SBA size standard under 513210
$47 million
Measured by average annual receipts over the last 5 fiscal years
Standard for 513210, the 2022 successor to retired code 511210. SBA table effective March 2023
FY2025 federal spending
The Department of Defense bought 55% of the $6.0B obligated under 511210 in FY2025.
- Contract awards
- 7,376
- Contract vehicles (IDVs)
- 496
Top buying agencies
- Department of Defense$3.3B
- Department of Veterans Affairs$677.0M
- Department of Health and Human Services$469.3M
- Department of Homeland Security$369.2M
- General Services Administration$320.3M
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
Software Publishers (NAICS 511210) covers companies that develop, publish, and sell prepackaged software products. Unlike custom programming (541511), software publishers create products sold to multiple customers. If you develop SaaS platforms, packaged applications, or commercial software products that federal agencies purchase, 511210 applies.
What Businesses Fall Under This Code
511210 includes software companies that develop and publish packaged applications, SaaS platforms, software suites, and licensed software. Examples include companies selling security software to federal agencies, IT management platforms, productivity software, and any packaged solution sold to multiple government customers. This differs from contract development where custom software is built specifically for one agency.
SBA Size Standard and What It Means
NAICS 2022 renumbered 511210 as 513210, Software Publishers, with the same definition. Its SBA size standard is $47 million in average annual receipts.
Federal Spending in This Category
Federal software spending exceeds $25 billion annually for packaged software, SaaS platforms, and commercial products. Agencies buy security software, IT management tools, productivity software, and specialized business applications from software publishers.
Top Agencies Buying in This Code
The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and Social Security Administration are major software purchasers. Every federal agency procures software products for operations, security, productivity, and mission-specific needs.
Tips for Tech Companies Using This Code
If you develop packaged software or SaaS platforms, use 511210. Getting on the GSA Schedule is valuable for software publishers—it allows federal agencies to purchase your software directly at negotiated rates. Show that your product serves federal customers and understand federal licensing and compliance requirements (FedRAMP for cloud products, NIST standards, etc.).
Pro Tip: Software publishers have unique advantages in federal procurement. Your software can be sold to thousands of federal customers through GSA Schedule without competing for each sale. Focus on compliance certifications (FedRAMP, NIST, CMMC) relevant to your product category.