Two digits
The first two digits identify the broad sector family, such as Construction or Professional Services.
Learning Center
NAICS codes and opportunity labels
A short reference for reading NAICS fields, notice labels, and set-aside language during opportunity review. This page is educational only.
Boundaries
What this reference does not do
Use this page as a reading aid for public opportunity records. It is not a substitute for official notices, agency instructions, or the government systems that control registrations and representations.
- It does not determine whether a business is eligible for a notice, NAICS code, size standard, or set-aside.
- It does not validate, certify, or represent a business registration, small-business status, or program status.
- It does not provide legal, procurement, compliance, proposal, bid/no-bid, or award-likelihood advice.
NAICS basics
Code length and meaning
NAICS is an industry classification system used by federal statistical agencies. Opportunity notices often include a NAICS code so reviewers can understand the industry context tied to the requirement.
Three to five digits
Additional digits narrow the classification into subsectors, industry groups, and industries.
Six digits
The six-digit code is the most detailed U.S. national industry level commonly shown in notices.
Sector families
Major two-digit NAICS groups
These broad families are a starting point for reading a code. Use the official NAICS search or manual for the exact code title and definition.
11: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
21: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
22: Utilities
23: Construction
31-33: Manufacturing
42: Wholesale Trade
44-45: Retail Trade
48-49: Transportation and Warehousing
51: Information
52: Finance and Insurance
53: Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
54: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
55: Management of Companies and Enterprises
56: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
61: Educational Services
62: Health Care and Social Assistance
71: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
72: Accommodation and Food Services
81: Other Services except Public Administration
92: Public Administration
Profile setup
Find NAICS codes for your profile.
Use official U.S. Census Bureau NAICS search, downloadable lists, and reference files to identify candidate codes, then add the relevant codes to your PursuitForge profile for matching and review.
Search NAICS codes on Census.gov
Use the official U.S. Census Bureau NAICS search to look up candidate codes, titles, and descriptions.
Download the 2022 NAICS manual PDF
Use the manual as a reference for code structure, definitions, and the full classification context.
Download the 2022 NAICS structure XLSX
Use the spreadsheet when you need a downloadable list of NAICS codes and titles instead of browsing one code at a time.
After you identify candidate codes from the official Census list, add only relevant codes to your profile. For any specific opportunity, verify the final NAICS code, description, size standard, set-aside label, and instructions against the official source documents before acting.
Opportunity labels
Common notice and set-aside language
Labels help describe how an opportunity is posted. They are not a substitute for reading the official notice, attachments, provisions, and clauses.
Notice types
Labels such as sources sought, request for information, presolicitation, solicitation, combined synopsis/solicitation, and award notice describe the stage or purpose of a notice. They do not by themselves decide whether a company can respond.
Unrestricted or full and open
These labels generally indicate that the notice is not reserved for a listed small-business program. Review the official posting for all conditions, clauses, and instructions.
Small-business set-aside labels
Common labels include total small business, partial small business, 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, women-owned small business, and economically disadvantaged women-owned small business.
Local or agency-specific wording
Agencies may include additional shorthand in titles, descriptions, attachments, or clauses. Treat the official notice and attachments as the controlling source.
Verification checklist
Before relying on a stored label
Use this checklist to keep review source-centered before acting on stored labels or metadata.
- Open the official SAM.gov notice and check the current notice type, due date, amendments, attachments, and submission instructions.
- Confirm the NAICS code and any size standard against SBA size standards and the official notice.
- Verify any required small-business program status, certification, representation, or registration in the official source named by the notice.
- Read clauses, provisions, and agency instructions directly in the source documents before relying on a label.
- Confirm that your SAM.gov entity registration and any required representations are current before acting.
Reference note: before acting, verify the original official source. Useful starting points include SAM.gov, U.S. Census Bureau NAICS, SBA size standards, and FAR Part 19.