FY2026's Largest Federal Contracts: Johns Hopkins APL Obligated $222M for NASA
Federal agencies execute millions of procurement actions, but the vast majority fall well under the $1 million mark. A select group of massive, single-award obligations drives the top end of the procurement market.
In FY2026, the largest federal contracts FY2026 has to offer are pushing hundreds of millions of dollars into space exploration, IT modernization, and homeland security infrastructure. These mega-awards bypass standard procurement sizes, funneling concentrated capital to specialized defense primes, research laboratories, and construction firms.
Key takeaway: The single largest individual contract action in FY2026 is a $222.0M obligation to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for NASA research, while Spencer Construction LLC leads all vendors in aggregate FY2026 funding with $2.35B across just five awards.
The Scale of FY2026's Top Federal Contracts
The sheer size of the biggest government contracts 2026 features can obscure the specific, highly technical work they fund. These are not general operating budgets. They are targeted obligations for distinct federal initiatives.
The standout Johns Hopkins APL federal contract 2026 exemplifies this scale. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC secured a $222,014,203 obligation from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
This contract directly funds the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Phase A Study. NASA federal spending FY2026 relies on this essential research capability for space systems engineering. The work ensures the preservation of robotic space mission capabilities over the full mission life cycle.
Here is the thing:
While NASA leads the single-award category, other agencies are executing massive nine-figure obligations for administrative and infrastructure needs.
Top Recipients of FY2026's Single Largest Awards
The leaderboard for individual contract actions reveals a mix of healthcare administrators, IT integrators, and heavy construction firms.
Qlarant Integrity Solutions LLC holds the second-largest single obligation. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded the firm $174.9M to manage the closeout of the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractors (MEDIC) program.
Tribalco LLC follows closely with a $164.7M obligation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This award procures Motorola radios and batteries for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to maintain secure communications during operations.
The 10 Largest Single Contract Obligations in FY2026
| Recipient | Awarding Agency | State | Obligated Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | MD | $222,014,203 |
| QLARANT INTEGRITY SOLUTIONS LLC | Department of Health and Human Services | MD | $174,976,849 |
| TRIBALCO LLC | Department of Homeland Security | MD | $164,715,298 |
| WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE | Department of Homeland Security | MD | $137,072,132 |
| DNT SOLUTIONS, LLC | General Services Administration | MD | $125,585,262 |
| WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE | Department of Homeland Security | MD | $116,740,450 |
| ROHDE & SCHWARZ USA, INC. | Department of Transportation | MD | $85,858,905 |
| WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE | Department of Homeland Security | MD | $68,857,448 |
| MELE ASSOCIATES INC | Department of Energy | MD | $48,186,099 |
| INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION | Department of Health and Human Services | MD | $43,050,248 |
Key Agencies Awarding Major FY2026 Contracts
Federal spending is highly concentrated among a few key departments that manage heavy infrastructure and complex technology systems.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DHS is responsible for multiple top-tier obligations, particularly through the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Coast Guard issued three separate massive awards to Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.
These include $137.0M and $68.8M for the construction of a tension membrane hangar at Air Station Barbers Point. They also awarded $116.7M for the recapitalization of Pier Mike at Base Charleston.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
The DOT, specifically the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is heavily funding the modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS).
They obligated $85.8M to Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc. and $35.0M to Frequentis USA, Inc. Both contracts are part of Project LIFT, which replaces legacy Voice Communications Systems reliant on TDM technology with modern IP-capable systems.
General Services Administration (GSA)
The GSA acts as the central procurement arm for the federal government. In FY2026, the Federal Acquisition Service obligated $125.5M to DNT Solutions, LLC. This modification realigns ceiling and funding for ongoing computer systems design services.
Industries Dominating FY2026's Big Contracts
Federal contract dollars flow into specific sectors defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In FY2026, a few key industries are absorbing the largest single obligations.
Research and Development
The 541710 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences category leads the single-award data. This is entirely due to the $222.0M NASA obligation to Johns Hopkins APL. This sector handles the advanced scientific modeling required for deep-space missions.
Commercial Building Construction
The 236220 — Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector is capturing massive capital through military and homeland security infrastructure projects. Whiting-Turner's three major Coast Guard awards total over $322M in this single NAICS code.
Computer Systems Design and Infrastructure
IT modernization remains a massive federal expense. The 541512 — Computer Systems Design Services category includes DNT Solutions' $125.5M GSA contract. It also includes two awards to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
IBM secured $43.0M from HHS for the Risk Adjustment Suite of Systems (RASS). They also received $27.5M from DHS for fleet vehicle and public liability insurance tracking systems.
Other notable industries receiving top-tier funding include:
- 518210 — Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services: Qlarant's $174.9M HHS contract.
- 334220 — Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing: Tribalco's $164.7M DHS contract.
- 334210 — Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing: The FAA's $120.8M combined obligations to Rohde & Schwarz and Frequentis.
- 541611 — Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services: Tribility LLC received $26.5M from the Department of Veterans Affairs for program management support.
Overall Leaders in FY2026 Federal Contracting
While single massive awards grab headlines, the true FY2026 top federal contractors are those aggregating hundreds of millions across multiple task orders. When evaluating total obligated dollars, the landscape shifts toward large construction firms, healthcare networks, and defense integrators.
Spencer Construction LLC currently dominates the aggregate leaderboard. The Arizona-based firm has secured $2.35B across just five contracts.
OptumServe Health Services, Inc. follows as the second-highest earner. Operating out of Wisconsin, the healthcare administrator has aggregated $1.85B across five federal awards.
Top 10 Contractors by Total FY2026 Obligations
| Contractor | State | Active Contracts | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPENCER CONSTRUCTION LLC | AZ | 5 | $2,358,991,157 |
| OPTUMSERVE HEALTH SERVICES, INC. | WI | 5 | $1,855,432,024 |
| LOYAL SOURCE GOVERNMENT SERVICES LLC | FL | 6 | $1,780,124,154 |
| BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS LOCKPORT, L.L.C. | LA | 2 | $923,143,412 |
| THE GEO GROUP, INC. | FL | 19 | $735,427,506 |
| GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | CA | 4 | $692,937,579 |
| LEIDOS, INC. | VA | 50 | $542,019,546 |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | TX | 2 | $538,745,174 |
| INDRA AIR TRAFFIC, INC. | KS | 8 | $490,968,857 |
| ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC. | CA | 5 | $480,031,739 |
The data reveals distinct procurement strategies among these top earners.
Some firms, like Leidos, Inc., build their volume through high-frequency contracting. They have secured $542.0M spread across 50 separate contract actions.
Conversely, companies like Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C. and The Boeing Company rely on massive, low-frequency awards. Bollinger aggregated $923.1M from just two contracts, while Boeing secured $538.7M from two awards.
The geographic distribution of these funds is also highly concentrated. The top aggregate contractors are pulling billions into Florida, California, and Virginia. Meanwhile, the single largest individual awards are heavily clustered in Maryland, driven by the presence of federal research labs and IT contractors near the capital.
Quick Takeaways
- NASA leads single awards: The $222.0M obligation to Johns Hopkins APL for the DART mission is the largest individual contract action in FY2026.
- Aggregate volume beats single awards: Spencer Construction LLC leads all vendors with $2.35B in total FY2026 funding, far exceeding any single-award recipient.
- Infrastructure and IT dominate: The Coast Guard and FAA are executing nine-figure modernization contracts for hangars, piers, and IP-capable voice communication systems.
- Contract frequency varies wildly: Top earners achieve their status through different models. Leidos holds 50 active FY2026 contracts, while Bollinger Shipyards reached nearly $1 billion with just two.