RenovationRouteFederal contracting · CA
Federal construction contracts in California
The Navy, Customs and Border Protection, and the Army and Corps of Engineers put the most federal construction money into California. Here is where it went in fiscal 2025, the biggest jobs, and how to find the ones posting now.
California market
Federal construction in California, by the numbers
In fiscal 2025, federal agencies obligated $5.9 billion on construction contracts performed in California, across 4,676 contracts. The largest share, 26%, came from the Navy.
Source: USAspending.gov, federal contract obligations under NAICS 23 (construction) with the work performed in California, federal fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025).
$5.9B
obligated on construction contracts in California in fiscal 2025
4,676
construction contracts that received federal money that year
91%
of those contracts went to small businesses
#1
of the 50 states and DC by federal construction dollars
Who pays for the work
The agencies buying construction in California
Dollars obligated in fiscal 2025, by the agency that awarded the contract and the county where the work was done. Each of these agencies posts its jobs on SAM.gov.
- Department of the Navy $1.5B
- Customs and Border Protection $1.4B
- Army and Corps of Engineers $1.3B
- Department of Veterans Affairs $321M
- Bureau of Reclamation $320M
- San Diego County $1.7B
- Imperial County $839M
- Los Angeles County $353M
- Riverside County $300M
- Mariposa County $260M
Metro areas
Federal construction by metro area in California
These metro areas rank among the top 30 in the country for federal construction dollars in fiscal 2025. Each page covers the agencies, contractors, counties, and largest jobs.
Real projects
The largest federal construction jobs in California
Contracts that received money in fiscal 2025, with the total awarded to date. Descriptions are shortened from the federal record.
All contractors
$1.2B
Construction Border Barrier El Centro, CA
Customs and Border Protection. Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. Performance start 2025.
Federal record$856M
Design-Build South Airfeild MCON Projects China Lake, California
Department of the Navy. Environmental Chemical Corporation. Performance start 2020.
Federal record$623M
Prado Dam Spillway Modification Project in Riverside County, California / California Mega…
Army and Corps of Engineers. Barnard Construction Company, Incorporated. Performance start 2025.
Federal recordWon by small businesses
$155M
Construction of MCON Project P-1231 Wastewater Treatment Plant at MCAGCC, 29 Palms…
Department of the Navy. A&R Pacific-Garney Federal JV. Performance start 2023.
Federal record$155M
Construction of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Reach 1-3 Project
Army and Corps of Engineers. Maloney-Odin JV. Performance start 2021.
Federal record$141M
Reach A Levee Improvements
Army and Corps of Engineers. Ahtna-Great Lakes E&I JV. Performance start 2021.
Federal recordStop missing federal contracts in California
RenovationRoute checks SAM.gov every 12 hours, catches compliance red flags before you spend time on a bid, texts you when a contract in California matches your trade and radius, and shows incumbent and recompete data where federal award history has it. $20 a month.
Common questions
Federal construction contracts in California: FAQ
Answers to the questions contractors in this state ask most.
How much does the federal government spend on construction in California?
In fiscal 2025, federal agencies obligated $5.9 billion on construction contracts performed in California, across 4,676 contracts. The largest share, 26%, came from the Navy. That ranks California #1 among the 50 states and DC. Figures are from USAspending.gov, for contracts classified under NAICS 23 (construction) with California as the place of performance.
Which federal agencies award the most construction contracts in California?
In fiscal 2025: Department of the Navy, $1.5 billion; Customs and Border Protection, $1.4 billion; Army and Corps of Engineers, $1.3 billion; Department of Veterans Affairs, $321 million. Each posts its construction solicitations on SAM.gov.
How much federal construction work in California goes to small businesses?
Most of it. Small businesses won 4,261 of the 4,676 federal construction contracts that received money in California in fiscal 2025, or 91%. Most are smaller jobs; the largest dollar awards still tend to go to big firms. The largest small business job was "Construction of MCON Project P-1231 Wastewater Treatment Plant at MCAGCC, 29 Palms…" for Department of the Navy, worth $155 million to date, awarded to A&R Pacific-Garney Federal JV.
Where do I find open federal construction bids in California?
Every federal construction solicitation is posted on SAM.gov. RenovationRoute pulls the construction ones every 12 hours, reads each solicitation and its attachments, and texts or emails you when a job in California matches your trade and radius. The feed is free to browse.
Learn more
Resources for federal construction contractors
How federal opportunities work
See how RenovationRoute surfaces and screens federal construction contracts: compliance flags, fit scoring, SMS alerts, and more.
Learn how it worksHow to register on SAM.gov
You cannot get paid on a federal construction contract without a SAM.gov registration. Our step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process.
Read the guideRun a free SPRS precheck before you bid DoD work
If the solicitation includes DFARS 252.204-7021 or CMMC language, check your readiness first, so you do not spend hours on a bid you could be disqualified from.
Run SPRS precheckCMMC and SPRS explained for construction contractors
The plain-English guide to DFARS 252.204-7021, SPRS scores, and CMMC, so you can tell which federal opportunities fit your current compliance status.
Read the CMMC and SPRS guideWhy contractors lose federal bids
Most losses are not about price. Learn how to read Section M, avoid compliance misses, and focus on jobs where your experience gives you an edge.
Read the bid strategy guideFederal construction in every state
Compare federal construction spending across all 50 states and DC, and see the agencies and jobs behind it.
Compare all statesBrowse live contracts right now
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