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Federal Contracting by State · South Central

Federal Contracting in Tennessee

Tennessee is Nuclear science and aerospace testing — Oak Ridge and Arnold Engineering Development Complex. Tennessee’s federal market is anchored by Oak Ridge—home to the Y-12 nuclear complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—and by Arnold AFB, which operates the world’s largest complex of aerospace ground-test facilities. Nuclear, energy science, and high-end test-and-evaluation work dominate.

📊 Based on 78 real federal opportunities with a place of performance in Tennessee

Region

South Central

Tracked opportunities

78

Typical award value

Varies by award

Top federal buyer

Department of Veterans Affairs

Major military installations & federal facilities in Tennessee

Oak Ridge (Y-12 National Security Complex & Oak Ridge National Laboratory)Arnold AFB — Arnold Engineering Development Complex (Tullahoma)Naval Support Activity Mid-South (Millington)Holston Army Ammunition Plant

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

Federal agencies & HQs with a major presence

  • Department of Energy – Oak Ridge (nuclear & science)
  • Arnold Engineering Development Complex (aeropropulsion test)
  • Navy Personnel Command (Millington)

What the federal government buys in Tennessee

Dominant buying sectors

Nuclear security & energy scienceAerospace ground testingAdvanced manufacturing & materialsMunitions & explosivesNavy personnel & IT

Most-bought NAICS codes on recent TN solicitations

Most active federal buyers in Tennessee

Department of Veterans AffairsDepartment of EnergyDepartment of DefenseDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of TransportationGeneral Services Administration

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

Set-asides used in TN

No Set aside usedService-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set AsideTotal Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)HUBZone Set Aside

See the set-aside program guides for eligibility.

Where the work is performed

Oak RidgeCoopertownNashvilleMemphisMadisonKnoxville

Top performance locations on recent TN solicitations.

How to win federal contracts in Tennessee

  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 Tennessee the active codes include 237310, 238220, 334516.
  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 Tennessee's at apexaccelerators.us.
  5. Track the right opportunities. Monitor solicitations performed in TN 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 Tennessee — common questions

How do I start winning federal contracts in Tennessee?

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 TN — especially from Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Energy — and respond with compliant, well-written proposals. Tennessee's APEX Accelerator offers free counseling to local firms.

Which federal agencies buy the most in Tennessee?

Based on recent solicitations with a place of performance in Tennessee, the most active buyers include Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation. Major installations and facilities in the state include Oak Ridge (Y-12 National Security Complex & Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Arnold AFB — Arnold Engineering Development Complex (Tullahoma), Naval Support Activity Mid-South (Millington).

What kinds of contracts are available in Tennessee?

The dominant federal-buying sectors in Tennessee are Nuclear security & energy science, Aerospace ground testing, Advanced manufacturing & materials, Munitions & explosives. The most common NAICS codes on recent TN solicitations include 237310 (237310 · Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), 238220 (238220 · Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors), 334516 (334516 · Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing), 531120 (531120 · Real Estate).

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

Yes. Recent TN solicitations frequently use No Set aside used, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside, Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5), HUBZone Set Aside. 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.

Chasing a federal opportunity in Tennessee?

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 South Central

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