By Outrider Editorial Team · Updated August 20, 2026
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on administrative management issues, such as financial planning and budgeting, records management, strategic and organizational planning, and human resource policies and practices.
FY2025 obligations
$11.3B
Contract actions
18,729
IDVs
3,964
Top buying agencies
- Department of Defense$3.5B
- Department of Health and Human Services$1.7B
- Agency for International Development$1.5B
- Department of Homeland Security$801.4M
- Department of State$630.3M
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
NAICS 541611 is where general management consulting lives in federal contracting, and it is one of the largest professional services codes in the government: $11.3 billion obligated in FY2025 across more than 18,700 contracts.
The buyer mix is broader than most defense-heavy codes. DoD leads at $3.5 billion, but HHS ($1.7B), USAID ($1.5B), DHS ($801M), and State ($630M) together buy more than DoD does, which means civilian-agency past performance carries real weight here.
What belongs under 541611 (and what does not)
Use 541611 for strategic planning, organizational design, financial planning and budgeting support, records management advisory, and HR policy consulting. Adjacent work often gets misfiled here:
- Program management support tied to engineering programs usually belongs under 541330 or shows up under PSC R425.
- IT strategy and systems consulting belongs under 541512 or 541519.
- Staffing that is really temporary labor belongs under 561320.
Contracting officers do check this. A capability statement whose past performance is all IT delivery will read as miscoded under 541611.
How to compete in this code
Management consulting solicitations lean heavily on named key personnel, relevant agency past performance, and labor-rate realism. The practical entry paths are subcontracting to the large primes that dominate the IDIQ vehicles, teaming on OASIS+ and similar professional-services vehicles, and the SB set-aside lane, which is meaningful at this code's award sizes.
Frequently Asked
NAICS 541611 questions, answered.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541611?
The current SBA table (effective March 2023) sets it at $24.5 million in average annual receipts. If your three-year average revenue is under that, you qualify as a small business under this code and can bid 541611 set-asides.
Which agencies buy the most management consulting?
In FY2025: DoD ($3.5B), HHS ($1.7B), USAID ($1.5B), DHS ($801M), and State ($630M). Unlike most large codes, civilian agencies collectively out-buy DoD here.
What is the difference between NAICS 541611 and 541618?
541611 covers general administrative and management consulting: strategy, org design, financial planning, HR policy. 541618 is the catch-all for other management consulting like telecom or utilities advisory. When in doubt, 541611 is the code buyers search first, and it carries far more federal spend.
Register Under NAICS 541611
Classify your business correctly to maximize visibility to federal buyers and access small business set-asides.
Start Your SAM.gov Registration →