Federal HVAC and plumbing contracts: NAICS 238220
SAM.gov (System for Award Management, the government's contracting website) data through Oct 22, 2026: 49 open solicitations (80 notices) on SAM.gov are listed under NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) 238220, Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors. Below you'll see how they are set aside, who is buying, where the work is and how long you have to respond, plus a handful of examples with our take.
What the numbers say
- 37 of 49 (76%) are set aside for small businesses of some kind; the most common is Total Small Business (19). The other 12 state no set-aside.
- 1 carries a sole-source code, which usually means the agency already has a firm in mind; treat those as background, not bids to chase.
- Department of Veterans Affairs is the biggest buyer with 20 (41%), then Dept. of the Air Force with 7.
- 35 (71%) can be bid now; 12 are presolicitations or sources sought, the early-stage notices where a short capability statement can still steer how the agency buys.
- 38 of 49 (78%) close within 14 days; 17 were first posted in the 7 days through Oct 22, 2026.
- Work is spread over 21 states; TX has the most (4). 19 give no state.
Set-aside mix
| Set-aside | Open | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total Small Business | 19 | 39% |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned | 17 | 35% |
| Unrestricted / none stated | 12 | 24% |
| Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise | 1 | 2% |
Top agencies
| Agency | Open | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | 20 | 41% |
| Dept. of the Air Force | 7 | 14% |
| Dept. of the Army | 7 | 14% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 2 | 4% |
| Departmental Offices | 2 | 4% |
| National Park Service | 2 | 4% |
| Agricultural Research Service | 1 | 2% |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs | 1 | 2% |
Place of performance (state)
| State | Open | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 4 | 8% |
| NY | 3 | 6% |
| CA | 2 | 4% |
| IL | 2 | 4% |
| PR | 2 | 4% |
| WA | 2 | 4% |
| AR | 1 | 2% |
| GA | 1 | 2% |
| No state in the place-of-performance field or title | 19 | 39% |
2 of the states shown were read from the notice title because the structured field was blank.
Time left to respond
| Due in | Open | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days or less | 25 | 51% |
| 8 to 14 days | 13 | 27% |
| 15 to 30 days | 6 | 12% |
| More than 30 days | 5 | 10% |
Notice type
| Type | Open | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation | 18 | 37% |
| Solicitation | 17 | 35% |
| Presolicitation | 7 | 14% |
| Sources Sought | 5 | 10% |
| Special Notice | 2 | 4% |
New this week
17 of the 49 were first posted between Oct 16 and Oct 22, 2026 (the 7 days through the latest data).
8 examples, with our take
A mixed handful, not the full list: different agencies and notice types, each with at least 5 days left. Each title opens the official notice on SAM.gov. The one-line take is ours, written from the notice's structured fields; read the notice itself before deciding anything.
- Emergency Repair of the NSGC Cold Storage Dehumidifier System
Our take: Solicitation is posted, so this can be bid now; set aside: Total Small Business; only 5 days left; work in ID.
- J--E21 PRCA HVAC REPLACEMENT
Our take: Solicitation is posted, so this can be bid now; set aside: Total Small Business; only 5 days left; no place of performance in the structured data.
- Two sets of HVAC units or Mobile Ground Control Station
Our take: Solicitation is posted, so this can be bid now; set aside: Total Small Business; only 5 days left; work in CA.
- Z1DA--NRM CONST - 528A7-18-707 - Replace Boiler Stack Rome CBOC
Our take: Presolicitation: nothing to bid yet, but it announces a solicitation to watch for; set aside: Total Small Business; from the busiest buyer on this page; only 6 days left; work in NY.
- TVHS AC VRF System Installation
Our take: Solicitation is posted, so this can be bid now; set aside: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned; from the busiest buyer on this page; only 6 days left; work in TN.
- HVAC Replacement, Bldg. 2821
Our take: Solicitation is posted, so this can be bid now; set aside: Total Small Business; only 6 days left; no place of performance in the structured data.
- WPAFB 3rd Air Stream/ B18
Our take: Sources sought is market research, not a bid; a short capability statement is how firms tell the agency a set-aside would get offers; no set-aside is stated, so expect large firms in the competition; only 9 days left; work in OH.
- Replace HVAC Rooftop Units at Building 2275
Our take: Presolicitation: nothing to bid yet, but it announces a solicitation to watch for; no set-aside is stated, so expect large firms in the competition; 13 days left; work in CA.
Before you bid
Construction contracts over $2,000 carry Davis-Bacon prevailing wages (FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) 22.403-1; 22.402-3 in the FAR overhaul deviation text), and construction contracts over $150,000 require performance and payment bonds (FAR 28.102-1; between $35,000 and $150,000 the agency picks alternative payment protections). Line up bonding capacity before you chase the larger ones.
Thresholds as of Oct 22, 2026, checked against the FAR on acquisition.gov (FAR 22.403-1, FAR 28.102-1, FAR overhaul Part 22). This is general information, not legal advice: check the solicitation's clauses, which govern each contract.
How we count
Source: the public SAM.gov Contract Opportunities data file (SAM.gov data services), downloaded and processed by us; this snapshot uses data through Oct 22, 2026.
NAICS 238220 means the NAICS code field on the notice is 238220 (the data file carries one NAICS code per notice).
Open means, in SAM.gov data through Oct 22, 2026: the notice is still in the latest data file (active), it is a notice type you can respond to (combined synopsis/solicitation, solicitation, presolicitation, sources sought or special notice; award notices and standalone modification/cancellation notices are excluded), and its response date is Oct 22, 2026 or later. 17 active NAICS 238220 notices with no response date are left out.
Counted by solicitation: notices that share a solicitation number count once (the notice ID is used when there is none). A solicitation's deadline is the latest response date among its open notices; its agency, set-aside, state and type come from its most recent notice.
Counts are regenerated each time the site is built from the latest data, so they change daily. Notices can be amended or cancelled after we process them; SAM.gov is the official record. Fed Tipsheet is an independent service. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to SAM.gov, GSA (General Services Administration), SBA (Small Business Administration) or any U.S. Government agency.
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Other industries: NAICS 561730 (landscaping and grounds) · NAICS 561210 (facilities support) · NAICS 541330 (engineering services) · NAICS 236220 (building construction) · NAICS 561720 (janitorial) · SDVOSB set-asides · HUBZone set-asides