NAICS 541712: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
NAICS 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry and technical innovation focused on advancing knowledge in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical and electrical engineering, environmental science, and non-biotech life sciences. This sector supports federal missions through fundamental and applied R&D, including prototype development, laboratory testing, computational modeling, sensor design, and systems validation. Contractors in this space deliver specialized technical services to solve complex challenges in defense systems, space exploration, energy infrastructure, and environmental monitoring, often under contract to agencies requiring high-precision, evidence-based solutions. It is a critical enabler of technological superiority and regulatory compliance across the federal landscape. Top contractors in this NAICS include Deloitte Consulting LLP, AECOM Technical Services, Inc., and Merrill Corporation, representing a mix of large primes with deep engineering and scientific capabilities and firms offering specialized R&D program management, data analytics, and technical documentation services. These organizations typically operate through multidisciplinary teams of Ph.D.-level scientists, systems engineers, and compliance experts, competing for complex, long-term task orders requiring security clearances and advanced technical certifications. The Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Department of Homeland Security are the primary federal buyers, funding projects ranging from advanced materials for hypersonics and radiation-hardened electronics to environmental remediation technologies and public health surveillance systems. These agencies prioritize R&D that bridges laboratory innovation with operational deployment. The competitive landscape is highly technical and credential-intensive, favoring firms with proven track records in government-funded labs, university partnerships, and ISO/AS9100-compliant processes. Opportunities are concentrated in areas requiring dual-use technologies, such as autonomous systems, energy resilience, and sensor fusion, with increasing demand for agile, iterative R&D approaches aligned with modern acquisition frameworks.Show more
NAICS 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry and technical innovation focused on advancing knowledge in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical and electrical engineering, environmental science, and non-biotech life sciences. This sector supports federal missions through fundamental and applied R&D, including prototype development, laboratory testing, computational modeling, sensor design, and systems validation.
Industry Spending Overview
Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 541712.
AI Industry Description
NAICS 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry and technical innovation focused on advancing knowledge in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical and electrical engineering, e...
NAICS 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry and technical innovation focused on advancing knowledge in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical and electrical engineering, environmental science, and non-biotech life sciences. This sector supports federal missions through fundamental and applied R&D, including prototype development, laboratory testing, computational modeling, sensor design, and systems validation. Contractors in this space deliver specialized technical services to solve complex challenges in defense systems, space exploration, energy infrastructure, and environmental monitoring, often under contract to agencies requiring high-precision, evidence-based solutions. It is a critical enabler of technological superiority and regulatory compliance across the federal landscape. Top contractors in this NAICS include Deloitte Consulting LLP, AECOM Technical Services, Inc., and Merrill Corporation, representing a mix of large primes with deep engineering and scientific capabilities and firms offering specialized R&D program management, data analytics, and technical documentation services. These organizations typically operate through multidisciplinary teams of Ph.D.-level scientists, systems engineers, and compliance experts, competing for complex, long-term task orders requiring security clearances and advanced technical certifications. The Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Department of Homeland Security are the primary federal buyers, funding projects ranging from advanced materials for hypersonics and radiation-hardened electronics to environmental remediation technologies and public health surveillance systems. These agencies prioritize R&D that bridges laboratory innovation with operational deployment. The competitive landscape is highly technical and credential-intensive, favoring firms with proven track records in government-funded labs, university partnerships, and ISO/AS9100-compliant processes. Opportunities are concentrated in areas requiring dual-use technologies, such as autonomous systems, energy resilience, and sensor fusion, with increasing demand for agile, iterative R&D approaches aligned with modern acquisition frameworks.
Top Contractors
Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 541712, ranked by dollars won.
| Company | Total Awards | Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| ODYSSEY SYSTEMS CONSULTING GROUP, LTD. | $85.4M | 2 |
| SERCO INC | $68.0M | 3 |
| DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP | $55.5M | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | $36.6M | 41 |
| METALEX MANUFACTURING INC | $34.7M | 4 |
| HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. | $30.3M | 1 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE | $28.9M | 1 |
| SIGMATECH INC | $23.8M | 2 |
| ECLIPTIC ENTERPRISES, LLC | $16.6M | 2 |
| QED SYSTEMS, LLC | $14.5M | 2 |
Top Agencies
Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 541712.
Competition
How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 541712, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.
Median under 3 bidders per reported award. · 85,638 reported awards
Median Bidders
2
Per reported award, all-time
Single-Bid Awards
41%
Share of reported awards with one bidder
10+ Bidder Awards
26%
Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders
Reported Awards
81% of 105,548 total awards
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
541712This Code Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 41% | 85,63881% of 105,548 | |
54171NAICS Industry | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 42% | 246,33582% of 298,788 | |
5417Industry Group Scientific Research and Development Services | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 40% | 282,62484% of 338,309 | |
541Subsector | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 49% | 2,918,78285% of 3,416,794 | |
54Sector Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 49% | 2,918,78285% of 3,416,794 |
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 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology), by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.
Research and Development in Nanotechnology
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting nanotechnology research ...Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting biotechnology (except na...Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimenta...Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and analyses in cogn...Offices of Lawyers
This industry comprises offices of legal practitioners known as lawyers or attorneys (i.e., counselo...Offices of Notaries
This industry comprises establishments (except offices of lawyers and attorneys) primarily engaged i...title Abstract and Settlement Offices
This U.S. industry comprises establishments (except offices of lawyers and attorneys) primarily enga...All Other Legal Services
This U.S. industry comprises establishments of legal practitioners (except offices of lawyers and at...Explore contracts across multiple NAICS codes Browse all NAICS Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
Recently Posted in Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Win Contracts in Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Get AI-powered intelligence on NAICS 541712 procurement
Real-time contract opportunities for NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology))
AI-powered matching based on your business capabilities and past performance
Competitive analysis of contractors winning awards in this industry
Automated alerts when new opportunities are posted
Join 650+ contractors already using CLEATUS
