Professional & Consulting Firms & federal contracts in Arkansas
In FY2024, federal agencies awarded about $24 million in professional services contracts to firms in Arkansas — 39th-most among the states, roughly 3.1% of all federal contracting in the state.
Figures: USAspending.gov, prime federal contract awards under NAICS 5416, FY2024. Historical award totals — how much has flowed, not a promise of future work.
Register under the right codes
For professional services work, the relevant NAICS codes are generally 5416. Use the ones that match what you actually do:
- Federal: register on SAM.gov and add those NAICS codes to your profile.
- Arkansas state & local: register on ARBuy — https://arbuy.arkansas.gov/bso/ — and select the matching commodity/NAICS codes.
Arkansas is migrating to a new system — confirm the current portal on the state procurement site before registering.
Confirm the exact codes and current steps with the agency, and check the address ends in .gov before entering business information. Process guidance, not legal or procurement advice.
Find professional services bids in Arkansas
- Federal: filter Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov by NAICS 5416 and place of performance.
- State: set up notifications on ARBuy for those codes so Arkansas solicitations reach you.
- Local: check county, city, and school-district procurement pages for professional services work.
Who buys professional services in Arkansas?
The federal buyers below accounted for the largest FY2024 prime-contract totals in this industry and state. Use them to understand buyer concentration, then verify current opportunities directly on SAM.gov.
| Federal awarding agency | FY2024 prime awards |
|---|---|
| Department of Energy | $9M |
| Department of Defense | $9M |
Source: USAspending.gov prime-contract awarding agencies, FY2024. Historical awards show prior purchasing activity; they do not guarantee current or future solicitations.
Small-business set-asides
A share of Arkansas's federal contracting is reserved for small businesses through set-aside programs (small business, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB). If your firm qualifies, these can be the most winnable professional services opportunities.
Eligibility rules are specific and change. Check SBA.gov and verify your eligibility before relying on any set-aside. Educational, not a determination that you qualify.
Be bid-ready
A clear, professional services-specific capability statement and current registrations make a small firm look established next to bigger competitors. That's what BidReady Starter™ helps you build.
Get bid-ready, faster
BidReady Starter™ gives small contractors a capabilities-ready bid presentation and a registration roadmap — so you look established when the opportunity comes.
FAQ
In FY2024 about $24 million in federal prime contracts went to professional services firms in Arkansas (USAspending.gov), roughly 3.1% of the state's federal contracting. These are historical totals — a measure of money flow, not a guarantee of future work.
Professional & Consulting Firms generally fall under NAICS 5416. Select the codes that match your specific work when you register on SAM.gov and ARBuy, so agencies and bid systems match you to relevant solicitations. Confirm the exact codes for your business.