NAICS Code 541712: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
National industry Retired in 2017
Definition
This U.S. Industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimental development (except biotechnology research and experimental development) in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, such as agriculture, electronics, environmental, biology, botany, computers, chemistry, food, fisheries, forests, geology, health, mathematics, medicine, oceanography, pharmacy, physics, veterinary and other allied subjects. As of 2017, this NAICS code is no longer in use. It has been replaced by 541715.
Code facts
- Part of
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54
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541
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5417
- 54171
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5417
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541
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54
- Contract awards
- 119 In the last 12 months
- Contract obligations
- $10,003,786,502 In FY2025
NAICS codes and definitions come from the U.S. Census Bureau and contract spending from SAM.gov/FPDS.
Business activities under NAICS 541712
- Agriculture research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Bacteriological research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Biology research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Botany research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Chemical research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Computer and related hardware research and development laboratories or services
- Dental research and development laboratories or services
- Electronic research and development laboratories or services
- Engineering research and development laboratories or services
- Entomological research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Environmental research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Experimental farms
- Fisheries research and development laboratories or services
- Food research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Forestry research and development laboratories or services
- Genetics research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Geological research and development laboratories or services
- Guided missile and space vehicle engine research and development
- Guided missile and space vehicle parts (except engines) research and development
- Health research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Industrial research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Life sciences research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Mathematics research and development laboratories or services
- Medical research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Observatories, research institutions
- Oceanographic research and development laboratories or services
- Photonics research and development services
- Physical science research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
- Physics research and development laboratories or services
- Veterinary research and development laboratories or services (except biotechnology research and development)
Looking for another activity? Search the NAICS code lookup or browse business activities from A to Z.
Contract obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2027 To date | $171,577,196 |
| FY2026 | $7,783,618,193 |
| FY2025 | $10,003,786,502 |
| FY2024 | $10,648,202,569 |
| FY2023 | $12,234,120,453 |
Top contractors by obligations
| Rank | Contractor | Obligated, FY2026–FY2027 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | $1,214,522,878 | |
| 2 | Brookhaven Science Associates LLC | $1,016,538,156 | |
| 3 | Torch Technologies Inc. | $714,775,304 | |
| 4 | Odyssey Systems Consulting Group, LTD. | $402,117,011 | |
| 5 | Science Applications International Corporation | $394,912,995 | |
| 6 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $385,996,802 | |
| 7 | General Dynamics Global Force, LLC | $298,221,266 | |
| 8 | Aerojet Rocketdyne Of DE, Inc. | $297,286,861 | |
| 9 | Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. | $279,007,215 | |
| 10 | Amentum Technology, Inc. | $274,719,445 |
See the full FY2025 ranking of NAICS 541712 contractors, by parent company.
Top funding agencies by obligations
| Rank | Agency | Obligated, FY2026–FY2027 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Force | $3,433,485,122 | |
| 2 | Department of the Army | $1,864,443,868 | |
| 3 | Department of Energy | $1,017,771,531 | |
| 4 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $774,798,773 | |
| 5 | Missile Defense Agency | $418,983,391 | |
| 6 | Department of the Navy | $272,152,548 | |
| 7 | Defense Threat Reduction Agency | $54,672,554 | |
| 8 | Office of the Secretary of Defense | $33,383,341 | |
| 9 | Department of Commerce | $33,326,096 | |
| 10 | Department of Health and Human Services | $24,626,988 |
Top PSC codes by obligations
