FedFlash: Staying Strong Through the Holiday Break
Federal activity remains 22% above baseline despite the mid-week holiday pause.
Welcome to this week's edition of FedFlash for January 26, 2026. This past week included the
Department & Agency Highlights
The DoD continues to be the primary engine of government contracting, contributing 2,829 opportunities this week—a 14% increase over its typical baseline. However, the most aggressive movement came from civilian agencies that are clearly working to get solicitations out before the end of the month.
Movers and shakers in the agency landscape included:
- The USDA continues its hot streak, posting 64 opportunities, which is nearly 3x its usual weekly volume.
- The Interior Department saw 77 new postings, more than doubling its recent average.
- The DHS remained high on the list with 122 opportunities.
- The VA posted 313 opportunities, a nearly 50% jump from its standard weekly output.
- NASA and the Commerce Department both more than doubled their baseline activity with 13 and 20 opportunities, respectively.
SBA Set-Aside Trends
For SBA-certified businesses, the volume of restricted work remains very high. Total Small Business Set-Asides accounted for 1,232 of the week's opportunities. We are also seeing a notable surge in specific socioeconomic categories.
- SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) opportunities hit 226, a massive 70% increase over the baseline average.
- 8(a) Set-Asides saw 21 new starts, more than double the usual weekly count.
- HUBZone solicitations stood at 42, double the typical rate.
- ISBEE (Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise) opportunities were active with 17 postings, primarily from the Interior Department.
The WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) program saw 31 postings. While this remains below the rolling average, we did note a spike in WOSB Sole Source actions, suggesting agencies are utilizing direct-award authorities more frequently this month. You can track these direct-award trends specifically at SAMClerk.com.
NAICS Code Movers and Shakers
The mix of requirements shifted significantly this week, with a heavy emphasis on specialized technical services and facility maintenance alongside the standard aircraft parts volume.
- 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) led in pure volume with 209 postings.
- 541380 (Testing Laboratories) was a major breakout mover with 27 postings—nearly 6x the usual weekly volume.
- 238210 (Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors) saw 22 opportunities, a 4.7x jump.
- 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors) tripled its output with 46 postings.
- 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) remained a high-growth area with 21 opportunities.
The Weekly Wrap-Up
Despite the
The technical services sector, particularly in testing labs 541380 and electrical contracting 238210, is seeing unprecedented growth this month. If you are operating in these niches, you are in the right place at the right time. For the most up-to-date and searchable data on these trends, head over to SAMClerk.com to power your business development.
Stay active, stay winning, and we will see you next Monday!
Stop searching. Start Bidding.
Best,
D.J.
Founder, SAMClerk.com
Jan 26, 2026