NAICS 541611 covers administrative management and general management consulting services for program management, process improvement, strategy, and operations support. With $4.3B in annual awards across 5,404 posted contracts, this category shows consistent demand from health, security, and international development agencies. Below is a practical guide to where the money is, how agencies buy, and how small businesses can compete.

TL;DR

NAICS 541611 = administrative management and general management consulting (program management, process improvement, strategy, operations support).
The market is $4.3B in awards over the last year across 5,404 posted contracts, with 1,049 active winning companies.
IDIQ and BPA vehicles dominate with task-order competitions for PMO, change management, and analytics support.
Best-value tradeoff is more common than lowest price—technical approach, staffing, and past performance matter.
Small-business friendly via SB, 8(a), SDVOSB, and HUBZone set-asides.
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Live NAICS 541611 Market Data

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NAICS 541611: How to Win Federal Management Consulting Work in 2025

Federal management consulting operates differently than construction or IT services. Success requires demonstrating deep mission understanding, assembling specialized teams with relevant clearances, and building past performance across specific agency programs and initiatives.

Unlike product or software sales where features drive selection, consulting awards hinge on past performance relevance, key personnel qualifications, and technical approach quality. Price matters, but rarely as the sole deciding factor.

What NAICS 541611 Covers

NAICS 541611 encompasses administrative management and general management consulting services, including:

Program management: PMO support, project planning, risk management, stakeholder coordination
Strategic planning: Organizational assessments, strategic roadmaps, mission analysis
Process improvement: Lean Six Sigma, business process reengineering, workflow optimization
Change management: Organizational transformation, training programs, adoption strategies
Operations support: Grants management, performance measurement, data analytics
Policy development: Regulatory analysis, policy formulation, compliance frameworks

The key distinction from other consulting codes is that 541611 focuses on general management and administrative functions rather than specialized areas like IT consulting (541512), HR consulting (541612), or marketing consulting (541613). See all NAICS codes and their descriptions →

Who Buys 541611 (Major Agencies & Components)

Federal management consulting buying is concentrated among health, security, and international development agencies, each with distinct mission needs and procurement patterns:

Agency/Department	Annual Awards	Total Awarded	Primary Focus Areas	Typical Vehicles
HHS (Health and Human Services)	469	$909.3M	Health policy, program integrity, grants management, data analytics	IDIQs, BPAs, Direct awards
DHS (Homeland Security)	161	$294.0M	Mission support, program management, security operations, emergency management	Component IDIQs, GWACs
VA (Veterans Affairs)	123	$181.8M	PMO support, transformation programs, process improvement	VISN IDIQs, Direct awards
USAID (International Development)	64	$171.8M	Program monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, overseas operations	IDIQs, Direct awards
DoD (Defense)	125	$171.6M	Strategic planning, readiness support, transformation initiatives	GWACs, IDIQs

HHS leads the market with $909.3M across multiple operating divisions, focusing on health policy implementation, program integrity, and data-driven decision making. Key buyers include CMS, CDC, ACF, and HRSA.

DHS operates across components with distinct mission areas—FEMA for emergency management, CBP for border operations, TSA for transportation security, and USCIS for immigration services.

VA shows consistent demand for PMO services supporting large-scale transformation programs and modernization initiatives across its nationwide hospital network.

Agency Strategy: Focus on 2-3 agencies where you can build mission expertise and relevant past performance. Consulting requires deep knowledge of specific programs, not just general capabilities.

Contract Vehicles & Competition Patterns

Federal consulting relies heavily on multi-award IDIQ vehicles and BPAs that pre-qualify contractors, then compete individual projects as task orders:

IDIQ & BPA Structure

Vehicle Type	Contract Period	Awardees	Task Order Range	Evaluation Approach
HHS Component IDIQs	5-7 years	8-20	$100K-$25M	Best-value tradeoff
DHS Component IDIQs	5 years	5-15	$250K-$35M	Best-value tradeoff
VA VISN BPAs	3-5 years	3-8	$50K-$15M	Best-value, LPTA
USAID IDIQs	5 years	10-25	$500K-$50M	Best-value tradeoff

Competition Patterns

IDIQ On-Ramp: Initial vehicle awards use best-value tradeoff with heavy emphasis on past performance (30-40% weight), technical approach (30-40%), and key personnel qualifications (15-25%). Price typically accounts for 15-25%.

