NAICS codes for the trades
Every federal bid is filed under one industry code (NAICS). Searching only your "obvious" code misses a lot of your work, because buyers file trade jobs under neighboring codes all the time.
Common codes by trade
| Trade | Main code | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical / low voltage | 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors. Cabling and low-voltage work is filed here too. |
| HVAC and plumbing | 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors. One code for both trades, so you have to read the title. |
| Security systems | 561621 | Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths), plus 238210 for installs. |
| Locksmith | 561622 | Locksmiths. Hardware supply often comes under product codes instead. |
| Roofing | 238160 | Roofing Contractors. |
| Painting | 238320 | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors. |
| Fencing and gates | 238990 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors. |
| Elevators | 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors. |
| Janitorial | 561720 | Janitorial Services. |
| Landscaping | 561730 | Landscaping Services. |
| General construction | 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction. Many trade jobs land here when they're part of a bigger renovation. |
The traps
The code that excludes you. The security systems code, 561621, says "except Locksmiths" in its own title. Locksmiths who search only that code miss locksmith jobs, and security shops who skip 561622 miss hardware work.
Shared codes. HVAC and plumbing share 238220, and electrical and cabling share 238210. A search on the code alone mixes trades together, so you end up reading a lot of bids that aren't yours.
Product and service codes. Buyers also tag each bid with a product or service code (PSC), like 5340 for hardware or J041 for HVAC maintenance. Supply orders are often findable only that way.
Which codes to register under
In your SAM.gov registration, list every code you'd honestly do work under, including the neighbors above, and pick your main one as primary. It costs nothing and it's how buyers and primes find you.
Solicity searches all of a trade's codes, product codes and the words buyers use, then sorts out shared codes, so you just pick your trade.
General information for trade contractors, checked against the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Department of Labor and SBA.gov in October 2026. Rules and dollar limits change, and the bid itself always wins: follow the clauses in the solicitation you're quoting. Not legal advice.
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