| Rank | PSC code | Obligated, FY2026–FY2027 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R425 Engineering and Technical Services | $1,870,571,473 | |
| 2 | M1HA Operation of Government-Owned Contractor-Operated (GOCO) R&D Facilities | $1,016,538,156 | |
| 3 |
AC61 R&D – Defense System: Electronics/ |
$711,018,482 | |
| 4 | AC24 National Defense R&D Services; Atomic Energy Defense Activities; R&D Administrative Expenses | $613,375,145 | |
| 5 | AC31 National Defense R&D Services; Defense-Related Activities; Basic Research | $551,079,756 | |
| 6 | AC13 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Experimental Development | $537,181,871 | |
| 7 |
AR21 R&D – Space: Science/ |
$386,998,656 | |
| 8 | R707 Contract, Procurement, and Acquisition Support Services | $381,074,776 | |
| 9 | 1675 Space Vehicle Components | $297,286,861 | |
| 10 | AC14 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; R&D Administrative Expenses | $256,620,806 |
Contract obligations by state
| Rank | Place of performance | Obligated, last 12 months | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $1,916,029,449 | |
| 2 | Virginia | $1,265,025,941 | |
| 3 | Alabama | $1,143,057,221 | |
| 4 | New York | $1,013,935,737 | |
| 5 | California | $650,244,461 | |
| 6 | Colorado | $498,286,599 | |
| 7 | Florida | $292,668,528 | |
| 8 | Maryland | $258,260,890 | |
| 9 | New Jersey | $206,697,519 | |
| 10 | Texas | $197,097,541 | |
| 11 | Arizona | $139,021,471 | |
| 12 | Ohio | $72,504,034 | |
| 13 | New Mexico | $60,460,786 | |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $50,865,892 | |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $43,415,957 | |
| 16 | North Carolina | $20,226,222 | |
| 17 | Tennessee | $11,180,063 | |
| 18 | Washington | $8,067,489 | |
| 19 | Mississippi | $7,875,739 | |
| 20 | South Carolina | $6,553,336 | |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $3,700,086 | |
| 22 | Missouri | $2,786,668 | |
| 23 | Georgia | $1,034,143 | |
| 24 | West Virginia | $191,034 | |
| 25 | Oregon | $9,472 | |
| 26 | Utah | $432 |
Show all 26
Shares are of everything obligated under NAICS 541712 in the last 12 months before deobligations, including work performed abroad or with no place of performance on record.
Contract opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 of 26,291 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Size standard history
Federal Register rules that named this code
From the NAICS codes each rule's amendments to 13 CFR 121.201 name. Rules that print their size standard tables as images aren't listed.
Quick answers
What is NAICS 541712?
NAICS 541712 is Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology), a national industry in NAICS 54, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
Is NAICS 541712 still used?
NAICS stopped using 541712 in 2017. Older contracts still carry it.
When did the size standard for NAICS 541712 last change?
The most recent Federal Register rule on record that names NAICS 541712 in the SBA's size standards is "Small Business Size Standards: Industries With Employee Based Size Standards Not Part of Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, or Retail Trade" (81 FR 4436), published Jan 26, 2016 and effective Feb 26, 2016.
How much do federal agencies spend under NAICS 541712?
Federal contracts under NAICS 541712 obligated $10,003,786,502 in fiscal year 2025 and $40,841,304,914 in fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
Who are the largest contractors under NAICS 541712?
The contractors with the most obligated under NAICS 541712 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 are Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ($1,214,522,878), Brookhaven Science Associates LLC ($1,016,538,156) and Torch Technologies Inc. ($714,775,304).
Which agencies buy the most under NAICS 541712?
The agencies that obligated the most under NAICS 541712 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 are Air Force ($3,433,485,122), Department of the Army ($1,864,443,868) and Department of Energy ($1,017,771,531).
Which PSC codes are used with NAICS 541712?
The PSC codes with the most obligated under NAICS 541712 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 are R425 Engineering and Technical Services, M1HA Operation of Government-Owned Contractor-Operated (GOCO) R&D Facilities and AC61 R&D – Defense System: Electronics/
Where is the work under NAICS 541712 performed?
By place of performance, the states with the most contract obligations under NAICS 541712 over the last 12 months are Massachusetts ($1,916,029,449), Virginia ($1,265,025,941) and Alabama ($1,143,057,221).
What is the latest contract opportunity under NAICS 541712?
The latest contract opportunity under NAICS 541712 is Research, Engineering, Mission Integration Services (REMIS), solicitation from Johnson Space Center, posted September 28, 2022.
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See everything under NAICS 541712
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