423860: Transportation Equipment and Supplies (except Motor Vehicle) Merchant Wholesalers

The Department of Transportation dominates buying in this category, with OST, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration accounting for the largest share of spending. The Army's TACOM organization is also a significant buyer. Most purchases go to unrestricted vendors, though the SBA set-aside program accounts for about 11 percent of awards. Buyers use this code for parts, equipment, and supplies needed to maintain and operate transportation systems and vehicles.

The median award of $5,700 signals that most contracts are small orders, though a handful exceed $40 million. With 531 distinct vendors competing for 22,073 awards totaling $1.35 billion over 24 years, the market is fragmented. A firm considering entry should expect modest individual contract values and significant competition, particularly from established wholesalers already on vendor lists. The set-aside data shows limited preference programs, meaning most opportunities are open to all qualified suppliers.

Watch for the 24 contracts ending within the next 12 months worth $5.06 million combined. These represent recompete opportunities where incumbent vendors may face new competition. The low number of active notices on record suggests this category may not see frequent new solicitations, so tracking upcoming expirations and maintaining relationships with DOT and Army procurement offices will be critical for capturing available work.