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glossary

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)

What is NAICS?

The North American Industry Classification System is the standard the United States, Canada, and Mexico use to classify businesses by industry. Each industry has a numeric code, and in federal contracting these codes do a lot more than describe what you do, they determine which opportunities you match and whether you count as a small business for a given requirement.

NAICS and size standards

This is the part contractors must understand. Every federal solicitation is assigned a NAICS code, and each code carries a size standard, expressed as a maximum number of employees or maximum average annual revenue. Whether your firm qualifies as small for a particular opportunity depends on the size standard tied to that opportunity's NAICS code, not on a single companywide label. The same firm can be small for one code and large for another.

Why getting your codes right matters

Your registered NAICS codes shape which opportunities you surface for and how buyers find you. Choosing them accurately, including a primary code that best represents your core business, is foundational. The codes also govern which set-asides apply, since programs like WOSB and EDWOSB are tied to designated NAICS. OryonIQ uses your NAICS profile to match opportunities and teaming partners, so keeping it accurate directly improves what the platform surfaces. Confirm your codes when you register in SAM.gov.

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