Growing sunflower, canola, flaxseed, and other oilseed crops under USDA farm programs. Find active federal and state oilseed (except soybean) farming contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend under NAICS 111120 is modest, typically under $10 million, driven primarily by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) programs. Contracts are often single-award fixed-price purchases for specific crop types (e.g., sunflower, canola) under USDA commodity procurement programs. Demand is seasonal and tied to farm bill mandates, biofuel incentives, and disaster relief seed purchases. Competition is low, with only a handful of specialized growers bidding. Most awards are made via sealed bidding or simplified acquisitions under $250,000, with occasional multi-year blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) for recurring seed or oilseed purchases.
These agencies are the largest buyers of oilseed (except soybean) farming services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 111120 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
Focus on USDA FSA and AMS commodity solicitations, which typically use sealed bidding with award to the lowest responsive bidder. Small businesses should leverage the HUBZone or 8(a) programs if eligible, as set-asides are common. The single highest-leverage move is to register in SAM with precise NAICS 111120 and commodity codes (e.g., PSC 8715 for seed), then monitor FBO.gov for 'solicitation for oilseed' notices. Build a track record of on-time delivery and crop quality certifications to win repeat BPAs.
Oilseed contracts are typically awarded via sealed bidding (LPTA) under FAR Part 13 or Part 14. Common vehicles include USDA's AMS commodity purchase programs and FSA's direct seed purchases. GSA Schedule 56 (Food Service) may be used for processed oilseed products. No dedicated governmentwide vehicle exists; most buys are agency-specific IDIQs or one-time buys. Evaluation is usually lowest price technically acceptable with basic quality specs.
No specific federal license is required, but you must have a valid SAM registration with NAICS 111120 and applicable PSC codes. For USDA contracts, you may need to provide proof of crop insurance or compliance with conservation programs. Some solicitations require a Seed Dealer License from the state where the crop is grown.
Most awards are under $150,000, often between $25,000 and $75,000 for a single crop lot. Larger multi-year BPAs can reach $500,000 but are rare. The small-business size standard is $3.5 million average annual receipts, so most awards fall well below that threshold.
Bid bonds are rarely required for contracts under $150,000. For larger awards, performance and payment bonds may be needed, but typical oilseed buys are small enough to waive bonding. Check each solicitation's bonding clause.
It is a niche code with very few active federal contractors. Typically 2-5 bidders per solicitation, often from the same region. This low competition makes it attractive for small businesses, especially those with HUBZone or 8(a) status.
Yes, but the prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the work if it's a small-business set-aside. Subcontracting is common for seed cleaning or logistics, but the growing and harvesting must be primarily done by the prime.