541512?
- For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 541512 were Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Treasury. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
- What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 541512 contracts?
- Frequent clause flowdowns include DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information); DFARS 252.239-7000 to 7018 (Telecommunications and Information Services suite); FAR 52.227-19 (Commercial Computer Software License); 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 541512?
- IT services firms typically run fringe / overhead / G&A. Many add a separate site overhead pool for client-site work because on-site labor carries different facility cost burdens than home-office labor. Watch for misallocation between fringe and overhead, a top DCAA finding.
- How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 541512?
- DCAA-compliant timekeeping (every IT services hour gets billed to a contract line), Indirect Rate Engine, and project P&L for cost-reimbursable T&M and CPFF tasks. The cybersecurity readiness add-on aligns with NIST 800-171 evidence under DFARS 252.204-7012.
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 541512
- 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.