Operating wired telecommunications networks for government voice, data, and broadband services. Find active federal and state wired telecommunications carriers contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend under NAICS 517311 exceeds $2 billion, driven by agencies migrating to cloud-based services and expanding secure networks. Competition is moderate; large incumbents (Verizon, AT&T) dominate but small businesses win via subcontracting or set-aside vehicles. Contracts are predominantly IDIQs and BPAs under GSA's Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) and agency-specific telecom programs. Demand is fueled by cybersecurity mandates, IoT expansion, and remote work connectivity needs. Award sizes vary widely: $500K task orders to $500M enterprise deals. The market is consolidating around managed services rather than raw bandwidth.
These agencies are the largest buyers of wired telecommunications carriers services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 517311 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win, target GSA's EIS program—the primary vehicle for telecom services—by partnering as a subcontractor to a large prime or bidding on small-business set-aside pools. Common set-asides include 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB for task orders under $4M. The highest-leverage move: obtain a GSA Schedule 70 contract under SIN 132-12 (Wireless Services) or SIN 132-40 (Telecommunications) to be eligible for EIS orders. Invest in CMMC certification (Level 2) early, as DoD contracts increasingly require it.
Wired telecom is primarily bought via GSA's Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) IDIQ, a 15-year, $50B vehicle. Other vehicles: GSA Schedule 70 (SIN 132-12/40), SEWP V (for network equipment), and 8(a) STARS III (for IT services). Evaluation is often LPTA for commoditized services, but best-value for complex solutions. Key factors: past performance, security compliance, and pricing.
You need a FCC license for spectrum use if offering wireless services. For wired telecom, no specific FCC license is needed beyond common carrier authorization. However, cybersecurity certifications like CMMC (for DoD) and FedRAMP (for cloud services) are often mandatory. Also, ISO 27001 is commonly requested for information security.
Performance and payment bonds are typically required only for contracts exceeding $150,000 (Miller Act), but many telecom task orders are below that threshold. However, large IDIQ contracts may require a bond at the base award level. Check individual solicitations; some agencies waive bonds for small businesses.
Competition is moderate. Large primes hold most of the market share, but small businesses can win set-aside task orders, especially under GSA EIS small business pools. The key is to differentiate through specialized services like secure telework or IoT integration. Many small firms succeed as subcontractors.
Award sizes vary widely. Small task orders range from $100K to $1M, while agency-wide IDIQs can be $10M-$500M. For small businesses, the average set-aside award is around $1M-$3M. The GSA EIS program has a minimum order of $500K for small businesses.
Yes, subcontracting is common. Large primes like Verizon and AT&T often seek small business partners for niche services (e.g., last-mile fiber, cybersecurity). Register in SBA's Subcontracting Network (SUB-Net) and target primes on GSA EIS. Ensure you have relevant past performance and certifications.