US FOODS INC Leads Illinois Federal Contractors with $132.8M in FY2026 Obligations
Federal agencies are actively finalizing their procurement pipelines for the current fiscal year. In Illinois, food distribution and research organizations are capturing the largest share of these obligations. The data shows exactly where these federal dollars are landing across the state.
Bottom line: US FOODS INC is the dominant player among Illinois federal contractors FY2026, securing $132.8M across 45 contracts. The manufacturing and professional services sectors follow closely behind in total federal obligations.
Tracking federal spending Illinois FY2026 reveals a concentrated group of high-dollar recipients. From massive logistics operations in Rosemont to specialized research centers in Chicago, the federal government relies heavily on Illinois infrastructure.
Illinois's Top Federal Contractors in FY2026
The leaderboard for Illinois federal contractors FY2026 is top-heavy. A single food service distributor accounts for more than double the obligations of the next closest competitor.
Here is the breakdown of the top 14 Illinois-based federal contractors by total obligated funds in FY2026:
| Recipient Name | City | Contracts | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|
| US FOODS INC | Rosemont | 45 | $132,869,143 |
| NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER | Chicago | 10 | $63,842,316 |
| INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS, INC. | Westchester | 8 | $57,900,662 |
| INCOBRASA INDUSTRIES LTD | Gilman | 17 | $26,425,214 |
| SYSMEX AMERICA, INC | Lincolnshire | 127 | $26,015,690 |
| TETRA TECH, INC. | Chicago | 25 | $24,483,620 |
| CHERRY MEAT PACKERS, INC | Chicago | 5 | $20,436,100 |
| SAWTOOTH CONSTRUCTION JV II LLC | Chicago | 1 | $18,008,866 |
| ONEILL CONTRACTORS INC | Glenview | 6 | $16,457,457 |
| MCCAIN FOODS USA, INC. | Oakbrook Terrace | 2 | $16,119,234 |
| JET SUPPORT SERVICES, INC. | Chicago | 1 | $8,483,151 |
| JOINT COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS | Oakbrook Terrace | 17 | $7,250,517 |
| RELIANCE RELOCATION SERVICES, INC | Chicago | 17 | $7,011,319 |
| LEICA MICROSYSTEMS INC. | Deerfield | 52 | $5,419,692 |
The US FOODS INC federal contracts FY2026 total $132.8M. With 45 active contracts, their average award size sits at roughly $2.9M, highlighting the massive scale of federal food procurement for military bases, prisons, and agency facilities.
National Opinion Research Center (NORC) holds the second position with $63.8M spread across just 10 contracts. Federal agencies frequently obligate large, multi-million dollar awards to research institutions for complex, nationwide statistical surveys.
Contract volume does not always equal high dollar amounts. Sysmex America, Inc. holds 127 contracts—the highest volume on the list—but their total obligations are $26.0M. This indicates a procurement pattern of frequent, smaller purchases for medical and laboratory equipment.
Key Illinois Cities Receiving Federal Dollars in FY2026
Federal procurement in Illinois is heavily concentrated in the Chicagoland area. However, the specific suburbs housing these contractors dictate where the actual economic impact lands.
Here is how the top FY2026 obligations map out geographically:
- Rosemont: Anchored entirely by US Foods Inc., this suburb commands $132.8M in federal obligations.
- Chicago: The city proper hosts six of the top 14 contractors, totaling $141.2M. This includes NORC, Tetra Tech, Cherry Meat Packers, Sawtooth Construction, Jet Support Services, and Reliance Relocation Services.
- Westchester: Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. brings $57.9M to this western suburb across 8 contracts.
- Gilman: Located further south, Gilman sees $26.4M through Incobrasa Industries Ltd, an agricultural and biodiesel manufacturing company.
- Oakbrook Terrace: McCain Foods USA and the Joint Commission combine for $23.3M in this location.
Chicago's contractor base shows the most diversity. While Rosemont and Gilman rely on single massive entities for their federal footprint, Chicago secures federal funds across research, engineering, construction, and food processing.
Sawtooth Construction JV II LLC presents an interesting outlier in Chicago. They secured a single contract worth $18.0M. Large-scale infrastructure projects typically obligate funds in massive, single-award structures rather than recurring purchases.
