Federal Contracting by State · Mountain West
Federal Contracting in New Mexico
New Mexico is Two nuclear-weapons labs plus directed energy and the nation’s premier missile range. New Mexico holds two of the nation’s three nuclear-weapons laboratories—Sandia and Los Alamos—plus Kirtland’s directed-energy and space research and the vast White Sands Missile Range. It is one of the most R&D-intensive federal markets in the country.
📊 Based on 141 real federal opportunities with a place of performance in New Mexico
Region
Mountain West
Tracked opportunities
141
Typical award value
$64K to $588K
Top federal buyer
Department of Health and Human Services
Major military installations & federal facilities in New Mexico
These installations and facilities anchor federal demand in New Mexico — they generate base-operations, services, construction, and product requirements that flow to local and national contractors alike.
Federal agencies & HQs with a major presence
- Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Air Force Research Laboratory – Directed Energy & Space Vehicles (Kirtland)
What the federal government buys in New Mexico
Dominant buying sectors
Most-bought NAICS codes on recent NM solicitations
Most active federal buyers in New Mexico
These are the agencies posting the most solicitations performed in New Mexico. Set up alerts on WinAContract for their opportunities, then draft your response in GovCon.
Set-asides used in NM
See the set-aside program guides for eligibility.
Where the work is performed
Top performance locations on recent NM solicitations.
How to win federal contracts in New Mexico
- Register in SAM.gov. It's free and mandatory to receive federal awards. Get your UEI and complete the registration before you bid.
- Pin down your NAICS codes. Register under every code that fits what you sell — in New Mexico the active codes include 238220, 811210, 561730.
- Claim your set-aside certifications. 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, SDVOSB/VOSB, and HUBZone open contracts that exclude large primes. See which you qualify for →
- Use your APEX Accelerator. Every state has one (formerly PTACs) offering free counseling on registration, bid-matching and proposals — find New Mexico's at apexaccelerators.us.
- Track the right opportunities. Monitor solicitations performed in NM on SAM.gov and WinAContract, focused on the agencies and installations above.
- Write compliant, winning proposals. Import the solicitation into GovCon, draft Sections L & M, and run a compliance check before you submit.
Federal contracting in New Mexico — common questions
How do I start winning federal contracts in New Mexico?
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 NM — especially from Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Defense — and respond with compliant, well-written proposals. New Mexico's APEX Accelerator offers free counseling to local firms.
Which federal agencies buy the most in New Mexico?
Based on recent solicitations with a place of performance in New Mexico, the most active buyers include Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Veterans Affairs. Major installations and facilities in the state include Kirtland AFB (Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center & AFRL directed energy/space), White Sands Missile Range, Holloman AFB.
What kinds of contracts are available in New Mexico?
The dominant federal-buying sectors in New Mexico are Nuclear weapons & national security science, Directed energy & space R&D, Missile & weapons test (White Sands), Special operations support. The most common NAICS codes on recent NM solicitations include 238220 (238220 · Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors), 811210 (811210 · Repair and Maintenance), 561730 (561730 · Landscaping Services), 541715 (541715 · R&D in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotech and Biotech)).
Are there set-aside opportunities for small businesses in New Mexico?
Yes. Recent NM solicitations frequently use Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5), No Set aside used, Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and Indian Health Services), Buy Indian Set-Aside (specific to Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services). 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 New Mexico?
Among awarded contracts on record with a place of performance in New Mexico, values typically range $64K to $588K. Actual values vary widely by agency, scope and contract vehicle — from small purchases to large IDIQ task orders.
Chasing a federal opportunity in New Mexico?
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.
Start free →More in the Mountain West
Browse all states, explore NAICS contracting guides, or read the set-aside program guides.