Coal mining operations on federal leased lands for energy production. Find active federal and state bituminous coal and lignite surface mining contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend for NAICS 212111 is approximately $200–300 million, primarily from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for coal lease management and the Department of Energy (DOE) for research on clean coal technologies. Contracts are typically fixed-price, single-award IDIQs or firm-fixed-price task orders under existing BLM regional contracts. Demand is driven by federal coal lease sales, environmental compliance requirements, and reclamation obligations under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Competition is moderate, with a mix of large mining firms and small businesses.
These agencies are the largest buyers of bituminous coal and lignite surface mining services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 212111 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win Bituminous Coal and Lignite Surface Mining contracts, focus on BLM's regional procurement offices in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Most contracts are set aside for small businesses under the 500-employee size standard, often using HUBZone or 8(a) preferences. The highest-leverage move is to obtain a BLM-approved mining and reclamation plan and demonstrate past performance on federal leases. Register in SAM, but also get listed in BLM's Qualified Products List for coal mining services.
Contracts are typically awarded via LPTA for reclamation and environmental services, and best-value for production. Common vehicles include BLM regional IDIQs, DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) cooperative agreements, and GSA Schedule 47 for environmental consulting. Evaluation focuses on past performance, technical approach, and reclamation bond adequacy.
You need a BLM-approved mining plan, a reclamation bond, and compliance with SMCRA. Also, a valid SAM registration and active UEI number are mandatory.
Award sizes vary widely: small task orders range from $50,000–$500,000 for environmental assessments, while large production contracts can exceed $10 million annually.
HUBZone and 8(a) certifications are common preferences. Also, ISO 14001 environmental management certification is valued for reclamation work.
Moderately. There are about 20–30 active bidders per solicitation, with 30–40% of awards going to small businesses. Competition is higher in the Powder River Basin region.
Yes, many large primes like Peabody Energy or Arch Resources subcontract reclamation and environmental monitoring to small businesses. Look for subcontracting plans in BLM contracts.