Task Order Competition: Among pre-qualified contractors, competitions maintain best-value approach but may shift weight toward price (25-40%) while still evaluating technical merit and staffing.

Direct Awards: For specialized or urgent requirements, agencies issue traditional RFPs outside the IDIQ framework, typically using best-value evaluation with similar weighting to IDIQ on-ramps.

Timing Strategy: IDIQ recompetitions typically occur every 5-7 years. Track expiration dates and prepare 12-18 months ahead—these are your sustained revenue entry points. Use Opportunity Finder to track vehicles and on-ramps.

Top Companies & Market Position

Understanding the competitive landscape helps inform your positioning strategy:

Company	Awards	Total Awarded	Market Position
Deloitte Consulting LLP	41	$181.7M	Large-scale transformation and enterprise PMO
National Opinion Research Center	17	$180.5M	Research and evaluation with HHS focus
Integrity Global Inc.	2	$180.1M	International development and USAID work
Guidehouse Inc.	45	$149.7M	Health, security, and civilian agency consulting
SAGE Computing, Inc.	1	$90.0M	Large single-award vehicle holder

Use these totals as scale markers for ceiling ranges, vehicle positioning, and teaming strategy. If you're a small business, target subcontractor roles with these primes while building prime past performance on SB set-asides.

Competitive Positioning: These large firms dominate unrestricted competitions. Your advantage as a small business is in set-aside competitions, mission expertise, and specialized capabilities they can't efficiently staff.

Small-Business Set-Aside Opportunities

Federal consulting shows strong small-business participation across all major agencies:

Set-Aside Usage by Agency

Agency	SB Set-Aside %	8(a) %	SDVOSB %	HUBZone %
HHS	38%	22%	12%	8%
DHS	42%	18%	16%	7%
VA	45%	14%	28%	9%
USAID	34%	15%	11%	5%

Size Standards & Thresholds

Standard Size: $20.5M average annual receipts (3-year average) for NAICS 541611
8(a) Threshold: Same $20.5M standard with additional program requirements
SDVOSB/VOSB: Same $20.5M standard plus veteran ownership requirements
HUBZone: $20.5M standard plus qualified location requirements

Competitive Advantages for SB Contractors

Reduced competition: Set-aside competitions typically see 5-10 bidders vs. 15-30 for unrestricted competitions.

Past performance flexibility: Agencies often accept similar work complexity from smaller projects, giving SB contractors more relevant experience to cite.

Subcontracting opportunities: Large primes need SB partners for subcontracting plan compliance—leverage this for teaming on unrestricted work.

Mission specialization: Deep expertise in specific programs or agency components provides competitive advantages that large generalists can't match.

Additional set-aside opportunities: Beyond the major programs above, WOSB/EDWOSB certifications can provide access to additional consulting opportunities, particularly in civilian agency work.

Certification Tip: Maintain your SBA certifications proactively. SAM.gov registration lapses can disqualify you from awards even if your underlying certification is valid. See all set-aside programs →

Pricing Strategy & Cost Categories

Consulting pricing requires different approaches than construction or product sales due to labor mix, skill levels, and clearance requirements:

Cost Categories & Typical Ranges

Cost Category	% of Total	Risk Level	Key Variables
Direct Labor	55-70%	Medium	Skill mix, clearance levels, geographic location
Fringe Benefits	15-25%	Low	Benefits package, health insurance costs
Overhead	35-55%	Medium	Indirect labor, facilities, G&A costs
Other Direct Costs	2-8%	Low	Travel, materials, subcontractors
Fee/Profit	6-12%	High	Risk level, competition intensity, vehicle type

Price-to-Win Quick Method

Pull award comps from the last 12 months in your target agency on /naics/541611. Note order type, labor mix, base plus options, and ceiling.
Adjust for clearance and location if DHS or DoD work requires security clearances or high-cost geographic areas.
Calibrate labor rates by comparing to similar awarded task orders and current RFQs. Track GSA Schedule rates as baseline references.
Validate staffing ratios: Management-heavy mixes get price sensitive quickly. Show lean PMO layers and strong SME utilization.

