General Construction · Government contracting
General Contractor Government Contracts & Bids
Last reviewed August 14, 2026 · How we source this
General contractors bid government buildings of every kind — new construction, renovations, and job-order contracts for schools, offices, and public facilities. As the prime, you carry the bonding, coordinate the trades, and take responsibility for delivering the whole project, so bonding capacity and past performance drive who wins.
NAICS codes for general construction contractors
- 236220 — Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Not sure which codes apply to your business? See the NAICS code definition in the glossary.
Typical government general construction projects
- New public buildings — schools, offices, libraries, fire and police stations, and civic facilities.
- Renovations, additions, and tenant improvements to existing public buildings.
- Job Order Contracting (JOC) and on-call construction contracts.
- Design-build projects, often bid as best-value RFPs.
Where the work is
Federal building construction (GSA, VA, and military projects through the Army Corps of Engineers and NAVFAC) is posted on SAM.gov. State facilities agencies and university systems bid vertical construction, and locally, school districts, cities, and counties run large building programs. Larger projects increasingly use design-build and job-order contracting alongside traditional low-bid.
You can also browse opportunities by state to see how the work is posted where you operate.
What it takes to win general construction bids
- Bonding capacity is decisive — public building work almost always requires bid, performance, and payment bonds sized to the project.
- General contractor / building licensing is required; confirm the jurisdiction's classifications and any monetary limits.
- Know the delivery method: hard-bid IFBs award on low price, while design-build and JOC use RFPs where past performance and approach matter.
- Prevailing wage / Davis-Bacon typically applies across the trades you carry.
- Strong, verifiable past performance is often the deciding factor on best-value awards.
For the full pursuit process, read How to Win Government Contracts.
General Construction government contracting FAQ
What NAICS code do general contractors use for government building work?
What NAICS code do general contractors use for government building work?
The primary code is NAICS 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction. It classifies general contractors that build and renovate non-residential public buildings such as schools, offices, and civic facilities.
How are government building projects awarded?
How are government building projects awarded?
It depends on the delivery method. Hard-bid projects use an Invitation for Bid (IFB) awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, while design-build and job-order contracting use Requests for Proposal (RFP) awarded on best value, where technical approach and past performance are weighed alongside price.
What matters most to win government construction as a GC?
What matters most to win government construction as a GC?
Bonding capacity and past performance. Public building work almost always requires bid, performance, and payment bonds sized to the project, and on best-value awards a strong, verifiable track record of similar projects is frequently the deciding factor.
Find general construction contracts that match your business
GovBid Finder scores every federal, state, and local opportunity against your trade, size, and service area. Free to use; only pay 3% when you win.