Spec home building and planned residential community development for government housing initiatives. Find active federal and state new housing operative builders contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend for NAICS 236117 is estimated at $1-2 billion, driven primarily by HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program, DoD's Military Housing Privatization Initiative, and VA's supportive housing for homeless veterans. Contracts are typically awarded as fixed-price construction contracts, with some IDIQ and BPA structures for recurring needs. Demand is driven by aging housing stock, disaster recovery (e.g., HUD's CDBG-DR), and tribal housing shortages. Competition is moderate; large primes dominate, but small businesses often win set-aside awards under $10 million.
These agencies are the largest buyers of new housing operative builders services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 236117 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win, target HUD's Office of Housing and DoD's Army Corps of Engineers for military family housing projects. The most common set-asides are 8(a) and HUBZone for tribal and rural projects. The single highest-leverage move is to form a joint venture with a tribal housing authority or a Section 3 business concern to gain preference on HUD and tribal contracts. Focus on past performance in energy-efficient, modular, or disaster-resistant construction to differentiate.
Contracts are typically LPTA for standard designs, best-value for innovative or energy-efficient projects. Common vehicles include GSA Schedule 236 (Construction) and agency-specific IDIQs like HUD's Housing Construction IDIQ or DoD's MATOC. Evaluation focuses on past performance, price, and technical approach for modular or green building.
You need a general contractor's license in the state where the project is located, plus a Miller Act payment and performance bond for contracts over $150,000. For HUD projects, Davis-Bacon wage determinations and Section 3 compliance are mandatory.
8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certifications are most common. Section 3 Business Concern status gives preference on HUD-funded projects.
Moderately competitive. For contracts under $5 million, small businesses often win; above that, large primes dominate. Use SAM.gov to find opportunities and partner with a larger firm for capacity.
Awards range from $500,000 for small rehab projects to $20 million for new community developments. The median is around $3-5 million for single-family spec homes or townhouse clusters.
Yes, but you must comply with subcontracting plan requirements if your contract exceeds $750,000 (for small businesses) or $1.5 million (for others). Ensure subcontractors are registered in SAM and meet small business goals.