Kensington Sales Group
Federal agency guide

How to sell to the Office of Personnel Management in 2027.

What OPM spends, which parts of it buy, where it posts upcoming contracts and how to get in front of its buyers.

Updated November 8, 2026 · By Mike Dombo, Kensington Sales Group · 5-minute read

Key takeaways

  • The Office of Personnel Management spent $136 billion in fiscal 2026, compared with $128 billion in fiscal 2025, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
  • Its biggest programs: Federal retiree pensions and employee health benefits.
  • The Office of Personnel Management buys through three main components and offices, each with its own contracting staff.
  • OPM publishes a procurement forecast of upcoming contracts.

OPM at a glance

FactOPM
FY 2026 outlays$136 billion (7th of the 20 largest agencies)
FY 2025 outlays$128 billion
Biggest programsFederal retiree pensions and employee health benefits
Main buying components3
Procurement forecastOPM 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 OPM

Most OPM outlays are pensions and health benefits for federal employees and retirees. Its contracts cover IT, retirement processing and HR services.

  • Retirement Services
  • Healthcare and Insurance
  • HR Solutions, which provides HR services to other agencies

How to start selling to OPM

  1. Register in SAM.gov. Every federal contractor needs an active SAM registration and Unique Entity ID; see our SAM registration guide.
  2. 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.
  3. Read the forecast. OPM's procurement forecast lists contracts planned for the coming year, often before they reach SAM.gov.
  4. Meet the small business office. OPM's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (or its equivalent) can explain how the agency buys and connect you with program offices.
  5. Consider contract vehicles. Many agency buys go through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule and other governmentwide or agency contracts rather than open competition.
  6. 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. OPM 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 OPM'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.

Found a broken link or something inaccurate? We keep this page up to date. If a link doesn't work or any information here is wrong or out of date, report it by email to research@kensingtonsalesgroup.com and we'll fix it.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I sell to the Office of Personnel Management?
Register in SAM.gov, confirm your NAICS codes and size status, review OPM's procurement forecast, meet its small business office and reach the program offices that own the problem you solve. Many OPM purchases also go through GSA schedules and other contract vehicles.
How much does the Office of Personnel Management spend?
The Office of Personnel Management had $136 billion in outlays in fiscal 2026 and $128 billion in fiscal 2025, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement. Its biggest programs are Federal retiree pensions and employee health benefits.
Does OPM publish a procurement forecast?
Yes. OPM posts a forecast of planned contracts, linked from the Acquisition.gov procurement forecast directory. Forecasts list expected buys, estimated values and timing before solicitations are released.
Which parts of OPM buy the most?
Most OPM outlays are pensions and health benefits for federal employees and retirees. Its contracts cover IT, retirement processing and HR services. Main components include Retirement Services; Healthcare and Insurance; HR Solutions, which provides HR services to other agencies.
Work with KSG

Turn this research into booked meetings.

Kensington Sales Group embeds SDRs who already know how agencies and utilities buy. See all services.

Government lead generation & appointment setting

Phone-led outreach to federal, SLED and utility decision-makers, with qualified meetings booked straight onto your calendar.

B2G lead generation

Embedded SDR teams

Trained reps prospect under your brand and keep deals moving, without the cost of hiring, training and managing your own team.

Outsourced SDR teams

Market intelligence

Research and direct conversations with buyers that show what your target agencies are planning, budgeting and buying next.

Market intelligence

Ready to build your public-sector pipeline?

Book a 30-minute call. We'll talk through your market, your ideal buyers and whether an embedded sales development team is the right fit, with no commitment.