NAICS 212230: Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site, mining, and/or beneficiating (i.e., preparing) ores valued chiefly for their copper, nickel, lead, or zinc content. Beneficiating includes the transformation of ores into concentrates. Establishments primarily engaged in recovering copper concentrates by the precipitation, leaching, or electrowinning of copper ore are included in this industry. Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--Show more
NAICS 212230 – Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining covers the extraction and initial processing of primary nonferrous metallic ores, including open-pit and underground mining operations for copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. This sector supports critical supply chains for defense, aerospace, electronics, and infrastructure applications, where these metals are essential for conductive components, corrosion-resistant alloys, and battery technologies.
Industry Spending Overview
Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 212230.
AI Industry Description
NAICS 212230 – Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining covers the extraction and initial processing of primary nonferrous metallic ores, including open-pit and underground mining operations for copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. This sector supports critical supply chains for defense, aerospace, electron...
NAICS 212230 – Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining covers the extraction and initial processing of primary nonferrous metallic ores, including open-pit and underground mining operations for copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. This sector supports critical supply chains for defense, aerospace, electronics, and infrastructure applications, where these metals are essential for conductive components, corrosion-resistant alloys, and battery technologies. While primarily a private-sector industrial activity, government contracting in this space typically involves exploration services, environmental remediation, land reclamation, and compliance with federal mining regulations under the Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency. Contracts may also support mineral security initiatives tied to national defense stockpiling and supply chain resilience programs. No contractor data is available for this NAICS code, indicating limited direct federal procurement activity or that contracts are bundled under broader mining or environmental services categories. When present, contractors are typically mid- to large-scale mining firms with specialized expertise in federal land permitting, tailings management, and hazardous material handling, alongside small businesses offering technical consulting or site remediation services. No agency data is available, suggesting procurement is either decentralized, infrequent, or embedded within broader natural resource or environmental management programs. Agencies with potential interest include the Department of Defense, U.S. Geological Survey, and Department of the Interior, particularly when sourcing strategic minerals or managing legacy mining sites on federal lands. The competitive landscape is sparse in direct government contracting, with opportunities concentrated in environmental compliance, reclamation, and mineral inventory support rather than raw material procurement. Contractors with expertise in federal mining permits, NEPA compliance, and remediation technologies are best positioned to capture niche opportunities tied to national security and sustainable resource management.
Small Business Size Standard
The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 212230 work as a small business.
The SBA cap for this NAICS (13 CFR 121.201). A business at or under it can self-certify as small for work in this code, which is what makes it eligible for a small-business set-aside. The cap is set per NAICS, so the same company can be small in one code and not in another.
13 CFR 121.201, effective January 1, 2026. The SBA revises the table roughly once a year.
Competition
How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 212230, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.
How this code compares up the NAICS hierarchy. Parent cohorts pool every code under their prefix, so they are the steadier baseline when a 6-digit sample is thin.
| Industry Family | Competition | Median Bidders | Single-Bid | Bidder Mix | Reported Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
212230This Code Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining | Not enough reported data | — | — | — | 2100% of 2 |
21223NAICS Industry | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 41% | 7390% of 81 | |
2122Industry Group Metal Ore Mining | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 53% | 27893% of 299 | |
212Subsector | Moderate Competition | 3 | 32% | 21,37290% of 23,743 | |
21Sector Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 36% | 35,86687% of 41,386 |
Bidder counts reported on past federal awards in this NAICS (USAspending). An open opportunity has no bidders yet, so this is the historical norm for similar work, not a fact about this solicitation. Not all awards report bidder counts, and fewer bidders often means incumbent-held work rather than an easier win. Federal reporting of bidder counts fell from ~96% of awards (FY2016) to ~30% (FY2018 onward); the chart shows shares of reported awards, and washed-out stretches mark years with fewer than 30 of them.
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