Geophysical surveys, subsurface mapping, and geological assessment for government projects. Find active federal and state geophysical surveying and mapping services contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spending under NAICS 541360 is estimated at $200–300 million, with USGS, Army Corps, and DOE as top buyers. Contracts are predominantly competitive, 5-year IDIQs with task orders, though BPAs and stand-alone contracts also occur. Demand is driven by infrastructure projects, environmental remediation, and energy exploration. Small businesses capture roughly 40% of awards due to set-asides. The market is moderately fragmented with many specialized geophysical firms.
These agencies are the largest buyers of geophysical surveying and mapping services services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 541360 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win, target 8(a) and HUBZone set-asides, which are commonly used for geophysical services. The highest-leverage move is to build relationships with USGS and Army Corps contracting officers through industry days and past performance on small task orders. Emphasize technical capability in specific methods (e.g., seismic, resistivity) and safety records. Offer fixed-price task orders to reduce agency risk.
Most work is awarded via LPTA (lowest price technically acceptable) for standard surveys, but best-value tradeoffs are used for complex projects. Common vehicles include GSA Schedule 541360, USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC), and agency-specific IDIQs. Evaluation emphasizes technical approach, past performance, and price.
While not universally required, many agencies prefer or mandate Professional Geologist (PG) or Professional Geophysicist (PGp) licensure for key personnel. Additionally, safety certifications like OSHA 30 and HAZWOPER are often required for field work.
Bonding is rarely required for task orders under $150,000, but larger stand-alone contracts may require performance and payment bonds. Most IDIQ work does not require bonds at the base level.
ISO 9001 or 14001 certification can be a differentiator. Also, the SBA's 8(a) or HUBZone certifications provide significant advantages as many geophysical contracts are set aside for these programs.
Moderately competitive. About 60% of awards go to small businesses, but many are sole-source or limited competition. The key is to establish past performance on similar geophysical work.
Task orders range from $25,000 to $500,000, with an average around $100,000. Large multi-year IDIQs can exceed $10 million, but those are rare and typically go to large businesses.