Pricing Reality: Winning bids on best-value competitions typically fall within 10-15% of the government's independent estimate. Significantly low prices raise questions about understanding; high prices lose on value.

Capture Strategy That Wins

Successful federal consulting capture requires early engagement, mission understanding, and systematic relationship building:

Pre-Positioning (12-18 Months Out)

Agency mapping: Identify your target agencies and components. Build relationships with program managers, contracting officers, and technical leads at industry days and conferences.
Vehicle tracking: Monitor IDIQ expiration dates and on-ramp opportunities using Opportunity Finder. These are your entry points to sustained revenue streams.
Past performance development: Target smaller direct awards or task orders to build relevant past performance for larger IDIQ competitions. Mission-specific experience matters more than contract size.
Team assembly: Identify and recruit key personnel with relevant mission experience and required clearances. Strong resumes are critical to winning consulting work.

Active Capture (RFP Release)

Requirements analysis: Parse PWS/SOW thoroughly to understand unstated needs and evaluation priorities. Use Compliance Matrix to ensure full coverage.
Teaming strategy: Form partnerships that fill capability gaps—pair analytics strength with policy expertise, or combine large-contract experience with specialized mission knowledge.
Key personnel selection: Choose individuals with demonstrable experience in similar programs. Federal evaluators heavily weight relevant individual credentials.
Price-to-win analysis: Build competitive labor mixes validated against recent awards. Balance senior expertise with cost-effective junior staff.

Proposal Development

Past performance narrative: Focus on relevance—similar agency programs, comparable complexity, and demonstrated results. Quantify outcomes with metrics.
Technical approach: Address mission-specific challenges with detailed solutions. Show understanding of agency culture, stakeholder landscape, and program constraints.
Management approach: Present clear governance structures, communication plans, and risk mitigation strategies. Federal clients value process rigor.
Staffing plan: Demonstrate key personnel availability and provide compelling resumes. Include backup personnel to show bench strength.

Use Proposal Writer and Document Hub to streamline compliant proposal development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NAICS 541611 cover exactly?

NAICS 541611 covers administrative management and general management consulting services—program management, strategic planning, process improvement, change management, operations support, and policy development. It excludes specialized consulting like IT (541512), HR (541612), or marketing (541613). See all NAICS codes →

Which agencies offer the best opportunities for small businesses?

VA shows the highest combined set-aside rate with strong SDVOSB opportunities (28% SDVOSB-specific). DHS follows at 42% total SB set-asides. Both agencies offer manageable project sizes ($250K-$15M typical) that fit small business capabilities without requiring massive teaming arrangements.

How do I get on an IDIQ or BPA vehicle?

These vehicles recompete every 5-7 years. Track expiration dates through Advanced Contract Search and prepare 12-18 months ahead. Awards emphasize past performance (30-40% weight) with similar mission work and agency experience. You need relevant federal consulting experience to be competitive.

What labor categories and rates are competitive?

Competitive rates vary by location, clearance level, and agency. Review recent task order awards in your target agency to calibrate rates. Typical ranges: Project Manager ($110-160/hr), Senior Consultant ($95-140/hr), Consultant ($75-110/hr), Analyst ($60-90/hr). DHS and DoD work with clearance requirements commands 15-30% premiums.

How important is past performance in 541611 competitions?

Critical. Consulting awards typically weight past performance 30-40% in IDIQ on-ramps and maintain 20-30% weight in task order competitions. Evaluators look for relevance (similar agency programs), recency (within 3-5 years), quality (CPARS ratings), and complexity (comparable contract size and scope).

What makes a proposal competitive in 541611?

Relevant past performance, qualified key personnel with mission experience, a clear and detailed technical approach, and realistic pricing. Avoid generic solutions—show deep understanding of the specific program, agency culture, and stakeholder environment. Use Bid Submission Checklist to ensure completeness.

Stop Bidding Blind. Start Winning Federal Consulting Work.

The 541611 market rewards firms that understand agency missions, track vehicle opportunities, and build relevant past performance systematically.

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