Leading Industries for Federal Contracts in FY2026
To understand what the government is buying, we look at NAICS federal obligations FY2026. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) categorizes every federal contract into a specific economic sector.
The top federal industries FY2026 show heavy investment in manufacturing, professional services, and facility maintenance.
| NAICS Code & Industry | Award Count | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 332994 — SMALL ARMS, ORDNANCE, AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURING | 299 | $95,144,732 |
| 813920 — PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | 181 | $24,368,999 |
| 238320 — PAINTING AND WALL COVERING CONTRACTORS | 155 | $14,833,626 |
| 313210 — BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILLS | 75 | $10,555,106 |
| 333914 — MEASURING, DISPENSING, AND OTHER PUMPING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING | 58 | $5,487,331 |
| 561520 — TOUR OPERATORS | 2 | $2,901,075 |
| 315250 — CUT AND SEW APPAREL MANUFACTURING (EXCEPT CONTRACTORS) | 30 | $2,739,743 |
| 333996 — FLUID POWER PUMP AND MOTOR MANUFACTURING | 21 | $1,357,587 |
| 562213 — SOLID WASTE COMBUSTORS AND INCINERATORS | 16 | $460,380 |
| 424910 — FARM SUPPLIES MERCHANT WHOLESALERS | 3 | $69,552 |
Small Arms and Ordnance Manufacturing dominates the industry data with $95.1M obligated across 299 awards. The Department of Defense and federal law enforcement agencies maintain continuous procurement cycles for ammunition and related accessories.
Professional Organizations follow with $24.3M across 181 awards. This sector includes standard-setting bodies, accreditation organizations, and professional associations that federal agencies pay for certifications and specialized consulting.
Diverse Federal Spending Trends in FY2026
Beyond weapons and research, the federal government acts as a massive property manager and logistics operator. This reality is reflected in the secondary NAICS categories.
Here's the thing: basic facility maintenance requires massive federal budgets. Painting and Wall Covering Contractors secured $14.8M through 155 individual awards. Federal buildings, military barracks, and agency headquarters require constant upkeep, providing steady revenue for specialized trades.
Textile and apparel manufacturing also pull significant federal dollars. Broadwoven Fabric Mills received $10.5M, while Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing secured $2.7M. These industries are critical for producing military uniforms, protective gear, and specialized agency clothing.
The data also reveals highly specialized, low-volume procurement. Tour Operators secured $2.9M across just two awards. Agencies occasionally require large-scale, coordinated transit and logistics for personnel movements or specialized federal programs, resulting in high-dollar, low-frequency contracts.
Understanding Federal Obligations in Illinois for FY2026
Federal obligations represent legally binding agreements to spend money. When an agency signs a contract with US Foods Inc. or Tetra Tech, the funds are officially obligated, even if the actual cash disbursement happens over several months.
The transparency of this data, sourced directly from USAspending.gov, allows taxpayers to see exactly which private entities benefit from federal budgets. In FY2026, the data shows a clear preference for established, large-scale operators in the food, research, and manufacturing sectors.
But there's a catch. High total obligations do not necessarily mean high profit margins for the contractors. Companies like Cherry Meat Packers ($20.4M) and US Foods operate in low-margin, high-volume industries where the cost of goods sold eats up a significant portion of the contract value.
Conversely, professional services and research contracts—like those awarded to NORC—often carry higher margins because the primary deliverable is intellectual capital and data analysis rather than physical goods.
Quick Takeaways
- US Foods Inc. leads the state: With $132.8M in obligations, they are the top federal contractor in Illinois for FY2026.
- Chicago is the central hub: Six of the top 14 contractors are based in Chicago proper, pulling in a combined $141.2M.
- Ordnance manufacturing dominates industries: The Small Arms and Ordnance sector secured $95.1M across 299 awards, making it the top NAICS category in this dataset.
- Volume vs. Value: Sysmex America Inc. holds the most individual contracts (127), but Sawtooth Construction secured a massive $18.0M obligation from a single award.
- Trades and maintenance pay out: Painting and Wall Covering Contractors secured a steady $14.8M across 155 awards for federal facility upkeep.