AI is taking over federal software & R&D procurement
Share of federal software, data & R&D solicitations that are AI, by quarter – up from under 1% in early 2024.
What the data actually shows
Generative AI appears in just 12% of federal AI contracts. Machine learning dominates.
It's not just defense – the VA is the #2 AI‑buying agency (99 solicitations), after DoD.
of federal AI contracts are full & open – not set aside for small business.
Who's buying AI
New AI opportunities are taking off
New AI solicitations per week, Jan 2026 → today.
What they're buying, by capability
Methodology
FedOptic ingests every solicitation across a 30‑code NAICS scope (federal software, data, R&D, and engineering) and classifies each one for AI relevance and capability. Figures reflect solicitations by their posted date. Quarterly share is coverage‑robust; weekly counts are shown only for the window where ingestion is complete.
Sources: SAM.gov · USAspending · Federal Register · DHS APFS · Updated with each data refresh.
