Key takeaways
- NSF outlays were about $9 billion in fiscal 2026, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
- The National Science Foundation buys through three main components and offices, each with its own contracting staff.
- NSF publishes a procurement forecast of upcoming contracts.
- NSF earned a B on the SBA's fiscal 2025 small business procurement scorecard, falling short of its goals.
NSF at a glance
| Fact | NSF |
|---|---|
| FY 2026 outlays | About $9 billion |
| Main buying components | 3 |
| SBA scorecard, FY 2025 | B |
| Procurement forecast | NSF forecast |
Sources: U.S. Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement for September 2026 (outlays); Acquisition.gov procurement forecast directory; SBA FY 2025 Small Business Procurement Scorecard as reported in June 2026.
Who buys at NSF
NSF mostly makes research grants. Its biggest contracts support Antarctic operations and large research facilities.
- Research directorates
- Office of Polar Programs, which contracts for Antarctic logistics
- Major research facilities
How to start selling to NSF
- Register in SAM.gov. Every federal contractor needs an active SAM registration and Unique Entity ID; see our SAM registration guide.
- Check your NAICS codes and size. Each solicitation is assigned one NAICS code, and its size standard decides whether you can compete as a small business; see SBA size standards and the top NAICS codes for government contracts.
- Read the forecast. NSF's procurement forecast lists contracts planned for the coming year, often before they reach SAM.gov.
- Meet the small business office. NSF's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (or its equivalent) can explain how the agency buys and connect you with program offices.
- Consider contract vehicles. Many agency buys go through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule and other governmentwide or agency contracts rather than open competition.
- Find the program owner. Contracting officers run the process, but program offices decide what they need; reaching them before a solicitation is released is where deals are shaped.
Budget and funding timing
- Fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30; see our government fiscal year calendar.
- Fiscal 2027 funding. NSF is operating under a continuing resolution through Dec. 11, 2026, which generally bars new starts; follow it in our FY 2027 appropriations tracker.
- Year-end buying. Agencies obligate a large share of contract dollars in the final quarter of the fiscal year, July through September.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We map NSF's program offices, track its forecast and get you in front of the people who shape requirements before solicitations drop. See how our federal sales development works.
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