Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an independent civilian agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, procures contracts and awards grants to support its regulatory mission overseeing food, drugs, devices, biologics, cosmetics, and tobacco products. The FDA operates through multiple centers including the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Center for Biological Evaluation and Research (CBER), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), among others.

The FDA has awarded 56,048 federal contracts cumulatively since 1985, with combined potential value of $29.51 billion and $25.99 billion obligated (88% of potential value). Recent annual award volume declined from 1,792 awards in 2022 to 859 in 2025, then rebounded to 1,120 so far in 2026. The portfolio spans 8,450 distinct prime contractors. Contract competitive concentration is highly fragmented; the top five primes by award count hold only 9 percent of recent awards over the last five years. By potential value, the top five—led by Deloitte Consulting LLP at $561.1 million across 68 awards, followed by Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. at $427.5 million across 84 awards—capture only 5 percent of combined recent potential value. Other active leaders include Precise Software Solutions, Inc. ($189.9 million across 66 awards), Kaiva Strategies, LLC ($156.2 million across 74 awards), and Vets Synergetic Group LLC ($144.6 million across 110 awards). The remaining competitive field is highly dispersed. Set-asides account for 17 percent of all awards; 83 percent of awards carry no set-aside designation. Small business set-asides comprise 10 percent of awards, 8(a) sole-source accounts for 4 percent, and competitive 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB together represent 1 percent.

The FDA has awarded 3,184 federal grants cumulatively since 1981, obligating $4.89 billion in federal dollars (combined federal and non-federal total of $5.13 billion). Recent grant awards fluctuated significantly—123 in 2022, 167 in 2023, 90 in 2024, 128 in 2025, and only 2 so far in 2026. The portfolio spans 685 distinct recipients. Grant recipient concentration is highly fragmented by award count and by federal dollars; the top five by count hold 8 percent of recent awards, while the top five by dollars hold only 4 percent of recent federal dollars. By award count, Cornell University and The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania lead with 9 awards each ($7 million and $14.9 million federal respectively). By federal dollars, the Association of Food & Drug Officials dominates with 7 awards and $67.8 million obligated, followed by the National Environmental Health Association with 6 awards and $66.8 million. Grants are predominantly Cooperative Agreements (57% of awards) with a substantial Project Grant component (41%) and smaller Block Grant share (2%).

Recent contract opportunities reflect FDA's laboratory and IT infrastructure priorities. A sole-source IDIQ for precisionFDA cloud-based genomics platform to DNAnexus, Inc., valued at $33 million over four years (August 2026–August 2030), sustains FDA's FISMA-authorized collaborative research environment for next-generation sequencing and regulatory science across multiple centers. A Total Small Business–set-aside IDIQ for ThinkTrends Software Implementation and Support (due September 28, 2026) seeks comprehensive technical expertise for software implementation, data migration, document AI, OCR, RPA, ML/MLOps, and analytics across FDA operations. A Pre-Solicitation Request for Information for "Data Stream"—Comprehensive Data Management & Streamlining Solution (due October 19, 2026), set aside for women-owned small business, signals FDA's market research into data consolidation and governance capabilities. Multiple solicitations for analytical laboratory equipment—freeze dryers, environmental chambers, chromatography systems, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers, and electrophysiology platforms—reflect ongoing modernization of FDA's testing and research infrastructure at White Oak Campus and specialty laboratories. Service agreements for portable GC-MS instruments and smoking machines support forensic chemistry and tobacco regulatory work.

The FDA holds a Fiscal Year 2027 Small Business Fair on November 18, 2026, at its White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, featuring hybrid morning sessions and in-person afternoon matchmaking with Project Officers, Technical Leads, and Contracting Officers. Registration closes November 12, 2026. Top small-business NAICS codes by FY 2026 dollars obligated include Computer Systems Design Services ($252.4 million), Other Computer Related Services ($240.8 million), Custom Computer Programming Services ($174.9 million), and All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services ($95.1 million).

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nations food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA also provides accurate, science-based health information to the public.