Federal Contracting by NAICS Code · Professional Services
NAICS 541720: Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
R&D in economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, and related disciplines. Used for federally-funded policy research, programme evaluation, and survey research.
📊 Based on 21 real federal solicitations tracked under this code
Sector
Professional Services
Typical award value
$150K - $15M per award
Set-aside activity
Yes
Federal agencies that buy under NAICS 541720
These buyers award research and development in the social sciences and humanities work under this code most often. Set up alerts on WinAContract to catch their solicitations early, then draft your response in GovCon.
Set-asides used under NAICS 541720
Filtering opportunities by NAICS 541720 and your certification surfaces the bids where large primes are excluded. See our set-aside program guides for how each one works.
Common questions about NAICS 541720
Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 541720?
The agencies that most frequently post research and development in the social sciences and humanities solicitations under NAICS 541720 include Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Justice (NIJ), Department of Defense (HSCB). Tracking these buyers on WinAContract and drafting responses in GovCon is the fastest way to build a pipeline under this code.
Is NAICS 541720 eligible for small-business set-asides?
Yes. Solicitations under NAICS 541720 commonly use Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB. If your firm holds a matching socioeconomic certification, you can compete on set-aside opportunities where large businesses are excluded — typically a far less crowded field.
What is the typical contract value for NAICS 541720?
Federal awards under NAICS 541720 typically range $150K - $15M per award. Actual values vary widely by agency, scope, and contract vehicle — for example, individual IDIQ task orders versus standalone definitive contracts.
What NAICS codes are related to 541720?
Closely related codes include 541611 (541611 · Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), 541990 (541990 · All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), 541715 (541715 · R&D in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotech and Biotech)). Registering in SAM.gov under every code that fits your capabilities widens the set of opportunities you'll match.
Related NAICS codes
Bidding on a NAICS 541720 opportunity?
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