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Federal Contracting by State · Mountain West

Federal Contracting in Colorado

Colorado is The home of the U.S. Space Force — NORAD, Space Command, and satellite operations. Colorado Springs is the epicenter of U.S. military space—Space Command, multiple Space Force bases, NORAD, and satellite control all sit here. Boulder adds NIST and NOAA laboratories. Space, ground systems, cyber, and high-end scientific services are the dominant opportunities.

📊 Based on 170 real federal opportunities with a place of performance in Colorado

Region

Mountain West

Tracked opportunities

170

Typical award value

$50K to $207K

Top federal buyer

Department of Defense

Major military installations & federal facilities in Colorado

Peterson SFB & Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD / U.S. Northern Command)Buckley SFB (missile warning / space operations)Schriever SFB (GPS & satellite control)U.S. Air Force AcademyFort Carson (4th Infantry Division)

These installations and facilities anchor federal demand in Colorado — they generate base-operations, services, construction, and product requirements that flow to local and national contractors alike.

Federal agencies & HQs with a major presence

  • U.S. Space Command & multiple Space Force bases (Colorado Springs)
  • NORAD / U.S. Northern Command
  • NIST & NOAA laboratories (Boulder)

What the federal government buys in Colorado

Dominant buying sectors

Space & missile-warning systemsSatellite operations & ground systemsCyber & ITArmy installation supportScientific & metrology services

Most-bought NAICS codes on recent CO solicitations

Most active federal buyers in Colorado

Department of DefenseDepartment of CommerceDepartment of Veterans AffairsDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Transportation

These are the agencies posting the most solicitations performed in Colorado. Set up alerts on WinAContract for their opportunities, then draft your response in GovCon.

Set-asides used in CO

Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)No Set aside usedService-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside8a Competed

See the set-aside program guides for eligibility.

Where the work is performed

BoulderAuroraUSAF AcademyColorado SpringsFort CollinsGolden

Top performance locations on recent CO solicitations.

How to win federal contracts in Colorado

  1. Register in SAM.gov. It's free and mandatory to receive federal awards. Get your UEI and complete the registration before you bid.
  2. Pin down your NAICS codes. Register under every code that fits what you sell — in Colorado the active codes include 334516, 334515, 339112.
  3. Claim your set-aside certifications. 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, SDVOSB/VOSB, and HUBZone open contracts that exclude large primes. See which you qualify for →
  4. Use your APEX Accelerator. Every state has one (formerly PTACs) offering free counseling on registration, bid-matching and proposals — find Colorado's at apexaccelerators.us.
  5. Track the right opportunities. Monitor solicitations performed in CO on SAM.gov and WinAContract, focused on the agencies and installations above.
  6. Write compliant, winning proposals. Import the solicitation into GovCon, draft Sections L & M, and run a compliance check before you submit.

Federal contracting in Colorado — common questions

How do I start winning federal contracts in Colorado?

Register your business in SAM.gov (free), identify the NAICS codes that match what you sell, and claim any small-business or socioeconomic set-aside certifications you qualify for. Then track solicitations with a place of performance in CO — especially from Department of Defense and Department of Commerce — and respond with compliant, well-written proposals. Colorado's APEX Accelerator offers free counseling to local firms.

Which federal agencies buy the most in Colorado?

Based on recent solicitations with a place of performance in Colorado, the most active buyers include Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice. Major installations and facilities in the state include Peterson SFB & Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD / U.S. Northern Command), Buckley SFB (missile warning / space operations), Schriever SFB (GPS & satellite control).

What kinds of contracts are available in Colorado?

The dominant federal-buying sectors in Colorado are Space & missile-warning systems, Satellite operations & ground systems, Cyber & IT, Army installation support. The most common NAICS codes on recent CO solicitations include 334516 (334516 · Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing), 334515 (334515 · Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing), 339112 (339112 · Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing), 811210 (811210 · Repair and Maintenance).

Are there set-aside opportunities for small businesses in Colorado?

Yes. Recent CO solicitations frequently use Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5), No Set aside used, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside, 8a Competed. If your firm holds a matching certification, you compete in a far smaller field. See our set-aside program guides for eligibility and certification steps.

What is a typical federal contract worth in Colorado?

Among awarded contracts on record with a place of performance in Colorado, values typically range $50K to $207K. Actual values vary widely by agency, scope and contract vehicle — from small purchases to large IDIQ task orders.

Chasing a federal opportunity in Colorado?

GovCon is the AI proposal-writing tool built for federal offerors — import the solicitation, draft Sections L & M, and check compliance. Free plan, no card required.

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More in the Mountain West

Browse all states, explore NAICS contracting guides, or read the set-aside program guides.