FedFlash: February Finishes with a Flourish
Federal solicitation activity stays red-hot, ending the month 53% above baseline with civilian agencies matching the defense surge.
Welcome to the March 2nd edition of FedFlash. As we turn the calendar page, the federal marketplace is showing absolutely no signs of a "winter's end" slowdown. The week of February 23rd through March 1st saw a massive continuation of the high-volume trend we’ve tracked all February. Total opportunities on SAM.gov reached 5,456 postings, maintaining a significant lead over our rolling three-month weekly average of 3,566. At SAMClerk.com, our data indicates that agencies are aggressively pushing new requirements into the market as we approach the mid-point of the fiscal year.
Department & Agency Highlights
The DoD continues to be the primary engine of volume, contributing 3,885 opportunities last week—a 42% increase over its typical baseline. However, the most impressive growth continues to come from the civilian sector, where multiple departments are currently operating at double or triple their normal output.
Movers and shakers in the agency landscape included:
- The Department of Energy was our top mover by growth ratio, posting 86 opportunities—nearly 2.8x its recent weekly average.
- The Interior Department remained white-hot with 213 postings, 2.6x its usual rate.
- The GSA saw a major jump with 52 solicitations, 2.5x its baseline.
- The USDA stayed highly active with 134 new starts.
- The VA reached a new peak with 521 opportunities, a 75% increase over its standard volume.
SBA Set-Aside Trends
For SBA-certified firms, the landscape remains incredibly favorable. We tracked over 2,300 restricted opportunities last week. The government's reliance on small business partners is particularly evident in the civilian surges at Interior and Agriculture, which often utilize specific socioeconomic categories for their regional projects.
- Total Small Business Set-Asides led the way with 1,863 postings, up 51% from the baseline.
- SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) opportunities hit 298, continuing a very strong February trend.
- 8(a) Set-Asides and 8(a) Sole Source actions both saw significant growth, with the competitive 8(a) category more than doubling its baseline with 38 postings.
- HUBZone solicitations were steady with 56 opportunities.
- ISBEE (Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise) opportunities hit 28, nearly double the usual weekly rate.
- We also noted 6 EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business) opportunities, a 2.4x increase over baseline.
If you are looking to narrow down these set-asides by your specific NAICS code, the specialized filters at SAMClerk.com are your best tool for finding high-probability biddable work.
NAICS Code Movers and Shakers
Construction, manufacturing, and technical services are the clear winners in this week's data. We are seeing a major wave of infrastructure and utility-related work hitting the wire.
- 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) remains the volume leader with 296 postings.
- 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) surged with 194 opportunities, more than double its baseline.
- 237110 (Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction) was a top mover with 31 postings—over 3.5x its usual volume.
- 238160 (Roofing Contractors) nearly tripled its baseline with 24 new solicitations.
- 332919 (Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing) more than doubled its typical rate with 110 postings.
The Weekly Wrap-Up
In summary, the transition from February to March has been marked by a sustained high-volume environment. With total opportunities up 53% and civilian agencies like Energy and Interior showing massive growth ratios, there is a wealth of work outside of the traditional defense channels. For small businesses, the nearly 2x volume in 8(a) and ISBEE set-asides highlights a strategic window for certified firms.
The focus this week shifted heavily toward infrastructure construction 237110 and building trades 238160. As we move into March, these sectors often see increased activity for spring project starts. To stay ahead of the curve and ensure your firm is the first to know about these requirements, make SAMClerk.com a part of your daily routine.
See you next Monday for the next FedFlash!
Stop searching. Start Bidding.
Best,
D.J.
Founder, SAMClerk.com
Mar 2, 2026