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NAICS Code· 315250

NAICS 315250: Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing cut and sew apparel from purchased fabric. Clothing jobbers, who perform entrepreneurial functions involved in apparel manufacture, including buying raw materials, designing and preparing samples, arranging for apparel to be made from their materials, and marketing finished apparel, are included. Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--Show more

NAICS 315250 – Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) encompasses the domestic production of tailored and assembled apparel made from woven or knit fabrics, including uniforms, tactical gear, protective clothing, and specialized garments for military, law enforcement, and federal service personnel. This sector involves pattern cutting, sewing, hemming, pressing, and finishing operations using industrial-grade equipment, often requiring compliance with federal specifications such as MIL-SPEC or FED-STD standards for durability, flame resistance, and camouflage patterning.

12
Active Contracts
$1.1B
Total Obligations (12mo)
2.1K
Awarded Contracts (12mo)
79
Contractors Awarded (12mo)
2
Median Bidders per Award
+646.1%
YoY Growth

Industry Spending Overview

Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 315250.

AI Industry Description

NAICS 315250 – Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) encompasses the domestic production of tailored and assembled apparel made from woven or knit fabrics, including uniforms, tactical gear, protective clothing, and specialized garments for military, law enforcement, and federal ser...

NAICS 315250 – Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) encompasses the domestic production of tailored and assembled apparel made from woven or knit fabrics, including uniforms, tactical gear, protective clothing, and specialized garments for military, law enforcement, and federal service personnel. This sector involves pattern cutting, sewing, hemming, pressing, and finishing operations using industrial-grade equipment, often requiring compliance with federal specifications such as MIL-SPEC or FED-STD standards for durability, flame resistance, and camouflage patterning. Unlike apparel contractors who outsource production, firms under this code perform full-cycle manufacturing in-house, positioning them as critical suppliers in the defense industrial base for mission-critical clothing systems. The industry supports national security readiness by ensuring reliable, domestically sourced uniform supply chains. SAVVY BUSINESS INC is the leading contractor in this sector, demonstrating strong capability in delivering compliant, high-volume apparel production for federal agencies. The competitive landscape is dominated by small businesses and specialized manufacturers with expertise in military-grade textile fabrication, often leveraging set-aside programs such as HUBZone or SDVOSB certifications to compete effectively against larger primes. The Department of Defense is the primary federal buyer, driving demand through uniform modernization initiatives, force expansion programs, and contingency operations requiring rugged, mission-tailored apparel. Demand is sustained by recurring procurement cycles for replacement uniforms, seasonal gear, and specialized ensembles for deployed personnel across all branches. The market is characterized by high compliance barriers and low supplier density, creating concentrated opportunities for manufacturers with certified production facilities, quality control systems, and experience in federal supply chain protocols. Contractors with expertise in technical textiles, modular garment design, and rapid turnaround capabilities are best positioned to secure sustained award streams in this niche but strategically vital sector.

Small Business Size Standard

The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 315250 work as a small business.

750 employees
Applies to the whole industry code

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.

Top Contractors

Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 315250, ranked by dollars won.

Competition

How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 315250, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.

Fewer Bidders

Median under 3 bidders per reported award. · 635 reported awards

Median Bidders

2

Per reported award, all-time

Single-Bid Awards

50%

Share of reported awards with one bidder

10+ Bidder Awards

3%

Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders

Reported Awards

635

18% of 3,547 total awards

Bidder Count Distribution by Fiscal Year

Share of reported awards in each bidder-count bracket per federal fiscal year.

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 FamilyCompetitionMedian BiddersSingle-BidBidder MixReported Awards
315250This Code
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)
Fewer Bidders250%
63518% of 3,547
31525NAICS Industry
Fewer Bidders250%
63518% of 3,547
3152Industry Group
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
Fewer Bidders249%
62,51960% of 103,720
315Subsector
Fewer Bidders245%
158,07965% of 241,732
31Sector
Manufacturing
Fewer Bidders240%
1,478,76516% of 9,263,130

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.

Related NAICS Codes

Industries similar to Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors), by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.

Explore contracts across multiple NAICS codes Browse all NAICS Codes

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NAICS 315250 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

NAICS code 315250 covers Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors). This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing cut and sew apparel from purchased fabric. Clothing jobbers, who perform entrepreneurial functions involved in apparel manufacture, including buying raw materials, designing and preparing samples, arranging for apparel to be made from their materials, and marketing finished apparel, are included. Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--

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